Fernando Torres Thankful To Liverpool Gaffer Rafa Benitez For Improvement

Fernando Torres' rookie season in the Premier League was a resounding success due to his exploits in front of goal, notching an impressive 33, and the Spain international claims that the improvements in his game have been vast, and are down to the tutelage of Reds gaffer Rafael Benitez.

"Rafa concentrates on the professional side of things," said Torres, to the official site of the world's governing body for football; FIFA. "He tries to improve every minor detail and movement you carry out during the course of a game, and he also explains the reasons behind his decisions.

"He's obsessed that you understand what you are doing and why. He's not happy that you do things just because he tells you that something has to be done.

"He says: 'Do it like this. Do you understand why you are being told to do so? No? We'll go through it again then'.

"I remember when I signed for the club people were questioning me as a goalscorer. I received criticism because I wasn't getting goals. The first thing he told me was that I was signed to score goals. Benitez is adamant that I live in the area because that's where you get goals."

He continued, "That was the first thing he told me, the wing is for the wingers, and that the striker should be focused on the two rival centre-backs. The Spain team play very differently, we have to be constantly on the move.

"In England I have to draw the centre-back out of place so that Steve Gerrard can burst through."

Torres notched a half century of goals in just 84 matches for Liverpool and, as such, one of Benitez's priorities is to find a suitable partner for his prolific centre forward. Steven Gerrard has been deployed in the supplementary striker's position last season, to tremendous effect.

Since the conclusion of the domestic season just gone, the Reds have been linked with Carlos Tevez, Mauro Zarate, Michael Owen, Samuel Eto'o, and David Silva.

Barcelona Make Official Enquiry About Mascherano

Barcelona have made contact with Liverpool regarding Javier Mascherano, but are yet to make an official offer until they are confident he will be allowed to leave, according to a report.

The Blaugrana's technical secretary, Txiki Begiristain, has spoken to Reds boss Rafa Benitez about the Argentinian international in order to let him know of the club's interest.

Sport believe that the Anfield manager is unhappy about the situation and that Liverpool are also unsettled that Barca are alleged to have already sounded out the player's agent.

Real Madrid have no chance of persuading Mascherano to join them as he is now focused on pushing through a move to Camp Nou, the report states.

Mascherano's agent, Walter Tamer, is aware of the conversation between Begiristain and Benitez and also knows that Barceona view his client as a fundamental player for next season.

According to Sport, Liverpool need to sell in order to reinforce their squad and the question remains over which players they will be prepared to let go.

Madrid are keen on Xabi Alonso and Juventus are also said to have registered their interest, but Benitez will not allow both his central midfielders to leave, and that is why Begiristain made direct contact to explain Barca's position.

Liverpool To Hijack Benfica's Radamel Falcao Deal

Liverpool have reportedly tabled an offer to sign River Plate striker Radamel Falcao.

Falcao appeared set to sign for Benfica after River Plate paid off the €400,000 debt they had to the the Colombian forward.

However, according to news daily A Bola, Liverpool have lodged a late €3.5 million offer to beat Benfica to the signing of the player.

Although Liverpool's bid is slightly inferior to the one made by Benfica, the prospect of playing in the Premier League may prompt Falcao to choose Anfield as his final destination.

Benfica and River Plate are thought to have agreed a €4 million deal for 80 per cent of Falcao's playing rights, but the final decision now rests on the striker's shoulders.

Real Madrid Delay Deal For Liverpool Midfielder Alonso To Foil Pay-Out

Real Madrid want to delay their offer for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso to prevent Real Sociedad claiming 20 per cent of any transfer fee.

Real Sociedad's agreement with Liverpool is believed to run out on July 18 and Madrid see it as an obstacle with Anfield's valuation at €35m and their last offer at €25m.

The two clubs are prepared to negotiate and Alonso is expected to declare he wants to leave.

The 27-year-old was in Madrid on Monday and had dinner with his agent, Inaki Ibanez.

Alonso said: 'I don't know what is going to happen. It is up to the clubs to negotiate now.'

An €8m deal for defender Alvaro Arbeloa to go to Madrid is already in place.

Juventus Won't jJoin Real Madrid In Battle To Sign Liverpool Ace Xabi Alonso

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli insists the Serie A giants are not interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Speculation is rife that Juve have joined the race to sign the Spain international, who they tried to tempt to the Stadio Olimpico last year.

However, Cobolli Gigli claims they are not in the hunt for Alonso, who is very much on Real Madrid's shopping list and has also been linked with Barcelona.

"There are a lot of names for midfield but not that of Xabi Alonso," he said. "I learnt from the press about our interest for the Spanish player.

"He's a great player but I think that to say that I have read his name in the papers says it all."

