DECEMBER 31
Report: Fiorentina
interested in Babel
By Danny Hart - Goal.com
Liverpool forward Ryan Babel is attracting the
attention of Italian outfit Fiorentina.
The 23-year-old is being lined up as a possible replacement for Adrian
Mutu, who is said to want a move away from Florence.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is looking to sell his fringe players
as he seeks to raise money to spend on new players in the January
transfer window.
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claims Liverpool are set to
offload Babel in the new year and they report that Fiorentina are
preparing to table a bid for the Holland international.
Babel revealed earlier on this season that he was hoping to secure a
loan move away from Anfield in January to earn a place in the Holland
squad for the World Cup finals next summer.
The Dutchman has never cemented his place in the Liverpool side since
his £11 million move from Ajax in 2007.
Babel has scored nine goals in 67 league appearances for Liverpool but
has failed to become a regular starter for Benitez's side.
DECEMBER 30
Ruud van
Nistelrooy
linked to Liverpool loan
By Cyrus C. Malek - Goal.com
Liverpool could be Ruud Van Nistelrooy's next
destination if the negotations between the English giants and Real
Madrid come to fruition, according to the British Daily Mail newspaper.
As also reported by Marca, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is hoping to
employ the Dutchman's services as a substitute for Fernando Torres,
citing his experience and goalscoring ability as qualities needed in the
side.
For his part, Van Nistelrooy is looking to find playing time, as with
the World Cup coming up in South Africa, the Dutchman would like to
build up enough form to earn a place with his national team.
Liverpool are reportedly not too keen on paying a transfer fee for the
player and would prefer a loan deal which would permit the Anfield side
to evaluate Van Nistelrooy's form up until the end of the season. In the
event of a loan, the Reds would not be willing to accept Madrid's terms
in regards the Dutchman's wages.
Los Blancos would like Liverpool to pay a large majority of the former
Manchester United striker's salary should the deal go through.
DECEMBER 27
Report: Liverpool considering swoop for
former Lazio striker Goran Pandev
Goal.com
Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of swooping for
ex-Lazio striker Goran Pandev, after the player rescinded his contract
with the club recently, according to the Daily Star Sunday.
Although it has been reported that the Macedonian will undergo a medical
with Milanese giants Inter on Monday, it is believed that Reds' boss
Rafael Benitez is looking to hijack the deal and bring in the player to
boost the club's strike force.
The Merseysiders have suffered from a dearth of attacking options since
the departure of Robbie Keane last season, as the only significant
option after Fernando Torres is an inexperienced David Ngog. Ryan Babel
and Dirk Kuyt - who both have the capability to lead the line - are
normally given a wide role.
Pandev has been linked with several clubs across Italy as well as the
Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur, Milan and Juventus said to be in
the hunt to secure the player's signature.
The 26-year-old is believed to be worth £15 million, but the fact that
he has annulled his contract with the Biancocelesti means that he will
be available on a free transfer.
DECEMBER 27
Report:
Stoke City eyeing Babel
Goal.com
British tabloid News Of The World has reported that
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has set his sights on an ambitious raid for
Liverpool striker Ryan Babel.
The Dutchman has found first team chances increasingly hard to come by
despite assurances from manager Rafael Benitez, and Pulis is claimed to
be wanting to capitalize on the former Ajax ace's situation at Anfield.
Pulis is willing to throw in want-away striker James Beattie in any deal
with the Reds, although it's said that Benitez would prefer straight
cash as he looks to trim the squad, and in turn, accrue funds to ease
the club's ailing financial situation.
DECEMBER 27
Panathinaikos move for
Liverpool striker Voronin
tribalfootball.com
Panathinaikos are chasing Liverpool striker Andriy
Voronin.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been attempting to find a buyer in Germany
for the Ukraine international ahead of the January market.
However, the Sunday Mirror says Panathinaikos have come forward with an
approach for Voronin and Benitez hopes he can do business to raise funds
for his own winter market plans.
DECEMBER 24
Atletico
Madrid offered
Liverpool fullback Dossena
tribalfootball.com
Atletico Madrid are chasing Liverpool fullback
Andrea Dossena.
The Mirror says Atletico sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch has
sounded out Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez about signing the Italian
full-back.
Dossena, 28, joined Liverpool from Udinese for £7million 18 months ago
but has been a disaster at Anfield.
The Italian has never won a regular place and even gave up his number
two shirt when Glen Johnson signed for Liverpool last summer, and now
wears number 38.
Atletico are only willing to pay £2m with Liverpool hoping to do a
permanent deal rather than a loan to raise funds.
DECEMBER 23
Heskey to Liverpool
speculation resurfaces
This is Anfield
Three of this morning’s newspapers will reignite
transfer rumours surrounding Liverpool’s intentions to resign Emile
Heskey from Aston Villa in the January transfer window.
