Rafa Benitez - Will Rafa leave?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Yes, but he play for Slovakia.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

10% of Slovakia's population are Hungarian.

Really?I didn't know that.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Craig wants end to uncertainty

Out-of-favour Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy is desperate to end speculation over his future.

Bellamy's omission from The Reds' UEFA Champions League final defeat last week appears to have signalled the death knell for his Liverpool career after just one season at Anfield.

While Rafa Benitez is believed to be willing to cash in on the Welshman, the Spaniard has put what could prove a prohibitive £12million valuation on the player's head.

Bellamy gave potential suitors food for thought with his two-goal performance for Wales against New Zealand but the firebrand forward would prefer his future to be resolved sooner rather than later.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is a long-term admirer of the player, who also interests West Ham and former club Blackburn.

"It would be nice if I had a summer without speculation. Everywhere I go there is speculation," Bellamy told the Daily Star.

"There was talk of Aston Villa wanting me within a couple of months of me arriving at Liverpool and that situation doesn't seem to have gone away."

Source: Skysports

He's finished at Liverpool.No way he will play for them next season.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

REDS AGREE DOUBLE HUNGARIAN SWOOP

Liverpool have moved swiftly to bolster their reserve ranks by agreeing deals to sign Hungarian pair Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon from MTK Hungaria.

Nemeth, 18, and Simon, 17, appeared for Hungary in last year's UEFA Under-17 Championships.

The duo are both strikers, although Nemeth also plays in midfield.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv: Official Web Site

[Bentex]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

Yes, but he play for Slovakia.

yeah, doesn't mean he's Slovak does it? Puskás played for Spain since when is he Spanish?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

It just mean he has choosed to play for Slovakia.

[Bentex]

No it doesn't. Southern part of Slovakia is part of Hungary. It was 'awarded' to Czechoslovakia in the treaty of Trianon in 1920 as punishment for Hungary being allied with the Nazis. Transylvania was given to Romania and also parts to Ukraine and Serbia. Hungary was then invaded by the Soviets so they couldn't do anything about reclaiming the land. So now there are 3.5 Million Hungarians all living outside modern day borders without Hungarian citizenship and passports. Németh couldn't play for Hungary because he wasn't given citizenship.

However only in the last 2 years with a new goverment it's more relaxed so Hungarians from wherever can play. Priskin was born in the same town as Németh Szilárd. Kerekes was born in Serbia and Csizmadia in Romania. But all are Hungarians and speak Hungarian as first language.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool deals put on hold for internationals

Rafael Benitez's hopes of finalising new contracts for several key players this week could be frustrated by international commitments.

The Liverpool manager, who had put talks on hold until after last week’s Champions League final against AC Milan, is keen to conclude negotiations as he begins the process of rebuilding his squad.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have agreed to new deals while Pepe Reina has intimated he wants to extend his stay at the club.

But Benitez is likely to have to wait for the trio to put pen to paper given they are involved in Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Steve Finnan will also sign a new contract, and Benitez is hopeful Xabi Alonso can agree a fresh deal despite interest from Barcelona.

Benitez, who is now on a short holiday, last week revealed his growing exasperation at the length of time taken for contract and transfer dealings to be concluded at Anfield.

Those comments prompted a transatlantic conference call on Friday evening involving American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, their respective sons Foster and Tommy, chief executive Rick Parry and Benitez himself.

And reports over the weekend suggest the Liverpool manager expects the first major new signing of the summer to be on board by the end of the week.

With the Spanish league season still ongoing, that would appear to rule out, at least for now, the likes of David Silva, David Villa, Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres.

Instead, efforts are more likely focused on targets elsewhere, which include Benfica’s Simao Sabrosa, Lyon’s Florent Lamouda and Carlos Tevez of West Ham United.

Any new arrival would be the latest step of a major summer overhaul for Benitez’s squad. Mark Gonzalez, Jerzy Dudek, Robbie Fowler and Bolo Zenden have played their last games for the club while the futures of Craig Bellamy, Harry Kewell and John Arne Riise are uncertain.

Sami Hyypia could be another to depart, with promoted Sunderland joining neighbours Newcastle United in attempting to capture the Finnish centre-back.

Momo Sissoko, though, wants to extend his Anfield career – provided he remains a part of Benitez’s long-term plans.

The midfielder will seek talks with the Liverpool manager over his future with Barcelona thought to be tracking the Mali international.

Sissoko, who had been struggling with a knee injury, didn’t even make the bench for the Champions League final defeat in Athens last Wednesday.

And the 22-year-old said: “At the beginning of the season I played a lot, but then I play, not play, play, not play – for me I am not happy.

“Now I'm 22, and I know I am still a young player, but now I need to progress because playing every game is important to me.

“I've two years left on my contract and I'm happy with Liverpool. But I need to play football and now after the final I need to know my position.”

Meanwhile, reports in Hungary claim Liverpool have signed Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon from MTK Hungaria.

Strikers Nemeth, 18, and Simon, 17, appeared for Hungary in last year’s UEFA Under-17 Championships.

Source: icLiverpool

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I think Rafa should get rid of Riise and look for a new left back.He should get rid of Aurelio aswell.

