Sunday, June 05, 2011

Liverpool Target 'Given Green Light' Over £18m Summer Move

Liverpool has been given a green light by Sunderland to sign Jordan Henderson, after Steve Bruce decided that Jack Colback will be just as good as the starlet, according to the Daily Mail.

Henderson, valued at £18 million, has been linked with Liverpool very strongly over the last few days, and it is believed Kenny Dalglish is close to signing off a deal with the 20-year-old.

While Sunderland were reportedly concerned about losing their youngster, Bruce has made the decision that the profits from Henderson’s sale will be good for the Northern club, and the manager also believes Colback is just as good as Henderson and is someone who the squad can eventually be built around.

Liverpool reportedly sees Henderson as the perfect candidate for a move to Merseyside, with the youngster able to be moulded by Dalglish into a star and the face of the history-rich club.

Liverpool’s interest in the starlet reflects their move towards signing young players with lots of potential. Dalglish signed Andy Carroll in January, a 22-year-old who looks to be a future England and club star, and the manager reportedly believes that by signing Henderson as well, the Liverpool squad can become one with a generational plan of challenging for trophies.

Liverpool Set To Sign £15m French Wing Wizard

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is looking to secure the signature of Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia when the summer transfer window opens for business according to reports in The Sun.

N'Zogbia has been impressive this season for the Latics who avoided relegation from the Premiership on the final day of the campaign.

Reds manager Dalglish and the clubs director of football Damien Comolli are keen to add a creative spark to the Liverpool midfield and see the 25-year-old as the perfect option.

The Frenchman is versatile and can also play as an attacking midfielder or at left-back and weighs in with his fair share goals as well as providing assists.

N'Zogbia has been on Dalglish's radar for some time now and his form towards the end of last term was outstanding, helping Wigan take eight points form their last four games.

The French international also scored four goals during that period including the stoppage-time winner against West Ham, who was 2-0 up at half time.

N'Zogbia only has one year remaining on his current deal at the DW Stadium and Wigan will be looking for in the region of around £15million for their prized asset.

Last season N'Zogbia made 36 appearances in all competitions for the Latics and scored 10 goals.

Liverpool Plan Audacious Move To Sign Manchester City Winger

Liverpool is reportedly interested in Man City winger Adam Johnson and will look to make an offer for the England international this summer. The former Middlesbrough wide man has had an up and down time at Eastlands and spent much of last season on the bench and has voiced his concern at lack of regular first team football and has locked horns with Roberto Mancini on the matter.

Dalglish is apparently keen to bring in natural wide options as he looks to bring in more creativity and players who can help provide ammunition for the club’s new strike pairing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez. The Merseyside outfit has been strongly linked with a number of wingers with Aston Villa pair Stewart Downing and Ashley Young also apparent Anfield targets.

Johnson arrived at Man City on the 1st of February 2010 and whilst he made an immediate impact in his first season the Sunderland born winger made more appearances from the bench last term than starts and could be tempted by a move away from the City of Manchester Stadium in search of regular first team football.

Dalglish will however find it tough to persuade a player to leave a club who has just achieved qualification for the Champions League but if Johnson felt that he wasn’t a firm part of Mancini’s first team plans then the 23 year old may feel the time right to make a move.

Liverpool has attempted to fill the wide roles with players with players who are not really out and out wingers with the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Maxi, Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic being used last season.

Ryad Boudebouz Targeted By Liverpool

Ryad Boudebouz has emerged as a transfer target for Liverpool as the Merseyside club look to add some creativity to its squad.

The Algeria midfielder currently plays for French club Sochaux and has been linked with a summer move to Lyon or Marseille.

However, reports in France suggest the 21-year-old has also been watched by scouts from Liverpool in recent weeks.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is known to be keen to add at least one attacking midfielder to his squad over the summer, as he searches for a way to get the best out of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

With Ashley Young seemingly set for Manchester United and Stewart Downing likely to remain at Aston Villa, Boudebouz could prove to be a useful alternative.

Pulis Targets Reds Duo

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is thought to be considering a double move for Liverpool pair David Ngog and Christian Poulsen.