Cobolli Gigli also revealed that Juve are still interested in Udinese playmaker Gaetano D'Agostino despite their bid hitting several stumbling blocks.

"Negotiations have cooled somewhat," he added. "It's about finding a solution between what our valuation is and the Friuli club's valuation of the player.

"The matter is complicated, the fact is that Udinese apart from money want our players who we believe will be part of the future backbone of Juventus.

"However, we still have our esteem and theoretical interest for the player."

Sebastian Giovinco: The Frustrated ‘Italian Messi’ Perfect For Rafa’s Liverpool

One of the Stars of the recent U21 European Championships in Sweden was Italy’s Sebastian Giovinco who was the shining light in the Azzuri’s failed bid to win the competition. Despite his impressive displays the 22-year-old is widely regarded as the best young prospect in Italy although he is struggling to earn a place in the Juventus side.

Giovinco has been linked to both Arsenal and West Ham in the past season but after a season when he has struggled to break into the Italian club’s first team he would be an excellent addition to the likes of Liverpool who are crying out for some more creativity in their ranks particularly in terms of dribbling.

The player himself has reiterated he wants to stay at Juventus but has revealed he is unhappy at the lack of first team games and with the arrival of the Brazilian Diego, his chances will be limited even further.

“I know my value and what I can give. I know my qualities, but maybe Juventus don’t understand this,” Giovinco told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

“I am not asking for a starting role. I just want to be considered. I want to play for my place on a par with everyone else. I don’t like being in a side where you understand that you come second. I cannot accept this.”

Arsenal had strongly been linked with a move for the highly-talented Giovinco throughout last summer as speculation rose concerning his happiness at Juventus due to limited first team opportunities and contract disputes.

The Gunners were rumoured to have bid £5.8m for the Juventus wonderkid which was subsequently rejected but Arsene Wenger remains a keen admirer of the player. Giovinco is one of Europe’s finest young talents which were perfectly illustrated his talent at the Beijing Olympics as part of the Italian representative side.

The 22-year-old is a Juventus player but spent the 2007/08 season on loan at Empoli where he certainly caught the eye. At 5 ft 4, the attacking midfielder is nicknamed the ‘Atomic Ant’ but for what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in ability.

Despite the youngster having played just 22 league matches (10 starts) for the Juventus first team, he’s held in extremely high regard by the club and particularly the fans.

Last summer’s contract dispute with the club led to a fans protest after it was suggested that Arsenal were to set to move for the player with Robin Van Persie perhaps heading to Turin. A poll launched on the Juve fans vecchiasignora.com website ended with a staggering 89.5% voting in favour of snubbing a potential Van Persie player-exchange offer for Giovinco from the Gunners. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as the wonderkid has been hailed as the future of the club and heir to club legend Alessandro Del Piero.

Giovinco started just 9 League games last season and struggled to get a game with the plethora of attacking talent on show at the club such as Del Piero, Trezeguet, Iaquinta and the Brazilian Amauri. Now Diego has arrived from Werder Bremen, the Atomic Ant’s chances of first team football have been restricted even further.

During the 2007/08 season he was compared to arguably the best player in the world Lionel Messi by former Calgilari Coach Davide Ballardini who said, “Juventus are the kings of the transfer market as Sebastian Giovinco drives me crazy.”

“He has amazing qualities, he is unpredictable and he works well in the team.

“He has to be patient at the start and I believe Giovinco is Juve’s answer to Milan’s Ronaldinho.

“I saw Giovinco last year at Empoli and I may be crazy, but he is just as good as Lionel Messi.

“There is not much of a difference between the two.”

The local-born youngster joined Juventus in 2001 aged 14. Giovinco has since worked his way through the youth system into the first team squad. The Italian made his first team debut in May 2007 in a Serie B encounter with Bologna. Despite coming on as a substitute, the youngster illustrating his potential by setting up a David Trezeguet goal with an excellent pass.

A season-long loan at Empoli brought Giovinco to the public’s attention. Despite impressing he did not do enough to keep the club in Serie A though he did make 35 League appearances (20 starts) and scored 6 goals. This included strikes against League runners-up Roma both home and away.

The Juventus star has represented Italy from U16 level upwards and was voted Player of the competition last year at the U21 Toulon Tournament. Italy managed to win the trophy for the first time in their history with Giovinco playing an integral role. This prompted a call-up to the Olympic squad for the trip to Beijing.

The youngster is arguably the most exciting youngster in Italian football at the moment and despite his lack of games with Juventus, the player and his agent suggest he will remain at the club. However, the fact that the player continues to struggle to break into the Juventus side would give Liverpool a very good chance to sign him either this summer or in January especially if the player fails to get the first team opportunities the diminutive, skilful Sebastian ‘Atomic Ant’ Giovinco deserves.

