Thursday, July 12, 2012

Liverpool Prepare £7m Bid For Celtic Midfielder

Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with a move for Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung who is said to be attracting interest from a number of European clubs this summer.

The Sun believes that Liverpool will make an offer of £7million as they hope to steal a march on the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Deportivo La Coruna who are both believed to be interested.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to add some new faces to the squad before they depart on their tour of North America and has recently revealed that he is hoping for at least two new signings.

There is a feeling that Rodgers wants to implement the same style of passing football that he employed at Swansea and is determined to bring in players that can fulfil his philosophy.

Ki, 23, has been with Celtic since 2009 and has made a regular starter in the last two seasons after making the move from FC Seoul for just £2.1million.

Last season he scored six goals in 30 league appearances as Celtic won the title, while he has vast experience for South Korea where he already has 45 caps to his name, despite his relative young age.

Liverpool will certainly face competition for the midfielder, as QPR owner Tony Fernandes recently admitted that he was a player that the club were closely monitoring.

“Ki is a very good player and we are very aware of him," he told The Sun. “He is a player we will be watching and also monitoring closely.”

Liverpool Have Contacted Dortmund Over Blaszczykowski's Availability

Liverpool has contacted Borussia Dortmund over the availability of Jakub Blaszczykowski, the midfielder's representative has confirmed.

The 26-year-old, who featured for Poland at Euro 2012 last month, netted six times during Dortmund's title-winning Bundesliga campaign last season.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admitted on Monday that the club were close to completing a signing and hinted that a deal for a "real exciting" unnamed player could be announced later this week, with Joe Allen, Fabio Borini and Daniel Sturridge all targets.

Jerzy Brzeczek, the uncle and representative of Blaszczykowski, confirmed that the Reds are among the sides interested in the midfielder along with Inter, Lazio and two Russian clubs.

"Jakub has a contract with Borussia and is happy at the club, so he will not make any rash decisions. All important discussions regarding his future we conduct with Borussia," a statement read on Kubablaszczykowski.pl.

Blaszczykowski's current contract with Dortmund runs until the summer of 2013, and he is believed to be keen to extend his stay at the Bundesliga champions.

However, the winger is adamant that he has not made a decision about his future just yet.

He revealed: "It's not true that I have already signed a contract. My current deal with Dortmund still runs [for another season] and I'm focusing on BVB. There's no reason to talk about a contract at this point.”

Borini Considering Reds Move

Roma striker Fabio Borini is 'seriously considering' the opportunity to join Liverpool this summer, according to his agent.

The Serie A club's sporting director Walter Sabatini confirmed earlier on Tuesday that the Anfield outfit had expressed an interest in signing the 21-year-old.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers knows Borini well, having worked with him during their time together at Chelsea and again during a loan spell with Swansea.

Borini netted nine goals in 24 appearances in the league for Roma last season and earned a place in Italy's Euro 2012 squad, although he did not feature during their run to the final.

Agent Marco De Marchi plans to hold further discussions with his client in the coming days as they evaluate the possibility of a switch to the Premier League.

De Marchi told Radio Radio: "Roma has informed us of Liverpool's interest in the boy. Now it's up to Fabio to have his say."

And he added on IlSussidiario.net: "We were alerted by Roma of the existence of this deal. I cannot honestly tell you the details but, as Sabatini has already said, we're now seriously considering it.

"Would the player want to go to Liverpool? Honestly, I don't want to commit myself as there will be more news in the coming days. Wait for that."

Liverpool Linked With Burak Yilmaz

The Burak Yilmaz transfer saga took a further twist today when a Lokomotiv Moscow official told Turkish media agency, Cihan, that the club would not make an official statement regarding the speculated transfer.

The Lokomotiv Moscow press office, were quoted by Cihan as saying, "We will not comment on these rumours, the club has made no official statement.

"There will be no development till after the team return from training in Slovenia."

Trabzonspor in stark contrast have not only confirmed an offer from the Russian Premier League outfit but also released a statement to the, Public Disclosure Forum (KAP) regarding ongoing negotiations between Yilmaz and Lokomotiv.

The uncertainty has opened doors once again to clubs who had been previously expressed interest in the Turkish international striker.

Liverpool are reported to be monitoring the situation closely.

The Reds pursuit of a proven goalscorer this summer reached new impetus following the latest reports that Andy Carroll could be on his way out.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was quoted in The Telegraph, as saying, “Time will tell for him and all the players whether they are in my plans, but my job is to assess that.

“Like every player, there are certain styles and systems they will be playing in which will allow them to flourish.”

The Premiership club only scored 47 times in the Premier League last season, the lowest scoring team in the top-eight. €41 million signing, Andy Caroll only scored four goals in the league campaign.

Yilmaz has been in prolific form for Trabzonspor over the past two seasons. He guided the Black Sea club to pole position in the 2010-11 season scoring 19 times, only to lose out on winning the championship to Fenerbahce on goal difference.

The 26-year-old Turkish international netted 35 times in 41 games last season and his modest €5 million release clause has attracted the attention of major clubs across Europe.

Yilmaz broke the clubs all time scoring record in the league last season, scoring 51% of Trabzonspor's 65 goals.

In an interview on TRT's football program, Stadyum earlier this year, Yilmaz stated, "If I was to move abroad I would want it to be to a big club, I would consider moving to England."

