OCTOBER 20
Benitez
shows interest
in Wigan's Zaki
The Irish Times
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed he is
checking on Wigan striker Amr Zaki, after the Egyptian hit a memorable
double at Anfield.
Zaki has taken the Premier League by storm this season with seven goals in
his first eight games making him the top-scorer in England's top-flight.
He highlighted his form with a brilliant brace at Liverpool, which included
a stunning acrobatic volley in front of The Kop.
Wigan signed the forward on loan from El Zamalek in the summer and claim
they have first refusal on a permanent deal.
However in recent days Zamalek have insisted they will sell the player to
whichever club they want, and Manchester City are already thought to have
made contact via their new Abu Dhabi-based owners.
"We will have the right to sell Zaki to any club," Zamalek president Mamdouh
Abbas stated.
But Benitez, who looks set to be in the market for a new frontman come
January, has intriguingly admitted he will also be taking a close look at
Zaki after his outstanding display against the Spaniard's side on Saturday.
"Everybody will be checking his situation now," Benitez admitted.
OCTOBER 19
Sheikh Al
Maktoum drops
Liverpool takeover talks
tribalfootball.com
Billionaire Arab Sheikh Al Maktoum has dropped his pursuit
of Liverpool.
The News of the World says after months of stalemate, representatives from
Dubai are ready to pull the plug on negotiations with Tom Hicks and George
Gillett Jr.
The Americans’ failure to budge from their valuation in excess of £400m
finally forced the Sheikh’s patience to snap.
Although Dubai International Capital had already announced the end of their
interest, the Dubai Royal family had instructed other investment groups
within their organisation to maintain their pursuit of the Merseysiders.
OCTOBER 17
Liverpool FC
target Heskey return
By Nick Smith - Daily Post
Liverpool are considering a surprise move to bring Emile
Heskey back to Anfield.
Rafael Benitez has been impressed with the renaissance of the 30-year-old at
Wigan Athletic during the past 18 months.
Heskey’s form earned him a recall to the England squad last autumn and he
has since cemented himself as first-choice under present national team coach
Fabio Capello, playing a major role in the 3-1 win in Belarus on Wedneday.
Despite shelling out almost £20m to bring Robbie Keane from Tottenham
Hotspur in the summer, Benitez is contemplating further strengthening his
forward options.
And with Heskey out of contract at the end of the season, he would most
likely only cost a nominal fee should he leave the JJB Stadium during the
January transfer window.
The England international would offer an alternative style to the strikers
currently on Liverpool’s books, particularly in the Premier League with the
Anfield outfit having made a strong start to the campaign.
And the lack of proven Premier League forwards Benitez has at his disposal
is set to be cruelly exposed in forthcoming games after Fernando Torres was
predicted to be out for “10 to 15 days” with a hamstring injury.
Following England’s game in Minsk, Heskey was quizzed on whether he fancied
another crack at Champions League football and he replied: “Everyone wants
to be playing on these stages and for their club in the Champions League.
“It’s a nice situation that I’m in, but I’m still a Wigan player and I want
to do my best for them.”
OCTOBER 14
Mourinho keen on England return
to make Liverpool special once more
Daily Mail
Sources close to Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho say
that the 'Special One' would like to return to England - to manage
Liverpool.
Mourinho, who endured titanic Champions League battles with the Merseysiders
during his spell as Chelsea manager, has been open about his desire to
return to England.
Upon leaving Chelsea in September last year, Mourinho remarked: 'I will come
back and manage here in England, but I don’t want it as my next step - it
must be another country, another experience, another football.'
True to form, Mourinho took over the reigns at the San Siro, yet although
Inter lie joint first in Serie A, Mourinho's press relations are far from
cordial.
After failing to show up for a post-match conference after Inter's win at
Lecce last month, Mourinho blasted his critics, saying: 'You're not in love
with football as I thought you would be.
'All I can see is that everyone is obsessed with little things and not the
things that count.'
With Mourinho recently renewing his League Managers Association membership,
speculation is mounting that the two-time Premier League winner could be
just the man to lift the first league title at Anfield since Kenny Dalglish
in 1990.
OCTOBER 13
Liverpool
eye cut-price Bentley deal
Kop-TV
According to The People, Liverpool are lining up an offer
to tempt Spurs winger David Bentley to the club.
Bentley blamed his poor form on Juande Ramos’s decision to play him out of
position. Now he may get the opportunity to resurrect his England career.
Rafael Benitez, has long been an admirer of the winger but Bentley’s
£15million price tag seemed to high for Liverpool.
OCTOBER 12
Liverpool eye Cavenaghi
By Will Wood - Goal.com
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly set to test
Bordeaux’s resolve with a £13 million bid for Fernando Cavenaghi, though the
French club remain committed to retaining the striker’s services.
The Argentina international has been a huge hit at the club since his move
in January 2007 following a disappointing spell in Russia with Spartak
Moscow, netting 22 goals in 35 matches last term and, famously, 10 times in
9 games during a purple patch.
And while Reds manager Benitez has a number of options at his disposal in
the striking department, the former Valencia boss is reportedly keen to
offload Dirk Kuyt to make way for a more prolific goalscorer to ease the
pressure on Fernando Torres.
How much money Benitez has at his disposal when the transfer window re-opens
on 1st January remains to be seen, though Cavenaghi’s price could rocket
should other clubs become embroiled in a tug-of-war.
The 25-year old is thought to be keen on a move to England, joining
compatriots such as Carlos Tevez and Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano in the
Premier League.
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