Showing posts with label Liverpool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liverpool. Show all posts

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Liverpool beat Barca and Spurs to sign Saric

June 26, 2008 (1 hour ago) · By fiz

Liverpool have agreed to sign teenage striker Nikola Saric from Herfolge. All club and personal terms have been agreed and 17-year-old is set to sign the contract soon.

“It is a unique opportunity for me,” the Denmark Under-18 international informed Dagbladet Koge.

“I will train with the big names over there and there is time for me to develop at reserve level. I am very pleased with the development as it has been a very tough season for me.” he added

Sports Director Per Rud told the club’s official website, “We are pleased and proud that Nikola has gone to one of the world’s best football clubs. We would have liked to have earned more money from Nikola but his injury and the fact that his contract expired in the New Year made it difficult.

“Liverpool acted extremely well in all cases and knew all the details. They have been fair in the process and could’ve waited until the New Year but they will have him over now.”

Tottenham, Barcelona and Charlton were among the other clubs interested in signing Saric.

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from kop-tv.com

REDS CLOSING ON DOSSENA DEAL

Liverpool Football Club expect to complete the signing of left-back Andrea Dossena next week, chief executive Rick Parry has confirmed.
A deal to bring the 26-year-old Udinese defender to Anfield is almost tied up and is likely to be confirmed on the club's official website shortly.

Parry said: "We are now ready to confirm the signing of Dossena. The deal should go through next week after finalising the paperwork."

The full-back, who has one Italy cap to his name, will become the second new addition to Rafa Benitez's squad following the free transfer of Swiss defender Philipp Degen.

Dossena is seen as an ideal replacement for John Arne Riise, who departed for Serie A side Roma last week.

Parry continued: "John was an incredibly enthusiastic defender who was always a great pro.

"He worked hard and never gave us a minute's trouble. The fans will remember that powerful shot of his that brought them to their feet on many occasions.

"We had a good chat about his time here and he wants to thank the fans for the support he was given down the years. He secured Champions League and FA Cup success at Anfield and also helped us win the Worthington Cup and two European Super Cups."

by Jimmy Rice 26 June 2008 ,LiverpoolFC.TV

Liverpool sign Dutch youngster

It’s reported in the the DutchNews.nl that Liverpool have signed 17-year-old striker Vincent Weijl from AZ Alkmaar. He’ll be joining the U-18 Academy as a first year trainee.

From the club’s official site, it states that Weijl has played for AFC Amsterdam and Ajax before.

From KopTV.Com

Liverpool setting up Swedish feeder club?

According to the Swedish paper Sydsvenskan (and the posters on RAWK), Husie IF from Malmö is going to work together with the Liverpool FC in developing quality youngsters from the region.

Four of the club’s brightest talents will be given a chance to impress at the Liverpool Academy this summer. 15-year old Philipe Andersson Toth was recommended by scout Jimmy Hansen. He’s the eldest among the four.

The other three youths are 14-year olds Nicola Zivanovic and Karl Björnstedt Bozbey and 13-year old Andreas Rosén.

Source: Sydsvenskan & Lokal

from KOPTV.Com

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Babel to be key for Reds - Rush

Dutch winger Babel scored 10 goals last season after being brought to Anfield in a £10million deal from Ajax last summer.

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel will become one of the Premier League's most-feared attackers next season, according to Reds legend Ian Rush.

Babel: In and out of the side last season
Babel: In and out of the side last season

Although he was in and out of the side during the season, he showed on occasions - especially during his appearance when coming off the bench against Arsenal in the Champions League - just what he is capable of.

But the 21-year-old's season was cruelly ended when he tore ligaments in his ankle last month, ruling him out of Holland's Euro 2008 squad.

Rush told the Daily Post: "I think Babel will get better and better. It's a shame he's missed the championships because the experience would have done him a world of good.

"I think we'll be looking for him to get more involved next season and play more games. When he runs at defences he's direct and he's a menace. He's big and strong and we'll see progress from Babel if he's back fully fit. He's had a year now in the Premier League and he knows what it's all about, so hopefully he'll keep getting better."

from teamtalk.com

Friday, June 20, 2008

Reds duo plan to end feud

Gillett and Hicks playing nice

Warring Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are trying to repair their fractured relationship.

The pair have been at loggerheads over a number of issues this year, leading Gillett to describe their partnership as "unworkable".

There were fears the public feud between the billionaire businessmen would create anarchy at Anfield - including affecting the spending plans of manager Rafael Benitez - but a ceasefire appears to have been called between the two factions.

