LFC Daily Update News & Rumours

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Inter Milan are set to make £40m bid for Liverpool and England star Steven Gerrard, with Manchester United and Chelsea also on alert, according to reports.

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Peter Crouch and Sami Hyypia could soon commit their futures to the club. That is the view of Reds boss Rafa Benitez after speculation that both could leave in the summer, particularly Crouch, who has often been used as substitute and has been targeted by Manchester City and Portsmouth. But Benitez believes the striker will soon commit to a new long-term contract, while veteran Hyypia wants to complete 10 years at Anfield and will agree a one-year extension.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool move for £12 City midfielder

Liverpoool have launched a £12million move to sign Manchester City's Michael Johnson in the summer, according to reports.

The Daily Mail believes that it is the Liverpool boss's third attempt to take the 20-year-old midfielder to Anfield and evidence that the Spaniard is intent on building up his squad.

Liverpool renewed their approach to City in the past few days and negotiations are at an advanced stage, with Johnson's heart set on a switch that was first mooted about a year ago.

Benitez is committed to capturing Johnson whether or not Sven Goran Eriksson succeeds in tempting Peter Crouch to Eastlands in a swap proposal that was set up to take place in January.

The exchange was put on ice when Johnson underwent surgery on a groin injury and Portsmouth have since mounted an attempt to lever Crouch from Eriksson's grasp.

But Benitez wants Johnson anyway and will offer either straight cash or players in part-exchange.

Source: Lancashire Evening Post, Lancashire, Preston, North End, PNE, news, sport, business, education, transport, travel, traffic, latest, updates, local, regional, national, M6, international, Deepdale, Sir Tom Finney, weird world, newspaper, morecambe, re

IMO Liverpool don't need another centre mid. There are other positions Liverpool need to reinforce first...

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is chasing Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry. The Sun says Benitez is believed to have contacted Villa about a £12million move for Barry, 27, and has made signing the England midfielder his top priority. Villa boss Martin O'Neill is desperate to keep Barry. He has promised to improve his skipper's current £50,000-a-week deal, which has two years left to run.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

The agent of Roma defender Philippe Mexes has revealed he came close to joining Liverpool.

Olivier Jeanneaux said: "When he was considered fourth-choice defender at Roma we received an offer from Liverpool. He could have joined Liverpool on-loan, but he told me he did not want to leave because he loved the city and the club so much."

[Mighty T.A.L.]

John Arne Riise has not been offered a new deal at Anfield, which has sparked rumours of a move to Newcastle United.

The Norweigan has been left frustrated this season, playing second fiddle to Fabio Aurelio, who Rafael Benitez has favoured in the left-back role.

Kevin Keegan has made sorting out that position a main priority in the summer, having been less than impressed with current player, Jose Enrique.

Money will not be a problem for Keegan, who has the full backing of multi-millionaire owner, Mike Ashley. A projected fee of £5 million would be enough to persuade Liverpool to sell their unsettled star, whose contract expires in 2009.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Hicks: Parry has been a disaster for Liverpool

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has thrown the club into further turmoil by describing chief executive Rick Parry's time at the club as a 'disaster'.

Hicks last week called on Parry to resign, but the former Premier League chief - who retains the support of co-owner George Gillett - rejected the demand.

With Hicks and Gillett, who each own 50 per cent of the club, no nearer to resolving their battle for control and Parry and manager Rafa Benitez also failing to see eye to eye, off-field issues are in danger of engulfing the club ahead of next week's Champions League semi-final with Barcelona.

Breaking his recent media silence, Hicks said: 'Look at what's happened under Rick.

'It has been a disaster. 'We have fallen so far behind the other leading clubs.

'We should have the stadium built by now. We have a few major sponsors when we should have 15. We have still got the top brand in the world of football but that's no good if you don't know how to commercialise it.

'Rick needs to resign from Liverpool FC. He has put his heart into it but it is time for a change. You have to be able to work with the manager and Rick has proved he can't do that.'

The Texan also revealed he plans to rid the club of all debt by heading up a group of financial backers willing to invest in the club.

Hicks, who revealed Parry had taken part in the meeting with German coach Jurgen Klinsmann that undermined Benitez, blamed him for Liverpool's failure to compete commercially with their Premier League rivals.

On the meeting in New York last year about Klinsmann becoming manager, Hicks added: 'George became good friends with him (Klinsmann) a year ago. I get this call from George out of the blue in which he says "have your people do their research on Klinsmann".

'He and Rick set up the meeting in New York. I did go to the meeting along with my son Tom. Rick Parry had already met with Jurgen alone for a couple of hours when we arrived. We all then spoke to him for another four hours.

'Afterwards I told the truth to a reporter who asked the question and suddenly it is "Tom Hicks tried to get Jurgen Klinsmann". George initiated it but we all participated.'

Source: News, sport, celebrity, reviews, competitions, tickets, dating, games, holidays | Metro.co.uk

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Gillett/Parry Vs. Hicks... Everyone was involved and there is everyone to blame. Someone have to go. What's best for the club is more silence. To much drama we could be without.

