Saturday, June 09, 2012

Liverpool Chasing Arsenal & Wolves Stars

New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has identified three players that he hopes will turn the club into Champions League challengers.

The former Swansea boss, believed to be working off a budget of £30 million pounds has already been linked with a move for Hoffenheim star Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Icelandic International had been earmarked for a move to the Liberty Stadium following an impressive loan spell with Swansea last season however he could now move to Anfield with Rodgers declaring his interest in the player.

In addition to the attacking midfielder, Caughtoffside.com are reporting that Rodgers is also lining up moves for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, free agent Mohamed Diame and Wolves winger Matt Jarvis

The trio will hardly inspire the Kop faithful expecting big names to revive the club although with no Champion’s League football on offer the club cannot rival the likes of Manchester City, United and Chelsea who have been linked with a host of Europe’s top stars.

Of the three, the link to Bendtner in particular would not sit too well with Liverpool fan’s especially has the player has slipped down the pecking order at the Emirates and spent last season on loan with Sunderland, scoring 8 goals in 28 games.

The confident Dane has been linked with a move to Germany but Rodgers is hoping that he can snap up the 26 year old for a reported £8 million pound.

The other two links are more understandable, with the need for backup defensive midfielder very apparent following the impact the loss of Lucas had on last season.

Diame is a strong target as he is available on a free transfer following the expiration of his Wigan contract and would offer genuine cover for the Brazilian.

Meanwhile England cap Jarvis would provide cover on the flanks and would cost a similar sum to the price placed on Bendtner’s head.

The 26 year old scored 8 goals and created four for the Wolves who finished the season bottom of the table.

Liverpool Will Have To Pay £9m For Lyon Star

Liverpool must pay almost £9m if they want to sign Lyon full-back Aly Cissokho.

The former Porto star has long been linked with a move to Anfield, and after Jose Enrique's mixed first season at the club there are rumours that Liverpool could make another bid for the left-back.

And Lyon are willing to sell, but not for much less than the £12.18m than they spent to buy the player from Porto in 2009.

And in a statement Lyon claimed that they will not accept any bid lower than £9m - and with Napoli also keen Liverpool have a decision to make if they are to bring Cissokho to the club.

talkSPORT understands that Newcastle and Everton are also interested in the France international, with the Toffees set to make a move should Leighton Baines leave Goodison Park for Manchester United this summer.

Diame's Reds Move Back On

Sky Sports understands Liverpool's move for free agent midfielder Mohamed Diame is back on.

Diame, who played at Wigan in the 2011/12 season, is one of the top Bosmans around this summer and a host of clubs are after the Senegal international.

The move appeared to have collapsed following the sacking of former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish.
However, new manager Brendan Rodgers has given the green light for the deal, as he is a big fan of the midfielder.

Liverpool could face competition from Aston Villa for Diame, with Paul Lambert keen to sign him after taking over at Villa Park.

Moses: Liverpool & Chelsea Want Me

Wigan Athletic winger Victor Moses has claimed both Liverpool and Chelsea are chasing his signature this summer.

Moses admitted he was unsure over where his future lies – he has just a year left on his contract at Wigan – but indicated he would be willing to move to either Anfield or Stamford Bridge.

“I don’t know for now (whether I will move), but there’s a link for me to Liverpool, Chelsea and some other clubs in England. If the offer is cool, why not, I will move,” he said in an interview with MTN Football.

New Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will be preparing transfer targets to begin his reign at Liverpool and he would have been impressed by Moses’ performances in the second half of the season, which helped drag Roberto Martinez’s side out of the relegation zone once again.

Meanwhile, Roman Abramovich has been busy making big name signings at Chelsea, so will have no problem parting with the relatively modest reported fee of £10million to take the 21-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

While he has acknowledged the interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and other English clubs, he could yet sign an extension to his current deal with the Latics.

Though Martinez will likely agree to sell him this summer rather than see him leave for free next year.

Liverpool & Spurs To Battle It Out Over Juve Winger

Tottenham are ready to go head to head with Liverpool this summer for Juventus winger Milos Krasic, with the north London club readying a bid according to German newspaper Bild.

Krasic played just seven times for Juve last season and didn’t feature from January onwards, prompting him to declare his intentions to leave the club.

Tottenham have long been linked with a move for the out-of-favour Krasic, who has confirmed he will be leaving the Serie A champions this summer, and made a move for him during the January transfer window.