In an interview with Canadian radio station Fan590 late on Thursday night, Gillett revealed: "It's fair to say that communication between the Hicks and the Gilletts has been substantially improved and I believe that it will be for the benefit of the club.

"Time is a healer and there were things that had happened previously. It took a while for both of us to realise that we weren't communicating very well and the huge responsibility we have to the fans to do the right thing for the club.

"I believe that the Hicks family are communicating better with us and we're communicating better with them and I think that will be much better for the club."

Gillett refused to confirm whether this meant he no longer wanted to sell his half of the club to Dubai International Capital.

But he added: "All of us are focused on the transfer window and we want to be ready for that and we want to have adequate resources and good communication with Rafa and our hope is that we're making better progress."

Gillett insists he is focused on backing Benitez's attempts to improve on last season's trophyless campaign.

"What did I think of last season's performance?" he said.

"I'd rather let the fans make that decision. But for a club that has a history of winning trophies, any season that you don't win one of the five or six trophies that we compete for, I suspect the fans, as well as the Hicks and Gilletts, are disappointed.

"But overall I felt that the team played quite well, particularly beginning and late.

"I think they were very representative and I think (Fernando) Torres was a wonderful selection.

"By summer, I think the rest of the boys played quite well and we have to help Rafa try and be more competitive in the chase for the Premier League."

Liverpool fans had been divided on which side to take during the Gillett-Hicks feud, with many unhappy with both parties.

Gillett admits to being taken aback by the passion of the club's supporters but vowed to live up to his responsibility as joint custodian at Anfield.

"Soccer is the leading sport in the world and it's just shocking how popular Liverpool is. So it surprised me, but it really is an amazing responsibility," he said.

"We've always felt that for the 40-plus years I've been around professional sport that we really hold these assets in trust for the fans and that we have an obligation to the fans. We feel that very strongly in Montreal and Liverpool."

FROM itv-football

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Benítez targets £20m Silva

by Andy Hunter and Tom Kington
The Guardian,Friday June 20, 2008

Rafael Benítez has targeted the Valencia midfielder David Silva for a summer move to Liverpool providing he can raise the funds necessary to prise the Spain international from the Mestalla.

The 22-year-old Silva is valued at £20m by Valencia and so is beyond Benítez's budget as the Liverpool manager concentrates his resources on Gareth Barry and Andrea Dossena. Should Benítez complete those deals and increase his funds with the sales of Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch, Scott Carson and Jermaine Pennant, and with almost £4m now banked from the departure of John Arne Riise to Roma, he will turn to Silva in the search for quality wide players for next season.

Valencia's price tag would remain prohibitive but Liverpool hope the current financial pressures at the Spanish club, with Benítez's former employers having to fund a new stadium, will force them to reduce the asking price for the versatile Silva. The player is also close to Liverpool's chief scout, Eduardo Macia, who coached him through Valencia's youth system.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Riise Officially A Roma Player

Full back John Arne Riise has completed his move from Liverpool to AS Roma on a four year deal.

Riise Officially A Roma Player

The rumours of the last few days regarding Norwegian full back John Arne Riise did not leave much space for speculations, and neither did his brief visit to Rome. The former Liverpool player's future is no longer in doubt: he has just signed a contract with AS Roma, who announced the transfer on a note on its official website. Liverpool will receive 5 million euros in exchange, to be paid in four terms before January 2010. As usual, there are a series of bonuses connected to results of the team and performances of the player. Riise will be paid 2.8 million euros for the next four seasons until 2012. The Norwegian international had joined the Reds in 2001, winning a number of trophies, including the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006.

by Danilo Pochini,Goal.com

Monday, June 16, 2008

Riise Pushing For Roma Deal

John Arne Riise has admitted that he is eager to leave Liverpool for Roma but at the same time he admitted his concern that the Reds will rpice him out of a deal.

Riise Pushing For Roma Deal

The arrival of Italian defender Andrea Dossena means that the powerful Norwegian is likely to get the chop this summer, with Serie A side Roma mooted to be the most likely destination.

Rafa Benitez recently admitted that he would be willing to part with the 27-year-old for the right price, which currently looks to be set at £5 million.

Roma boss Luciano Spalletti has already gone on record sa saying that Riise would be a good fit, but is likely to baulk at the current asking price.

"That was nice what was said by the coach (Spalletti), but this is only something I have heard from media reports," said Riise.

"I have only one year of my contract left, so the price is lower than a year ago - 50 million Norwegain Kroner seems a little high for me.

"I need to play and need to be in a team where I can become better, because I know I can become better.

