Rafa Benitez - Will Rafa leave?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Voronin signs for Liverpool

Andriy Voronin, the Bayer Leverkusen striker, has completed his move to Liverpool. The Ukranian was out of contract at the Bundesliga club, but the details of the deal are yet to be released.

The 27-year-old has played 44 times for his country, scoring five times. He made his debut against Romania in 2002, and featured in four matches of the side's 2006 World Cup campaign in Germany.

"He is a player with good movement," Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager said. "He's not the kind of player you can talk about strengths because he has many things he can give to us."

Voronin began his professional career with Borussia Moenchengladbach aged 15, before spells with FSV Mainz and FC Cologne. He moved to Leverkusen in 2004, where he scored 21 goals in 71 league games. He encountered English opposition in the form of Blackburn Rovers last season, who the German side defeated in the Uefa Cup.

Despite the recent arrival of Athletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres at Anfield, and potential competition for a starting berth from the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch, Voronin has made it clear he does not intend to play a peripheral role in Benitez's plans for 2007/08.

"I have not made this decision just to sit on the bench," he said. "I have come to get in the team and form a partnership with someone."

Meanwhile, Marseille are expected to announce the signing of Boudewijn Zenden on a free transfer, with the player scheduled to complete a medical later today. The former Holland midfielder, released by Liverpool this summer, is believed to be on the verge of signing a two-year contract.

"He (Zenden) is currently taking medical exams as a pre-condition to him signing, and should then sign for two years at OM (Marseille), before being presented to the press," read a statement from French club's website.

The 30-year-old, who has played for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Liverpool during his career, made his last competitive appearance came in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to AC Milan in the final of last season's Champions League.

Source: The Times

Voronin will wear number 10 next season.

[BlackNess]

yes .. confirmed !!!


Liverpool Complete Voronin Signing

Liverpool Complete Voronin Signing Liverpool's ambition of taking the Premiership by storm next season and finally reclaiming the English top-flight title gained further momentum today with the unveiling of Ukrainian international striker Andriy Voronin, whose signing has now been completed.


Voronin, 27, was out of contract with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said of him: "He is a player with pace and with good movement. He plays between the lines, between defenders. He is a good worker also, and he scores goals.

"He's not the kind of player you can talk about strengths because he has many things he can give to us."

The official Liverpool website, liverpoolfc.tv, reveals that Voronin began his professional career at the age of 15 when Borussia Moenchengladbach saw him in action for Ukraine's Under-16s.

Then the player whse nickname is 'The Raven' moved to FSV Mainz, scoring 20 league goals for them in 2002/03.

Voronin signed for FC Cologne in 2003 but a year later was transferred to Leverkusen - and while there he was on the wrong side of a 6-2 aggregate defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League in 2004-05. He totalled 21 goals in 71 league games for Leverkusen.

On the international stage, Voronin made his Ukraine debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2002, and now has 44 caps (including four at the 2006 World Cup) and five goals to his name.

[red pisces]

Are the Anfield chairmen pulling a fast one?

Only days after the reds broke their transfer record for an upfront fee of around £20 million, George Gillett and Tom Hicks will get back around £16 milion after the proposed transfers of both Djibril Cisse to Marseille and Craig Bellamy to West Ham United.

Djibril’s deal, which was due to be tied up last weekend now looks almost done - the player having agreed personal terms with the French club. West Ham meanwhile are closing in on Craig Bellamy as they look set to lose Carlos Tevez to Manchester United.

With around £3 million banked from the Luis Garcia sale - it appears that Liverpool’s new owners have pulled off the perfect media trick - breaking the record transfer fee without spending any money.

When David Moores sold the club, it was partly on the assumption that there would be significant funds available to spend on player purchases - a figure quoted at the time was £30 million. Rafa may well be happy that he got his man in Torres, but as Malouda looks set for Chelsea, Tevez prepares to head off to United and Liverpool again appear to be slipping amongst the also rans one question remains at the very forefront of our mind?

Where’s our transfer budget Tom and George?