The duo are believed to be surplus to requirements at Anfield as Reds manager Kenny Dalglish looks to remodel his squad after being handed the reins at Anfield on a permanent basis.

Pulis is also understood to be interested in Manchester United midfielder Darren Gibson and Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, while a fresh move for Tottenham star Jermaine Jenas is also likely.

The City boss expects plenty of movement from the Premier League's big clubs this summer and hopes to take advantage of their need to balance their books accordingly.

"I expect it to be a busy close-season," said Pulis. "A lot of money will be spent at the top end of the market - not just Man City, as everyone expects, but also United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham. I think they will all have a go.

"That either clogs up the market because unwanted players are sitting on big contracts that clubs like us will not pay, or hopefully it might free the market up if their clubs help out so we can do the deals."

Aquilani Leaves Italy Squad

Alberto Aquilani has withdrawn from the Italy squad after picking up a head injury in the 3-0 win over Estonia.

The midfielder was replaced in the first half of the Euro 2012 qualifier in Modena on Friday evening.

Aquilani, who has just completed the season on loan at Juventus from Liverpool, was sent to hospital for tests but returned with the rest of the squad to Florence late last night.

With Tuesday’s game against the Republic of Ireland only a friendly, he has been allowed to return home to rest.

Prandelli initially named a 25-man squad for the two games, but also lost Thiago Motta and Mario Balotelli to injury.

The tactician did add to his squad this morning though by selecting Torino stopper Angelo Ogbonna.

Joe Cole Set For £3m Liverpool To Spurs Transfer

Joe Cole looks set to be reunited with Harry Redknapp, amid reports Spurs and Liverpool have agreed a £3 million transfer fee.

The England midfielder was a target for Tottenham last summer when he left Chelsea on a free transfer, but eventually opted to sign a lucrative four-year contract at Anfield.

Cole has since started just nine Premier League matches and will be allowed to move on as he does not feature in Reds boss Kenny Dalglish's plans.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Spurs are now ready to end the 29-year-old's Liverpool nightmare.

The two clubs have apparently negotiated a fee for the player and the transfer will go ahead if Cole can pass a stringent medical and agree personal terms.

Cole will have to accept a sizeable cut in his current £90,000-a-week wages for the move to go through, but may consider that a price worth paying for the opportunity to resurrect his career.

He worked with Redknapp during his time at West Ham United and few people in the game rate him as highly as the veteran Spurs manager does, so he is sure to see plenty of first-team action at White Hart Lane.

The move for Cole may also signal that Tottenham are ready to cash in on £20million-rated playmaker Luka Modric, who is a target for Manchester United.

Patience And Your Time Will Come

All the time that Pepe Reina is at Liverpool, and all being well this will be for some time yet, few goalkeepers will get another more than a brief glimpse at the goalposts. The Spaniard is among one of the best performers in Europe, in fact the world, so it'll take something (or someone) special to dislodge him from his rightful place as our number one.

Challengers have come and gone, Brad Jones has come in and spent some time away on loan already, rumour has it that Brad Friedel was being eyed up as a possible challenger to Pepe however the former Reds goalkeeper has ended up elsewhere after leaving Aston Villa so Kenny Dalglish will either look elsewhere for backup to the Spanish international or turn to Jones again for next season.

Peter Gulacsi ended last season as the substitute goalkeeper but the young Hungarian is still some way from being the finished article and loan spells at Hereford and Tranmere are expected to be followed up by another spell away from Anfield next season and there are no shortage of admires for the 21 year old.

His agent says that clubs in England, Germany, Holland and Belgium are monitoring him and the Reds are likely to let him spend next season out on loan however his long term future will be at Anfield because the club "see his values and also his high potential."

The Hungarian, as good as he potentially could be, is still going to have some wait to become our undisputed number one however if he can show the patience that's needed then he has every chance of one day becoming Pepe's replacement, the question is will Gulacsi (and his agent, who often sway players) have the patience to wait around? 21 is still very very young, particularly where a goalkeeper is concerned as a peak isn't usually developed until they reach mid to late 20's and beyond, so time's still very much on his side to become a future Liverpool star, if this time needed is given?