Andriy Voronin’s Return Apart – It’s So Far So Good For Liverpool FC

Rafa Benitez must feel like he’s found a peseta but lost a pound.

No sooner was he celebrating the arrival of Glen Johnson, while admitting he may have paid just a tad over the odds for him because he was English, than he received the devastating news that Andriy Voronin, the ‘Bovine Ponytail’, plans to return to Anfield from his loan spell at Hair Fair Berlin and “conquer the Premiership”.

Assuming that nothing was lost in translation, and that he didn’t mean to say he wanted to win the Conker Premiership, at a stroke he knocked about £3m off Rafa’s transfer budget.

If that was not enough, the news that Fabio Aurelio has been elected life president of the Darren Anderton Society in recognition of his sterling achievement in screwing up his knee playing football with his son will have driven poor Rafa to distraction once the awful consequences dawned upon him.

Yes, Andrea Dossena might now be denied his dream move to Juventus, which most Kopites have been dreaming about also, and bang goes another £6m-odd of transfer funds.

So, despite Rafa’s insistence that he can buy one more player without having to raise money from sales, the temptation to cash in on Alonso or Mascherano must have increased given the thinking that threatened the former’s tenure last close season.

I’ve written here before about the importance of retaining the services of these two, and don’t intend to repeat myself... oh to hell with it: Rafa, these two must not be sold at any price.

On the brighter side, it’s rumoured that Jermaine Pennant is considering crossing Stanley Park to play for Everton. Jermaine, I’ll pay your bus fare mate.

Why anyone would consider employing this unproductive, overrated wastrel is beyond me, but it seems there’s always someone desperate enough to take a chance on him.

Personally I’d be delighted to see him in a blue shirt, draining their coffers while peppering crosses into St Luke’s Church.

So who’s on the way in? Fernando Torres helpfully weighed into the debate this week, recommending David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata to Rafa as the type of players we need.

Cheers, Fernando, those three might have slipped our mind if you hadn’t jogged our memory.

Have you got a spare £70m on you?

Reality seems to have returned to Fernando’s world shortly afterwards, when he conceded that Villa might just be outside of our financial means.

That still leaves the other two though.

Compared to our rivals though, we’re doing all right.

Manchester United have replaced the self-proclaimed ‘best player in the world’ with a pretty average right-winger.

Arsene Wenger still refuses to sign anyone but diminutive central midfield players.

Chelsea continue to be linked with a marquee signing, but look like having to settle for a bell tent in Yuri Zhirkov.

Only Manchester City are making hay, but are they making a team?

Early days I know, but it’ll take more than the return of Voronin to dampen my optimism.

Portraits Of Liverpool And Everton's Founding Fathers Find Their Way Home

They are the men who shaped and guided professional football on Merseyside, the six founding fathers who oversaw the growth of the worldwide institutions that are Everton and Liverpool.

Yet their names are noticeable only by their absence from Anfield and Goodison Park.

Dr David France hopes to change all that.

The man who created the first registered charity to look after the welfare of former footballers, the Everton Former Players Foundation, and collected the world’s greatest archive of football memorabilia, is hoping to bring the achievements of the six pioneers to a wider audience.

Dr France has commissioned magnificently detailed oil paintings of the six – and hopes that Everton and Liverpool can share possession of the images of Ben Swift Chambers, John Houlding, John McKenna, George Mahon, James Baxter and Will Cuff.

Produced by artist Wasan Suttikatem, the paintings are 18 x 24 inches in size.

Dr France said: “I think it’s vital that we remember the importance of the six founding fathers of Merseyside football. This is a nice way of paying tribute to some of the people that have been long forgotten in the history of the game and the city.

“I commissioned a celebration of the men who contributed to the development of the city's two great footballing institutions. I want to use the paintings to reach out beyond the boundaries of the divide.

“They’re ideal for a boardroom or a major entrance, but even more suited to areas accessed by ordinary fans of all persuasions. I want to keep them together as a set of six and rotate them around different important locations in the city so as many people as possible get to see them. I’d like Everton to have them for a short time, Liverpool to have them for a time and then a city museum. They could even go as far as the National Football Museum at Preston for a time if they were kept as a group of six and referred to them as ‘The Founding Fathers of Merseyside Football’.

“No-one has ever done this kind of thing before and it’s about time we encouraged healing between the clubs and put behind us any problems from the past and celebrate our joint bloodline.”

The painting of Rev. Ben Swift Chambers is of particular interest as photographs of him had proved elusive.

In 1877, he was appointed superintendent and minister of St Domingo Chapel in the Everton district of Liverpool. His brand of ‘muscular Christianity’ led to the formation of the team that would become Everton Football Club and, by consequence, Liverpool Football Club.

A special service to re-dedicate his grave was held in the Yorkshire village of Shepley last summer but pictures of Chambers proved difficult to come by.

