Kluivert out - Morientes in ...?

[Pennywise]

NEWCASTLE are trying to sabotage Liverpool's bid for Fernando Morientes by making their own move for the striker.

But Anfield boss Rafa Benitez won't get involved in a bidding war and will switch his attention to Nicolas Anelka if the situation drags on.

Morientes (left) met Real President Fiorentino Perez yesterday to plead to be allowed to join Liverpool.

But Perez is adamant the Reds' £3.5m bid isn't acceptable and continues to overprice the 28-year-old.

A showdown meeting involving Morientes, Perez and the player's agent, Gines Carvaja, took place in Madrid.

Morientes was told he can leave the Bernabeu, but only at the right price.

Madrid still haven't officially rejected Liverpool's first bid for the Spaniard and appear to be trying to inflate his value by involving other clubs.

Madrid officials told the player both Newcastle and Monaco are prepared to pay more than the £3.5m on the table.

There is even a suggestion Geordies boss Graeme Souness is ready to bid as much as £10m for the 28-year-old.

Liverpool are sure to increase their offer to £5m if Real indicate they'll allow Morientes to move to Anfield, but won't go beyond this fee.

The £7m price tag orginally placed on Morientes' head is seen as ridiculous given his age and he has only 18 months left on his contract.

Benitez thinks the ball is in the player's court and his next move will be influenced by how much he feels Morientes wants to come to Anfield.


- Rumours says that Kluivert are finish in the club, and Souness will buy in a new striker. The Magpies have money to transfers in january, and El Moro ain't that expensive. Morientes had been great, but in a other way I like Kluivert a lot and I hope he stay at tyneside.
But Shearer will end his carrier with Newcastle in May, and we need a new quality striker, even if we have Kluivert. I hope we got Morientes, Kluivert, Bellamy and Ameobi in the squad for season 2005/2006.

[toniq]

Don't think he will be coming to Newcastle, he has more interest in Liverpool than any other clubs now. mmm...this case is quite similiar with Rooney's bid !

[Mat]

Yep, it would be good if we get him, but with liverpool very interested and active in buying him and morientes wanting to go to them we have very little chance of getting him

[CovenantElite]

It will be Beattie for the Magpies i would say?? Forget Morientes!

[KyZer]

Well we definately need another striker now, Ameobi is the only fit striker and he even has a shoulder problem and apparantly Morientes has been offered a better deal by Newcastle and have offered more than Liverpool have. Kluivert shouldn't be going anywhere, he just needs to score a few more, but if Morientes comes, I feel it may be the end of Ameobi, he may get pissed off at being 4th choice or even 5th choice then!

[kennethlindheim]

No way he'd join us,ever!