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Liverpool is being linked with 23-year-old Udinese star Gokhan Inler. The £8million-rated midfielder, who is of Turkish origin but has full international honours for Switzerland, has apparently come to the attention of both Sven Goran Eriksson and Rafael Benitez after a fine season in Serie A.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rafael Benitez has began looking for a new striker to partner Fernando Torres, and his name is Oscar Trejo. However, Benitez is expected to cough up his complete buy-out clause which runs up to £7 Million. Oscar Trejo currently plays for Real Mallorca and has played 20 games and scored 1 goal. Reports during the summer claim that Benitez tried to sign Trejo on loan, but the two clubs couldn’t reach an agreement for the 19 year old striker.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Dubai International Capital are convinced the groundwork they've laid will see them complete a successful takeover of Liverpool.

The Independent says DIC, which has hugely ambitious plans for Liverpool and has been trying to acquire the club for two years, is supremely confident that it will finally reach its goal in the next few weeks. It has already agreed a deal with George Gillett, who is prepared to accept less than Tom Hicks to make sure the club's future is secure - even though both businessmen will make a healthy return on the £220m they paid 18 months ago.

DIC appears sure that Hicks' public attempts to find the finance to acquire the club outright for himself are doomed to failure. DIC expects the Texan to sell to it and believes he is now just posturing.

Meetings have continued behind the scenes over the last few weeks, including several with former players and people who have influence at the club, as DIC wants to make sure it has the fans' approval, which the company believes is vital.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool are preparing a shock bid for Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper. The Sun says 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.

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The Mirror claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez is considering a bid for Atlético Madrid captain Maxi Rodríguez. The 27-year-old has been a mainstay of the Atleti lineup since his big-money move from Espanyol in 2005.

After the departure of Fernando Torres for Liverpool, he was even appointed as club captain. But now, if these latest rumours are anything to go by, Javier Aguirre will again be on the lookout for a new skipper as Rafa Benítez weighs up the prospect of a bid.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool close in on Swiss defender transfer target

LIVERPOOL are closing in on the signing of Swiss international right-back Philipp Degen – as Rafael Benitez revealed that he discussed summer transfer targets with co-owner Tom Hicks at Melwood this week.

Hicks visited Liverpool’s training ground on Wednesday to meet Benitez and both parties have described the talks as being positive.

The Spaniard claims that the main topic of discussion was identifying potential new signings to bolster his squad for next season and one of the first of them should be Borussia Dortmund’s Degen, 25, who is out of contract with the German club at the end of the current campaign.

Benitez remained tight-lipped yesterday as to how close Liverpool are to sealing the move, confirming that talks are “progressing” for at least one of his targets but it is believed that many of the crucial elements of the deal are already in place.

Degen has made more than 70 Bundesliga appearances since his move from Basel, where his twin brother David still plays, in 2005.

Liverpool are also running the rule over Athletic Bilbao centre-back Fernando Amorebieta having sent one of their scouts to watch him in Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing of Benitez’s former club Valencia.

The 6ft3in 23-year-old has been attracting interest from several Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Amorebieta was born in Venezuela but he moved to the Basque country, where both his parents originate from, as a youngster.

Benitez claims that ownership issues of the club did not crop up during his talks with Hicks at Melwood but confirmed that transfer discussions were top of the agenda. He said: “It was a very positive meeting. We were talking about some targets, everybody knows the names and how we have to progress.

“I think everyone agrees, we are progressing and I am satisfied. I have two owners, a chief executive and as manager I have a responsibility to improve the squad for next season.”

Benitez added: “We have a scouting department that is doing a fantastic job. The key is to inform everyone, so that everyone knows what the situation is.

“I don’t think we will need too much. The squad is much better now. We know what we need to sign, maybe four or five players. I don’t think we will need to spend big, big money, it is just doing the deals at the right moment.”

Benitez also revealed that the situation regarding the Anfield hierarchy speaking to Jurgen Klinsmann had also been clarified.

Liverpool’s owners disclosed that they had spoken to the former German national team coach late last year after a fall-out with Benitez over his role regarding transfers.

However, with the Spaniard hoping to remain at Anfield and now supposedly backed by Hicks, the situation has been resolved.

Benitez said: “I clarified everything. (regarding Klinsmann). We were talking about our targets. I think everyone will agree with the targets we want to sign and that is important for me.”

Meanwhile, Benitez confirmed that left-back Fabio Aurelio, who was stretchered off during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday will be out for three weeks.

The Brazilian suffered a tear to his adductor muscle and will miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign but could return for the Champions League final should Liverpool reach Moscow.

IN the early hours of this morning Liverpool unveiled their new home strip which they will wear for the next two seasons, on the club website Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

It is the normal all-red design with kit manufacturers adidas’s three stripes down the sleeves. The goalkeeper’s jersey is black with red stripes.

The kit, which has a white V-neck and is closest in design to that worn in the club’s trophy-laden period of late 1970s and early 80s, will be launched on May 22. You can view and pre-order the kit from the club website.

PETER CUMISKEY’S 84th-minute penalty gave Marine the Liverpool Senior Cup as they beat Liverpool Reserves 1-0 at College Road in last night’s final.

After Ronald Huth was adjudged to have handled, the Mariners forward sent keeper Peter Gulacsi the wrong way to give the UniBond League Premier Divison side the trophy.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post - Liverpool news, Liverpool FC news, Everton FC news, business news and entertainment from the European Capital of Culture 2008