However Spurs boss Harry Redknapp revealed that Krasic was in favour of a permanent move to White Hart Lane and was not interested in the loan move that was proposed, which ultimately caused the deal to collapse.

Liverpool have also been interested in landing Krasic for some time and are said to be willing to go up against Spurs for his signature, subject to new manager Brendan Rodgers’ approval.

Bild reports that Spurs are ready to launch another bid for Krasic this summer with Liverpool set to respond in order to land their man after reports last month suggested the Merseyside club were in the driving seat for his signature.

Earlier this week it was reported that Lazio had opened talks with Juventus over a deal for Krasic, however it is believed the Serbian is keen on leaving Italy and would turn down a move to the Stadio Olimpico.

Krasic turned down an offer to move to Russia in January, and is expected to make a decision over his future in the coming weeks.

Rodgers Hoping To Raid England Winger From Man City

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has already assessed his squad and it seems as though he feels more options in wide positions after being linked with Manchester City midfielder Adam Johnson.

The Reds have already let Dirk Kuyt leave the club and it certainly leaves them short of options on the right hand side of midfield with Stewart Downing the only recognized winger at the club.

Jordan Henderson was often used on the right side of midfield, but his preferred position is in the centre and Rodgers clearly feels as though his side needs more wish.

The Liverpool Echo has reported how the club look set to move for Johnson who last season struggled to force his way into the Manchester City side under Roberto Mancini.

Johnson cost the club £7million from Middlesbrough but he has found first team opportunities severely limited due to the sheer strength in depth that Manchester City possess.

The report suggests that the lure of regular action for Liverpool could help the club convince Johnson to leave the champions in order to join a club that will be playing Europa League football next season.

Downing Defends Liverpool Record

Stewart Downing has hit back at recent criticism of his record at Liverpool, despite failing to score or produce an assist all season.

Downing joined the Reds for £20million from Aston Villa last summer but couldn't hit the target or produce an assist in 36 Premier League games.

The former Middlesbrough man's inclusion in Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2012 was met with a mixed response, with a number of pundits pointing out the fact Downing didn't provide a single assist all season.

However, the 27-year-old insists his debut campaign with Liverpool should not be considered a disappointment as he believes poor finishing from the Reds frontline is to blame for his poor return, although he admits he is embarrassed at his inability to find the net to date for the Anfield outfit.

"I've constantly set up chances, as I did at Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and have done at Liverpool, season in and season out," he told The Independent.

"I can't be criticized for not creating. I'm in the team to do that and I've done that throughout the season. I've just been unlucky that we've not finished the chances.

"The goal thing is [embarrassing], the fact that I didn't get enough goals."

He added: "Stats have taken over the game: he doesn't score this, he hasn't set up that. You can read into it as you like. If you look at what I did at Aston Villa, those chances got put away.

"Last season I was on a par with that, but at Liverpool they didn't [get put away]. It seemed to take us four or five chances to score a goal."

Maxi Still At Liverpool

Maxi Rodriguez has dismissed reports he has left Liverpool following rumours he had joined Newell's Old Boys in his native Argentina.

The attack-minded midfielder was expected to leave Liverpool at the end of this season after making just 21 appearances, largely as a substitute, in the 2011/12 campaign.

Maxi has 12 months left on his contract, but appeared to wave goodbye to fans when he made his most recent Anfield appearance in the thrashing of Chelsea at the beginning of May.

After he was spotted in Rosario, it has been reported he had agreed a move to Newell's, but he insist this is not the case.

Fans' favourite Maxi told Ole newspaper: "I do not know where these things come from. I have one year left on my contract at Liverpool and did not talk to anybody."

The departure of former boss Kenny Dalglish and following appointment of Brendan Rodgers has given all fringe players at Liverpool a fresh chance.

Reina Welcomes New Manager

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has welcomed the arrival of the club's new manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Spaniard is currently with his international team-mates ahead of Euro 2012, but he took time out of their preparations to voice his appreciation for Rodgers' football philosophy.

Reina is hoping the former Swansea manager can build on Liverpool's Carling Cup triumph last season with further honours.

"His team has played well this year with an ethos that I share and Liverpool is also known to play the passing game but it is easier said than done," Reina is quoted as telling El Pais.

"Rodgers is welcomed and I am at his disposal. We have won a trophy this year but it is clear that in recent seasons we should have done better."