"When you change club, you get a kick-start and a set of new challenges."

by Derek Wanner, Goal.com

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Villa Tempted By Liverpool Move

Spanish striker David Villa has admitted that the prospect of moving to England and playing for Liverpool is an attractive one, stating that the idea of linking up with former Valencia coach Rafael Benítez is tempting...

Villa Tempted By Liverpool Move

Villa, 26, is currently one of the hottest properties in Europe having already scored four goals in two games for his country at Euro 2008.

The Valencia striker who will quit the Mestalla this summer had been reported as saying he would prefer to remain in Spain, despite interest from several Premier League clubs.

Yet it now appears that the lure of Liverpool, with their Spanish contingent, including manager Rafael Benitez and fellow striker Fernando Torres, may have changed his mind.

“Liverpool and Chelsea are both big clubs with a lot of attraction,” he said before adding, “Liverpool have a Spanish coach and I also have a lot of friends there.”

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is clearly a fan of the striker having previously tried, unsuccessfully, to sign Villa when he was Valencia manager, something Villa is aware of. He said: “When Rafa was coach at Valencia and I was at Zaragoza there was contact about me joining Valencia but I couldn’t arrive until the year after he left there.”

Villa eventually signed for Valencia from Zaragoza in 2005 and has gone on to make 101 appearances for the club, scoring 58 goals.

He is currently playing for Spain in Euro 2008 and after scoring a hat trick in his opening game against Russia, went on to hit a last minute winner against Sweden last night to send his side through to the quarter finals of the competition.

by Gill Clark,Goal.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Barry Demands Liverpool Switch

Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry has edged yet closer to Liverpool after pleading with manager Martin O’Neill to let him leave…

Barry Demands Liverpool Switch

The Merseyside giants have rather forwardly courted the England midfielder over the last two months, much to the ire of O’Neill.

The Villa boss has rebuffed a number of offers, including a ₤12million bid and a host of offers involving part player-swaps.

O’Neill is determined to keep hold of his skipper, who starred all season as Villa secured a sixth-place finish.

But Barry, who has timidly hinted up till now that he would be keen on the move, has finally demanded to be transferred as he seeks European glory.

“Gareth has spoken to Martin since he returned from England’s game in Trinidad and told him how he feels,” Barry’s agent Alex Black said in The Sun.

“At this stage of his career Gareth wants to be playing Champions League football and believes this is his chance to do it.”

Barry is ready to link up with close friend and England team-mate Steven Gerrard, who has publicly urged Reds boss Rafael Benitez to sign the 27-year-old.

Liverpool with nonetheless have to improve their offer if they wish to bring the former Brighton youth to Anfield, with O’Neill reportedly holding out for no less than ₤15million.

by Mike Maguire,Goal.com

Monday, June 9, 2008

First set of accounts pile pressure on Liverpool’s warring owners

More than 300 Liverpool fans spent yesterday posting eviction notices at Anfield, demanding repossession of the club, and the pressure on Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the warring American owners, will increase with the publication of their first set of accounts.

Kop Football (Holdings) Ltd, one of the club’s parent companies, made a £33 million loss in the year ending July 31, 2007, according to accounts submitted to Companies House last week. The club’s £350 million loans will also have to be refinanced as early as January and the club must pay interest on a £64 million loan from Kop Football Ltd, its immediate parent company.

The accounts reveal that the owners wrote off £10.3 million when they scrapped the club’s design for a new stadium after their takeover in February 2007 and Liverpool fans will be irked to learn that the co-owners claimed more than £1.4 million in expenses in the seven-month period concerned.

by timesonline.co.uk

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Riise Set For Roma

Liverpool defender John Arne Riise may be about to move to Serie A side Roma in a £5 million deal, if reports are to be believed...

Riise Set For Roma?

Riise, who has long been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, looks set to join the Italian side who appear to have beaten off interest from Newcastle and Lazio, among other clubs.

The Norwegian full back is one of the longest serving players at Liverpool having joined the club in 2001 from AS Monaco.

However this season has been something of a disappointment for Riise who is no longer an automatic choice for manager Benitez and has reportedly been told he can leave the club this summer.

Roma, who narrowly missed out on pipping Inter Milan to the Serie A title, and finished second in the league now look to be the most likely destination for the defender.

The move is likely to be the first of many with a summer of busy transfer activity predicted at Anfield. Manager Rafael Benitez is thought to be looking to shake up his squad with a view to mounting a serious title challenge next season.

Along with Riise, players such as Harry Kewell, Peter Crouch and Xabi Alonso are also though to be heading for the Anfield exit.