[NJ10]

I agree.

but he will struggle to find many takers i think for Aurelio, especially considering he has a pretty bad injury.

i think Rafa needs to be ruthless this summer and ship players out, starting with the likes of Zenden, Riise, Kewell, Bellamy, Gonzalez, Aurelio & Paletta, and maybe even Sissoko & Crouch or Kuyt as well. we would get a decent wedge for that lot, and could pursue top players instead of the "runners up trophy" players we have been more often not lumbered with over the last couple of (more like 10) seasons.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Benitez preparing Malouda raid

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is reportedly lining up a £10million bid for Lyon's French international Florent Malouda this week.

Benitez held talks with Reds owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett last week, and was reassured that he would be given the money to pursue his summer transfer targets.

And according to the Daily Mirror, Malouda is near the top of his wish-list, which also includes Sevilla's Daniel Alves of Sevilla, Gabriel Milito of Real Zaragoza and Barcelona's star striker Samuel Eto'o.

French footballer of the year Malouda has indicated he wants his future sorted quickly while Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas insists a deal, which would cost around £10-15million, must be done by the end of June.

Malouda said: "If nothing happens from now that means the clubs who have approached me are not convinced.

"If that's the case, there is no point in leaving - I don't want to go wherever.

"If I leave it will be under the best circumstances for me and for Lyon."

One of Benitez's main complaints is the club do not move quickly enough in the transfer market, and this opportunity to swoop for Malouda will be a key indication of the American owners' willingness to live up to their word.

Benitez has said: "It is always talk, talk, talk. Nothing happens.

"There are top-class players we can sign now for a reasonable fee but we have to move quickly."

Malouda has been an integral member of the Lyon side that has won six successive Ligue 1 titles and he's also established himself in the national team.

Benitez is planning a significant overhaul of the club, which suffered defeat in the Champions League final last week, and the likes of Craig Bellamy, Sami Hyypia, Harry Kewell and John Arne Riise could join Robbie Fowler, Mark Gonzalez, Bolo Zenden, Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson as surplus to requirements.

This clear-out would free up extra funds for six or seven new players of which Malouda is expected to be one.

However the Reds will face competition from Europe's biggest clubs with the 26-year-old winger linked with Juventus, Chelsea and Manchester United in the past.

Source: FOX Sports

I've never fancy this player.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Just who is on Rafael Benitez's shopping list?

Rafael Benitez has urged Liverpool's new backers to provide the funds to take the club to the next level in the wake of their Champions League final defeat by AC Milan.

Sportsmail takes a look at some of the players linked with the Anfield club recently.

FERNANDO TORRES:
Long linked with a move to England, the young Atletico Madrid skipper is certainly attainable. He has a buy-out clause of around 30million euros (£20million) and is willing to consider offers.

SAMUEL ETO'O:
His latest posturing saw Eto'o claim he will stay at Barcelona, but either he or Ronaldinho will leave this summer. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United will also be interested but with some cunning manoeuvring Liverpool could attract the Cameroon striker.

DAVID VILLA:
It is almost universally accepted Villa will move to the Premiership, quite possibly joined by Eto'o and Torres. He would be better suited than the other two to play alongside Dirk Kuyt, but may prefer to remain at Valencia or perhaps replace Eto'o at the Nou Camp.

GABRIEL MILITO:
The transfer talk has so far been almost exclusively about forwards. But while Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger have formed a solid partnership at the back, Benitez could do with adding some competition for places and quality to his defensive ranks - and Real Zaragoza's Argentinian Milito fits the bill. However, Barca are also interested.

SIMAO:
A long-term target, Benfica captain Simao would add flair and versatility for around £15million. Able to perform as a second striker or wide on either flank, the 27-year-old would be a quality addition, with Bolo Zenden and Mark Gonzalez heading out of the door.

DANI ALVES:
Benitez could have signed the flying Brazilian right-back for around £12million last summer but the Reds balked at Sevilla's asking price. A year on, he will command a fee of approximately £25million.

CARLOS TEVEZ:
The Argentinian firebrand had a sensational season at West Ham in highly testing circumstances. Real Madrid apparently head the queue for his services with plenty of others interested. Liverpool would doubtlessly be included in that group, but have other priorities.

DIMITAR BERBATOV:
One of the Premiership's stand-out performers in the 2006-07 season for Tottenham, the Bulgarian striker is hot property but Spurs will fight tooth and nail to retain his services.

Source: The Daily Mail

They forgot to mention Florent Malouda.

[NJ10]

I spent last summer whinging about how Malouda (and Abidal) didnt deserve to be playing in a World Cup, let alone the final. But he has played well in the games I've seen him play in this season, and he has a better CV than a lot of our other targets/signings, Lyon are a good side, and he is an important player for them, as well as a regular French international.

£10m is a fair whack, and it would surely mean the end of Kewell & Gonzo....

[russe||]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

Craig wants end to uncertainty


Source: Skysports

He's finished at Liverpool.No way he will play for them next season.

Apparently O'Neil wants Bellamy at Villa Park but MON might have been scared off by Liverpool's £12m, yes £12m, asking price.