Hammers Keen On Carroll

Sky Sports sources understand that West Ham United are interested in signing striker Andy Carroll on loan from Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers earlier this week refused to rule out the possibility of Carroll leaving Anfield on a temporary deal, following speculation linking him with a move to AC Milan.

Rodgers insisted that he had yet to hear from the Italian club, but it is now understood that the Hammers have identified Carroll as a transfer target.

Sam Allardyce is keen to bolster his squad ahead of the new Premier League season and could now be set to hold talks with the Reds about Carroll.

The 23-year-old centre-forward has struggled to make an impact on Merseyside since securing a £35million switch from Newcastle 18 months ago.

He began to find some form towards the end of last season and his performances were rewarded with a call-up to the England squad for Euro 2012, where he scored the opening goal against Sweden with a powerful header.

Rodgers has made it clear that he regards Carroll as a fine player, but the Northern Irishman is keen to get Liverpool playing in a certain style after replacing Kenny Dalglish at the helm earlier this summer.

Aquilani Staying With Reds

Alberto Aquilani's agent insists that the midfielder will be part of the Liverpool first-team squad for next season.

The 28-year-old Italian midfielder signed for the Reds from his hometown club Roma before the 2009-10 season, but struggled with injury and form in his first season at the club.

Aquilani, who has a contract at Liverpool until 2014, spent the previous two seasons at Juventus and then AC Milan, but failed to secure a permanent move to either club.

Speaking to calciomercato.com, the player's agent Franco Zavaglia said: "He'll play for Liverpool.

"There is little to say about leaving AC Milan, the season is over and he'll put that behind him.

"Alberto is back in England and is still a Liverpool player. He will play there next season."

Agent - Skrtel Staying Put

Martin Skrtel's agent admits it would be 'almost impossible' for Napoli to persuade Liverpool to part with his client.

The Reds centre-half has been strongly linked with a move to Italy this summer, with changes expected at Anfield in the wake of Brendan Rodgers' arrival as boss.

Rodgers has, however, been impressed by Skrtel's attitude since inheriting the managerial reins from Kenny Dalglish and is looking forward to working with the Slovakia international.

Skrtel still has two years left to run on his Liverpool contract and has already announced this summer that he intends to remain on Merseyside.

That has done little to curb the speculation, with Manchester City also said to be keen on doing a deal, but the 27-year-old's representative does not envisage a transfer being put in place.

"It is difficult, almost impossible, for Napoli to take Skrtel," Karol Csonto told Radio Crc.

"He has another two years on his contract with Liverpool.

"Martin is a top player and it is obvious that many clubs are looking at him, but for now Skrtel remains a Liverpool player."

Shelvey Signs New Reds Deal

Jonjo Shelvey has signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool and is now looking to earn a regular role under Brendan Rodgers.

The 20-year-old linked up with the Reds in 2010 after bursting onto the Football League scene at Charlton Athletic.

He has been eased into the first-team set-up at Anfield, with a loan spell at Blackpool last season allowing him to get important minutes under his belt at a competitive level.

His time with the Seasiders, and a productive end to the season on Merseyside, has convinced new boss Rodgers that Shelvey has an important part to play in Liverpool's future.

The promising midfielder is delighted to have agreed fresh terms and admits his target now is to become a mainstay in the Reds' starting XI.

He told the club's official website: "I am really happy. Last season I was itching to try and push for a new contract. Now it's happened and I am ready to kick on again now.

"It's lovely to know I am in the plans for the future. At the moment, it's just about getting things right each day and proving myself to the gaffer here. The gaffer and his way of playing will suit me down to the ground and hopefully I can be in his plans."

He added: "I think going away to Blackpool helped me a lot. It gave me some experience, I scored some goals and I came back a better player. Kenny (Dalglish) gave me a chance towards the latter stages of the season and I thought I showed what I can do.

"Tactically I have become a lot better and technically too. When you're working with people like Steven Gerrard, you're learning things day in, day out and it's an honour."

While delighted with the progress he has made so far, Shelvey admits he still has plenty of room for improvement and a number of goals to aim at.

He said: "There are still things in my game I want to work on and I'm going to keep doing that. On the physical side of my game, I'm going to be in the gym every day - and I've got to speak to the gaffer to see what else I can work on.

"I want to get into the first team and be in the starting XI on a permanent basis. That's going to be hard, but it's something I've got to work towards."

Rodgers On Suarez Contract Talks

Brendan Rodgers is hopeful Luis Suarez will sign a new contract at Liverpool as he revealed that talks had taken place.

The boss has also had dialogue with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel and has stressed their importance to Liverpool over the coming seasons.

On Suarez, Rodgers said: "I have had a good conversation with Luis over the phone.

"From the outset, he has seemed a really good guy. He loves the city and the passion.

"We have exchanged lots of texts. He sent me a text on the first morning, wishing me good luck.

"He has really bought into what we are trying to do.

"He was really excited about how we played at Swansea last year. He is really keen and looking forward to playing in a similar sort of model.

"There has been good dialogue (on a contract). I would hope going forward that we can close that out."

While Suarez top scored for Liverpool with 17 strikes last season, Skrtel was voted our Player of the Season.

Agger's form was also impressive as the Reds recorded the third best defensive record in the Barclays Premier League, and Rodgers is keen to secure the futures of both centre-backs.