Manager Benitez has already bought in Swiss defender Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund and is also thought to be interested in signing Udinese defender Andrea Dossena and Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry.

by Steve Michaels, Goal.com

Reds In Shock Bid For Gunners Ace - Report

Liverpool are reportedly planning a sneaky ₤6million bid for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner…

Reds In Shock Bid For Gunners Ace - Report

Reds boss Rafa Benitez is keen to add depth to his forward line over the summer, and reports from England claim he is considering a shock swoop for the Danish youngster.

The 20-year-old has received limited opportunities with the Gunners due to the emergence of Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor, with whom the Dane has had a rather drastic falling out.

Bendtner has generally struggled to live up to his billing as one of the most promising young strikers in Europe, although late last season he exhibited glimpses of his significant potential.

Wenger will be reluctant to sell given the respective injury issues of Robin van Persie and Eduardo da Silva, not to mention the growing uncertainly surrounding Adebayor’s future at the Emirates.

But Benitez will almost certainly have to replace the unsettled Peter Crouch, and is willing to offer ₤6million for a player Wenger snatched virtually free of charge from Copenhagen outfit Kjøbenhavns Boldklub.

The deal would prove something of a coup if it went through, given that almost all Premier League clubs flat-out refuse to trade with their rivals these days – as evidenced by Benitez’s failure to secure defender Gabrielle Heinze from Manchester United last summer.

by Mike Maguire,Goal.Com

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Alonso Drops Strong Juve Hint

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso has welcomed the recent reports linking him with a move to the Stadio Olimpico, describing Juventus as a "special team"...

Alonso Drops Strong Juve Hint

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez's putsuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry could push Xabi Alonso out of the Reds' starting XI.

It doesn't end there, though, because Alonso, with Spain on Euro 2008 duty, is excited by his recent link to Juventus and could wave goodbye to Anfield altogether.

The 26-year-old has been the subject of a rumoured £16m move to Serie A since the end of the season and feels that a transfer to La Vecchia Signora would 'complete' his career.

"I know the Bianconeri follow me," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "I know there has already been contact with Liverpool and my agent, too.

"I can say that I am really proud to be linked with a strong and historic club like Juventus.

“Del Piero, Nedved and Trezeguet were great champions who had the courage to go in Serie B [the club's match fixing punishment] and that means something. Juve is a really special team.

“After four years of playing in La Liga and four in England, playing in Italy would be a little completion of my career.”

Alonso could link up with former Reds team-mate Mohamed Sissoko in Turin.

by Duncan Robertson, Goal.com

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Barry Can Go For £14m - Report

Aston Villa now look to be resigned to losing club captain Gareth Barry to Liverpool and have accepted a bid of £14 million, according to a report...

Barry Can Go For £14m - Report

Barry, 27, has risen through the ranks at the club and enjoyed over 10 years in the first team, rising to particular prominence this season, in which he has managed to become a regular in Fabio Capello's England side.

Liverpool registered their interest in the Villa's versatile skipper towards the end of the season to the fury of manager Martin O'Neill, who rejected their offer and slammed the manner in which they had approached the player.

That offer was thought to have been worth £10 million - a part-exchange involving goalkeeper Scott Carson, who spent the season with the Villans - but now, as Liverpool have continued to press and Barry has been lured by the prospect of Champions League football, a fee of £14 million said to have been agreed.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has his own problems, though, as generating the finances for such a move will not come easily, despite securing a fourth place finish in the Premier League. Immense debts coupled with plans for a new stadium have left the Reds cash-strapped in the transfer market, and Benitez will have to offload some of his fringe players in order to finance the move for Barry.

John Arne Riise, Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch are said to be top of the departures list, with the 6'7 striker particularly eager to leave for first team football and Portsmouth favourites to land his services.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is reportedly on the cusp of a move to Italian giants Juventus, and Barry will most likely act as a direct replacement for the Spanish international.

Udinese left-back Andrea Dossena is on the verge of a £7 million move to Anfield, having already completed a medical, with Espanyol's Albert Riera rumoured to be next.

by Brian O'Ryan, Goal.com

Liverpool Face Competition For Thiago

Monaco have declared their firm interest in Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, who is also reported to be a target for Rafa Benitez's Liverpool.

Liverpool Face Competition For Thiago

Thiago has been in stellar form for Fluminese, and his rapid development has not gone unnoticed by Carlos Dunga, who has rewarded him with call-ups to the national squad.

Monaco boss Ricardo, a former Fluminese player himself,had this to say about the highly promising 23-year-old: "He is a huge player, an ace.

"If we can attract him at Monaco, we will be good in defence. I will do my best to have him."

If Thiago does opt to sign for the French Principality club, they would actually become his third European team. In 2004, FC Porto signed the player, but he ended up being sold to Dynamo Moscow after one year of play in the second team.