Are the Anfield chairmen pulling a fast one? - Anfield Online - Liverpool FC Website

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rafa don't have all that money as people think.The new owners want him to sell to buy.Liverpool have to sell anyway the useless players who don't any longer tribute in Rafa's plans.Liverpool haven't sold none of their best players who have signed a new contract instead.I hope Liverpool will sell more players this summer.Just to clean up the dirt.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

'Pool bank £16m for Cisse and Bellamy

Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, was stepping up his search for a world-class winger last night after offloading Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse for a combined fee of about £16million.

Bellamy, the Wales forward, has joined West Ham United in a deal worth up to £8million after passing a medical yesterday and putting pen to paper on a four-year contract worth about £70,000 a week.

Yossi Benayoun, the Israel midfield player, is expected to move in the opposite direction and become Liverpool's second significant signing of the summer after the £20.2m capture of Fernando Torres, although a deal had still to be concluded last night.

Liverpool have also agreed to sell Cisse to Marseilles for about £8m. Portsmouth made a bid in the region of £9m for the France forward, but Benitez accepted that the player only wanted to join a club who could offer Champions League football.

Cisse will sign a three or four-year contract with the French club, who have also signed Boudewijin Zenden on a free transfer after the former Holland midfield player was released by Liverpool at the end of last season.

Although Liverpool will make a significant loss on Cisse, whom they signed for £14.2m from Auxerre in 2004, the money from his sale, and that of Bellamy, will give Benitez the funds to make another big-money signing.

Benayoun will offer Benitez more options on the right side of midfield, but the Spaniard is keen to bring in a second winger who can play on either flank. Alessandro Mancini, the AS Roma winger, and Ricardo Quaresma, of FC Porto, are thought to be interesting Benitez, although he appears to have conceded defeat in the chase for Florent Malouda, with the Lyons winger likely to join Chelsea.

Source: News from Ireland & Worldwide - Independent.ie

[Evertonscouser]

I wasn't expecting Liverpool to be spending hugely, probably around or just over what they have previous years. But I believed the Torres transfer would had been fully funded by the yanks, as a way of earning fans' support, bringing in a player of his calibure.
But looking at it now, looks like they have basically got him for the price of the 3 players, and will be saving money on wages, while earning the support of the fans' who don't read into things, and will be happy with a record transfer when infact, this deal could had been done under David Moores.
Saying that I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool did end up spending another 20million, but that would probably be expected anyway by them, no matter who the owner, with champions league football and increased T.v. money.

[BlackNess]

Benitez Confirms Double Striker Sale

Benitez Confirms Double Striker Sale Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has confirmed the sale of Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse and revealed a hope that Yossi Benayoun will join from West Ham United.



West Ham is the destination for Bellamy, who completed his move to Upton Park for a reported £8m, which will earn the Welsh international £75,000 per week.

However, any future transfer of Israeli captain Benayoun will follow seperately, although Benitez does believe that the player is keen on making the move to the Champions League runners-up.

"The deals for Bellamy and Cisse are completed," said Benitez.

"And any move for Benayoun to join us from West Ham will not be linked with the Bellamy sale. We have made an offer which has been rejected.

"He is a player I like and would want to sign, and I believe he wants to join us, but that deal will be separate now. We will have to wait and see what happens now next week."

Cisse was also linked with a move to West Ham, but chose to stay with Marseille where he had been on loan last season. The transfer fee is believed to be around £6m.

Meanwhile reserve winger Paul Anderson has joined Swansea on a season-long loan.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I only want quality signings like Torres.We need players who can improve the team.Not squad players like Benyaoun.It's better to pay a lot for one player instead of signing several players.Liverpool don't need 5 new players.They only need 2-3 more signings and I want high quality!

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rafa eyes two more signings

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes he does not need a major squad overhaul this summer.

Benitez has been relatively quiet in the transfer market so far this summer only bringing in Fernando Torres and Andrei Voronin so far.

The likes of Djibirl Cisse, Luis Garcia and Craig Bellamy have been allowed to leave and Benitez says he would be happy to add just another two new faces to his team before the season gets underway in August.

