Rumours

April - 2008

 
HEADLINES
2505: Reds agree Degen deal?
2204: Liverpool set to bid £500,000
for Newcastle keeper Harper
1404: Trio linked with move to Anfield
0604: Rafinha in, battle for Bentley,
Kewell and Parry to exit?

 

    

RUMOURS ARCHIVE


APRIL 25
Reds agree Degen deal?

By James Carroll - Shanklygates

Liverpool have reached a pre-contract agreement with Swiss international right-back Philipp Degen, according
to reports.

The Borussia Dortmund defender has allegedly agreed terms on a contract at Anfield and will sign for the club on a free-transfer under the Bosman ruling on July 1.

Manager Rafael Benitez last week confirmed that the club had already come to an agreement for a 'first team' target and the transfer, if reports are correct, will raise doubts over the future of Steve Finnan.

Liverpool have been linked with several players in recent weeks including Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Blackburn Rovers' midfielder David Bentley.


APRIL 22
Liverpool set to bid £500,000
for Newcastle keeper Harper


Daily Mail

Liverpool will launch a summer bid for Newcastle keeper Steve Harper.

The Toon star, 32, has a year left on his contract and could cost as little as £500,000.

Kop boss Rafa Benitez has lost faith in stand-in stopper Charles Itandje and wants Harper to battle Pepe Reina for the No 1 spot, according to reports in The Sun.

In 15 years at St James Park, Harper has made little more than 100 appearances but has played much of this season after Shay Given suffered a serious injury.


APRIL 14
Trio linked with move to Anfield

Liverpool Daily Post

Valon Behrami is being linked with a move to the Premier League.

The Swiss international midfielder has enjoyed an impressive season in Serie A but Lazio would be unable to turn down a big money deal.

Liverpool are one of the clubs he is being linked with, according to web reports.

* * *
Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric has made a ‘come and get me’ plea to Liverpool.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal have been credited with serious interest in the Croatia international this week, but it is Liverpool he pines for.

Modric told Vecernji list: “I don’t wish to discuss possible transfers, but if Liverpool really want me, then this is fantastic and I am truly honoured.

“I watched the Champions League quarter-finals and the way they crushed Arsenal. Only the greatest and the best can play such a match against strong Arsenal.”

* * *
And finally, Lee Cattermole of Middlesborough is again being linked with a move to Anfield in the summer.

The fee currently being talked about is £3million.


APRIL 6
Rafinha in, battle for Bentley,
Kewell and Parry to exit?


Liverpool Daily Post

Schalke defender Rafinha is "almost certain" to move to Anfield in the summer, it has been claimed.

Various newspapers say Rafa Benitez has agreed to pay £6million for the player.

It is reported that Benitez has scouted the Brazilian for most of the season and plans to land the right-sided defender to solve problems his squad has in this area. (various)

Benitez has said he plans to sign three players over the summer.

* * *
Liverpool face a battle with Tottenham if they intend to act on their much-rumoured interest in Blackburn's David Bentley.

Bentley, 23, is thought to want to leave Ewood Park in the summer in search of a bigger club in order to boost his England prospects and it is believed White Hart Lane is now his most likely destination.

Web reports, and the Sunday Express say that although manager Mark Hughes has said recently that he expects Bentley to stay at Rovers it is thought that the lure of a return to London could prove too much for the young midfielder.

With David Beckham recently returned to the England squad, it is also thought that Bentley now believes he must leave Ewood Park if he wants to gain a regular place in the England side under Fabio Capello and Tottenham fits the bill perfectly.

Liverpool have also apparently shown an interest in Bentley as a possible replacement for Jermaine Pennant, who has had little impact at Anfield this season, with a fee thought to be in the region of £10 million.

However, it may be that Bentley would prefer to return to the capital and Juande Ramos has been promised funds to boost his squad in an attempt to break into the ‘Top Four’ and bring Champions League football to White Hart Lane.

* * *
Harry Kewell's future lies in ... Sunderland.

According to Sunday newspapers, out-of-favour Kewell is highly thought of by Roy Keane.

Keane has cash to splash if Sunderland, as is expected, remain in the Premier League.

And according to reports, a contract is already being drawn up.

* * *
Perhaps unsurpisingly, it has been reported that Tom Hicks is less than impressed with Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry.

According to Sunday newspaper reports, Hicks now wants his own man in to run Liverpool FC - once he has managed to buy out George Gillett.

Last weekend, Parry used a BBC interview to say that something needed to be done to sort out the stand-off between Gillett and Hicks.

Hicks, claim reports, now wants his own team to run Liverpool on a day-to-day basis.

Other reports claims Hicks has now put an SOS out to the City to help find a financial backer who can help him cling on to Liverpool.

* * *


Thor Zakariassen ©