Milan, Villarreal and Bayer Leverkusen are also known to be keen on Thiago, along with his former club Porto and their Portuguese rivals Benfica.

by Derek Wanner, Goal.com

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Tom Hicks approaches Alistair Mackintosh about succeeding Rick Parry at Liverpool


Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has reportedly approached Manchester City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh about replacing his counterpart at Anfield, Rick Parry

The move will no doubt place fresh question marks over Parry's long-term future on Merseyside, especially in light of Hicks's comments earlier in the year regarding his performance as chief executive at the club.

George Gillett Rick Parry and Tom Hicks
Every picture tells a story: George Gillett, Rick Parry and Tom Hicks during happier times at Anfield

However, Parry still has the support of the majority of the Liverpool boardroom, including Hicks's fellow owner George Gillett and former chairman David Moores, two key individuals, although the fact that the Texan is so openly touting his job about will do little to ease the simmering tensions between the pair.

In April, Hicks labelled Parry as "arrogant" with "an inability to manage an organisation", before going on to ask for his resignation in a three-page letter, only for Gillett to refuse to sanction such a move.

It is thought, however, that a switch from Eastlands to Anfield would suit Mackintosh, especially as it is believed he has become disillusioned with events at the club in recent weeks regarding the position of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who City finally parted company with on Monday following endless speculation over the Swede's position.

Mackintosh was said to have favoured retaining the one-time England manager's services for next season, only for owner Thaksin Shinawatra to over-rule him, while the recent appointment of Garry Cook as City's executive chairman has only further served to unsettle him at the City of Manchester stadium.

By Richard Morgan

Benitez Tables £15m Barry Bid - Report

Liverpool are thought to have upped the ante on their quest to sign Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, now offering the club £15 million for their captain...

Benitez Tables £15m Barry Bid - Report

Rafael Benitez has made it clear that the England international is his number one target for the summer, and is being convinced from all quarters to make the switch. An old coach, England team-mate and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and even former team-mate Patrik Berger, who was dropped for the offence, have told him to make the move to Anfield.

From Villa Park, there have been streams of support for the versatile 27-year-old, with manager Martin O'Neill particularly keen to hold onto his side's key player as they continue to go from strength to strength.

However, having rejected a cash-plus-player deal last month thought to be worth around £10 million - and indeed heavily criticising the Reds' conduct for even making such an approach - O'Neill still has it all to do to keep hold of his man.

Barry has stated on more than one occasion that he longs to play Champions League football - something Villa may not achieve in the near future due to the monopoly on the Premier League's top four spots held by Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

The Daily Mail reports that Benitez has proposed a new deal worth around £15 million, but it again looks like involving a player or two, as opposed to being straight cash. Goalkeeper Scott Carson - who spent the season on loan at Villa from Liverpool - is thought to be part of the deal.

by Ray Winston, Goal.com

Liverpool close to £7m deal for Inter's Dossena

Liverpool are on the brink of completing the £7million signing of Italian full-back Andrea Dossena.

The 26-year-old is believed to be on Merseyside today having a medical ahead of a proposed move from Udinese. The proximity of the deal has been confirmed by the player's agent, Federico Pastorello, who has been quoted in the Italian media today saying: 'Everything is confirmed and we have already exchanged documents via fax. The deal is practically done.' Dossena is getting married at the weekend, but both club and player want the medical concluded and the final details of the deal settled before then. Initially, Udinese wanted £8million for the player, but a compromise has been reached and, subject to the medical, Dossena will become Liverpool's second signing of the summer following the arrival of Swiss right-back Philipp Degen. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will fund the move by selling John Arne Riise, with Roma now the favourites to sign the Norwegian. Benitez will then move to try to complete the signing of Gareth Barry, with an increased offer having been made to Aston Villa that could mean the midfielder costing upwards of £15million. Peter Crouch could be used as part-exchange in the deal. The Anfield chief is also considering formally entering the race to sign Cardiff's 17-year-old midfield star Aaron Ramsey. Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton - who made a £5million bid last night - have all been given permission to talk to the Welsh youngster, who became the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final at Wembley last month. Liverpool made one initial inquiry but believed a deal with Manchester United was almost complete. However, it seems there is now some doubt over that, with Cardiff willing to allow the Premier League clubs to out-bid each other. Liverpool could offer winger Paul Anderson and striker Adam Hammill as loan players to Cardiff for next season. Anderson helped Swansea win promotion last season on a 12-month loan, and could now find himself offered to their bitter south Wales rivals for the next campaign.

from ESPN

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