"We do not need a lot more in terms of new players for next season, maybe two new faces," said Benitez.

"We do have a lot of young players, and maybe some will go out on loan because we do not have enough games for them."

Meanwhile, Benitez has given a ringing endorsement to Jermaine Pennant after he impressed in Liverpool's 3-2 friendly win at Wrexham on Saturday.

Benitez is thought to be looking at signing some new wide players, but Pennant showed he is determined to fight for his place by setting up all three goals at the Racecourse Ground.

"Pennant produced the kind of play that I like, wingers going forward and crossing. He can do this job perfectly," added Benitez.

"He played really well in the Champions League final, and he has now started the pre-season really well also."

Source: Skysports

[red pisces]

Atletico Madrid powerbroker Miguel Angel Gil Marin admits they're running second to Liverpool in the race for Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma.

Atletico have made a £16 million offer for Quaresma, who is stalling on the move as he waits to see if Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is prepared to better it.

"We do not have the finances to compete with Liverpool," admitted Gil Marin. "But we're keeping the door open to Porto for negotiations. We won't give up."

Porto will sell Quaresma to Liverpool should they agree to match their £17 million asking price. The Reds had a £14 million offer rejected last week.

tribalfootball.com - Atletico admit Liverpool Quaresma favourites

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool will not match the £16 million offer from Athletico and the interest for Quaresma has cool down recent days because Porto value him to much.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

According to Liverpool Echo, Liverpool have sold players for £24.5M so far this summer.Craig Bellamy, Luis Garcia, Mark Gonzalez, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Djibril Cissé has leaved the club for cash.Robbie Fowler, Jerzy Dudek and Bolo Zenden has leaved for free.Many players have leaved this summer.Liverpool has only signed two first team player!(Andrej Voronin & Fernando Torres).

[Werdna]

Originally Posted by red pisces

Atletico Madrid powerbroker Miguel Angel Gil Marin admits they're running second to Liverpool in the race for Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma.

Atletico have made a £16 million offer for Quaresma, who is stalling on the move as he waits to see if Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is prepared to better it.

"We do not have the finances to compete with Liverpool," admitted Gil Marin. "But we're keeping the door open to Porto for negotiations. We won't give up."

Porto will sell Quaresma to Liverpool should they agree to match their £17 million asking price. The Reds had a £14 million offer rejected last week.

tribalfootball.com - Atletico admit Liverpool Quaresma favourites

I know it's just tribalfootball but signing Queresma would be awesesome!

Having said that, there were also rumours about Eto, Malouda etc most likely just the usual hype.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Hicks hails Rafa revolution

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks believes manager Rafael Benitez deserves credit for the way he is overhauling his squad.

Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel are set to arrive at Anfield and bolster the club's midfield.

With strikers Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin already on board, there is growing optimism at the club ahead of the new campaign.

But they are refusing to get carried away as champions Manchester United have invested even more heavily in the transfer market.

'United are always going to be a top side and we just have to compete as best we can,' Hicks said.

'Rafa has done a great job.

'We talked to him about a plan and it has gone pretty much how we agreed it would go.

'The first was to get existing core players on our team to sign extensions - it was critical to get those guys locked up.

'Then we started with process of getting new players in. I wouldn't rule Rafa out for one more [transfer]. I know the team is going to be a better team.

'Part of the plan Rafa explained was that we needed to have more depth as it is a long season, particularly in the Premier League.

'He explained to George [Gillett] and me that we were able to compete better in the Champions League because of the format than we were in the nine to 10 months of the Premier League.

'We tried to add to that depth and I think we have.'

Israel midfielder Benayoun is set to secure a deal at Anfield after a fee, believed to be £5million, was agreed with West Ham.

He looks set to to be joined by £10million-rated Ryan Babel in a remarkable double swoop after Ajax gave Liverpool permission to talk to the player.

Benayoun moved to England from Spanish side Racing Santander for £2.5million in 2005 and scored eight goals in 72 games for the club.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said: 'We've agreed the fee with West Ham for Yossi Benayoun.

'We're not quite there with Ryan Babel yet but we've no