With Reds boss Rafa Benitez looking to bolster Liverpool’s attacking
options after a faltering first half of the season, Heskey’s return to
Anfield would be a cheap option for Benitez to consider.
The Guardian, Daily Mirror and Liverpool Daily Post all contain reports
this morning linking Benitez with a £3.5million move for Heskey next
month.
Andy Hunter of The Guardian writes:
Rafael Benítez has placed Emile Heskey top of his wish list for January
despite facing a monumental task to persuade Aston Villa to grant the
striker a return to Liverpool.
However the England international has found his way into Martin O’Neil’s
first team of late, scoring twice in Villa’s last seven games which has
sees them sit 3rd in the Premier League table.
Heskey has been linked several times over the last two years with a
return to Liverpool, with the Reds reported to be interested last
January transfer window when he left Wigan for Villa.
Heskey scored 60 goals in 223 appearances for Liverpool between 2000 and
2004, after arriving for ££11m from Leicester City – a record for the
club at the time. In his first full season (00-01) the club enjoyed huge
success with three trophies and Heskey himself scored 23 goals.
DECEMBER 16
van
Nistelrooy close
to January move?
This is Anfield
Former Man United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy is close
to agreeing a six-month loan move to Liverpool, according to reports on
Wednesday.
The Real Madrid and Holland international is out of favour at the
Bernabeu and with Rafa Benitez seeking cover for Fernando Torres
up-front, van Nistelrooy has been heavily linked with a return to the
Premier League.
The 33 year old is keen to get regular football ahead of next summer’s
World Cup.
Van Nistelrooy made his debut for the Mancs against Liverpool in 2001
and went on to score 150 goals in just 219 appearances for Ferguson’s
team. He joined Real Madrid in summer 2006 where he has an equally
impressive scoring record, with 46 goals in 68 appearances.
A move to Anfield would represent an uncanny resemblance to United’s
signing of former Liverpool forward Michael Owen in the summer. In
2002/03 both players finished as top scorers for their respective clubs,
6 years later they could be playing at opposite ends of the old East
Lancs Road.
DECEMBER 15
Parker lined up as
Mascherano exit looms
By Ben Moss - sport.co.uk
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has reportedly conceded
defeat in his bid to keep Javier Mascherano at Anfield beyond his
current contract, and is keen to bring in a like-for-like replacement in
the shape of West Ham’s Scott Parker report the Sun.
The 25-year-old Argentine captain looks set to leave the Premier League
in the summer in favour of a move to Barcelona, and despite his wish to
keep the player, Benitez has now turned his attentions to the Upton Park
enforcer.
The Sun newspaper suggest Liverpool will make a £6 million bid for the
29-year-old Hammer in January, meaning the England international could
play the remainder of the season alongside Mascherano in the Anfield
engine room. Rafa Benitez is desperate to add some steely resolve to his
side, and the hugely underrate Parker has been earmarked as the perfect
foil for the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Reports intimate, Benitez is hopeful the financial uncertainties
currently surrounding Upton Park will make any potential deal
un-inflated by a January move, and with the club currently languishing
near the foot of the Premier League, Parker may well choose to leave
Gianfranco Zola’s side.
Parker moved to West Ham in June 2007 in a £7 million deal from
Newcastle United. Last season he was voted Hammer of the Year by the
club’s supporters.
DECEMBER 10
Rumour Mill: Reds to swap
Babel for Spurs’ Pavlyuchenko
This is Anfield
Liverpool will offer Dutch international winger Ryan
Babel in a bid to sign Tottenham Hotspur attacker Roman Pavlyuchenko in
the January transfer window, according to reports today.
It is understood that Reds boss Rafa Benitez has finally lost his
patience with Babel who is having yet another uninspiring season at the
club and is ready to offload the 22-year-old.
Spurs signed Pavlyuchenko for £13.8million last September, but now sits
as Tottenham’s fourth choice striker behind Jermaine Defoe, and
ironically former Reds Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch.
The 27-year-old has scored 15 times in 31 appearances for Russia, who
did not qualify for next year’s World Cup.
He scored against Liverpool as Spurs beat the Reds 2-1 in November 2008
to end Benitez’s men’s unbeaten start to the season.
DECEMBER 2
Reds tracking Manga
Teletext
Ecuele Manga's agent Yvan Le Mee has revealed that
Liverpool have been tracking the Angers SCO defender.
Mee would not reveal the names of the clubs who are interested in the
Gabonese player and admitted "there have been no concrete offers".
But he told Le Quotidien du Foot: "(Liverpool scout) Laurent Viaud has
often seen him playing. Liverpool have been following him since last
season."
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