Reds enter Joaquin race

[Morrison]

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has joined the race to sign Real Betis star Joaquin and hopes to persuade the player to snub Real Madrid and Chelsea.

The Anfield manager is keen to add to his Spanish contingency and Betis president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera says that he has now come in for Joaquin.

The Spanish international winger has been the subject of interest from Chelsea throughout the season and the Andalucian club were reported to have turned down a substantial offer from The Blues in January.

The player himself has always stated his desire to join Real Madrid, the club he supports, and it is well known that Florentino Perez is a fan of his.

But Benitez has made his admiration of Joaquin clear and Lopera says that he is already expecting an offer from the Premiership club in the summer.

"There is an English club, with a great Spanish coach. He has just taken his team to the final of the Champions League and knows our market very well and he wants to ensure that Joaquin does not go to Chelsea or Madrid," Lopera revealed.

"It is not always possible to turn down offers and here at Betis we are not going to say that he is not for sale and then go and sell him."

Benitez already has a host of Spaniards at the club but Joaquin is a more recognised name and is hot property in Europe, although The Reds may find it hard to match the financial muscle of real and Chelsea should a bidding war ensue.

[hanuma]

if liverpool can stump up 30 mill then im sure they will get him

[spacka]

champion's league prize money + qualification for next CL money + various sales of players, excluding gerrard = enough for joaquin

[MUFC]

Originally posted by spacka
qualification for next CL money

With the dippers not qualifiying it will cost them between 20-40 millions pound i heard. I remember it would have cost man united 50 million if they failed a few years ago.

[hanuma]

put it this way......the biggest transfer coo for a while.

[kennethlindheim]

Hahaha.
That would be a laugh if they manage to get him.
Lets just say he will either be wearing Blue or White next season.

[The Rule]

Originally posted by kennethlindheim
Hahaha.
That would be a laugh if they manage to get him.
Lets just say he will either be wearing Blue or White next season.

Far more reasons to go to us than Chelski.

I think it's a possibilty. Everyone said we wouldn't get Alonso who was wanted by far more clubs.

[The Rule]

Originally posted by MUFC
With the dippers not qualifiying it will cost them between 20-40 millions pound i heard. I remember it would have cost man united 50 million if they failed a few years ago.

Nonsense.

And if we do win the CL, UEFA will have to let us in next year, otherwise they'll be making a farce of the competition.

[spacka]

but either way,we'll be known as the champions and we'd have been watched by the foreigners more in the CL than in the premiership.

our reputation shall be immense.

[hanuma]

go to chelsea;

1. better wages
2. better place to live
3. better man manager
4. better team with more chance of winning titles
5. liverpool will not be able to offer lopez the money chelsea will and lopez is the one that decides.

[spacka]

gerrard doesn't care about the money.

stay at liverpool

1) £100k a week (regardless of the fact he doesnt care)
2) be a king
3) be a legend
4) captain a team out to cup finals
5) win cup finals
6) up the chance of future england captain, favourite at the moment.

[The Rule]

Originally posted by hanuma
go to chelsea;

1. better wages
2. better place to live
3. better man manager
4. better team with more chance of winning titles
5. liverpool will not be able to offer lopez the money chelsea will and lopez is the one that decides.

Nonsense on all points.

We can pay him just as much as you.
He'll be surrounded by his compatriots at Liverpool
Benitez is a better man-manager and tactician
If Jaoquin arrives, along with 2 or 3 others of similar quality, we'll have just as good a chance of winning the title.

[raphael]

Originally posted by MUFC
With the dippers not qualifiying it will cost them between 20-40 millions pound i heard. I remember it would have cost man united 50 million if they failed a few years ago.

Not stricly true mate, I read the other day that its only worth £30 million if you win the thing, as opposed to 8 million for winning the UEFA cup. Liverpool will win it and UEFA will put them into next seasons competition.

It would have cost United more because of a downturn in foreign sales on replica kits, on the subject of which, I believe Liverpool are about to end their Carlsberg deal, problem is that because its a beer it is illegal for it to be sold in Muslim countries, so they've been missing out on a couple of million every season because of this, which I think is more than the sponsorship's worth.

[The Rule]

great post Raphy, and you're rite about the Carlsberg thing.

If we win CL, we'll get a massive sponsorship deal.