However, after exhaustive research by Paul Wharton, a member of the Everton Shareholders’ Association, the family of a former St Domingo’s caretaker was tracked down.

It transpired that the Methodist church kept a book of photographs depicting the circuit ministers and so an image of Chambers was found.

Dr France added: “I was a bit surprised by his appearance as I was expecting him to be clean shaven but he had a big beard and wore John Lennon glasses.

“Actually all six are the same size and they have been done with exactly the same vintage background. I’d like people to look at them and think: ‘Yes, this is the history of us as a city with an unrivalled football history.’ We’re a city that has always had a team in the top-flight from day one and these paintings are a real celebration of that.”

JOHN HOULDING: The man synonymous with the split which led to the formation of Liverpool Football Club, the Liverpool-born brewer was originally known as King John of Everton. He later became Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

REV BEN SWIFT CHAMBERS: The churchman who created the St Domingo’s cricket team, which later became St Domingo’s FC, Chambers can be credited as being the man who kickstarted Merseyside’s entire football history.

DR JAMES CLEMENT BAXTER: With the destiny of the club relying on a move away from Anfield, Dr Baxter stepped in. He advanced Everton £1,000 in the shape of an interest free loan, thus establishing the club’s future.

GEORGE MAHON: Born in Liverpool in 1854, his family moved to Ireland when he was a child, but he returned to Liverpool and became a senior partner in Roose, Mahon & Howard, a firm of accountants who were based in North John Street.

JOHN McKENNA: A self-made businessman and former rugby player, ‘Honest’ John, acting as the club’s secretary, guided Liverpool through the ranks of the Lancashire League after their entry into the Football League was denied.

WILL CUFF: A St Domingo’s church-goer who devoted more than 50 years to Everton in their formative years, Cuff, who died in 1949, played an immeasurably important part in the formation of Everton Football Club as we know it today.

Fernando Torres: Manchester City's Mega Spending Could See Them Rival Liverpool

Manchester City's continued policy of investment, funded by the Abu Dhabi-based business group owners, is sure to reap rewards and see the club propelled to domestic competitiveness in the Premier League and the cups, according to Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres.

"Manchester City are putting together a strong team with good signings. Manchester United have yet to sign players with the money they received from the sale of Ronaldo, but he will be sorely missed along with Carlos Tevez.

"We will have to wait and see which players they bring in. I’m sure that Manchester United and Chelsea will be our main rivals but you can’t leave Arsenal or Manchester City out of the equation," Torres claimed, alluding to the fact that Mark Hughes' side will be the team most likely to spoil the top four's monopoly on the Champions League places.

"We are going to set our sights on the title, and this time we are going to try and be more clinical at home against the so-called weaker teams. Last season they caused us some grief at Anfield," Torres, who recently helped Spain to a disappointing third spot in the Confederations Cup, concluded.

Manchester City have signed Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, and Stuart Taylor, but are also in the market for Carlos Tevez, and Samuel Eto'o.

Dossena Happy In Liverpool

Italy international Andrea Dossena is happy in Liverpool and is no longer looking to return to his homeland, the player’s agent revealed.

The former Udinese full-back has been sending mixed signals to the Press. First he claimed he wanted to stay in the Premier League and then offered himself to Juventus, before changing his mind again.

“Juve are on standby at the moment. They are making their mind up,” said agent Roberto La Florio.

“It seems like their first target is a midfielder and all their budget will be going towards that signing.

“We are happy to stay at Anfield. There is no problem at all. I believe the Bianconeri won’t be buying either Andrea or Fabio Grosso. They will probably bank on Paolo De Ceglie and Cristian Molinaro.”

While Dossena is willing to take his chances at his current club, Liverpool would be more than willing to offload him.

The Reds have been looking for potential buyers but there seems no-one around willing to spend what they paid less than 12 months ago. Rafael Benitez could also consider reducing the player’s price tag although selling Dossena still wouldn’t be easy for the Spaniard.

Dossena was part of the Italy squad at the Confederations Cup. The Italian scored an infamous own goal against Brazil and reports suggest that could have been his last appearance with the Azzurri shirt while Marcello Lippi is in charge.

Barcelona To Offer Liverpool €30m For Javier Mascherano

Various reports in Spain appear to be hinting that Barcelona are growing impatient at their lack of activity in the summer transfer period.

Following rumours yesterday that Spain’s treble champions are on the verge of signing Keirrison from Palmeiras, AS is now reporting that the Barca hierarchy are about to send off a fax, if they haven’t already done so, to Liverpool with an “irresistible offer” for Javier Mascherano. It is believed that the offer could reach or even exceed €30 million.

The bid may instantly wipe out almost all off Barcelona’s transfer budget for this summer, but the Blaugrana are aware that if they successfully sign the Argentine national team captain, then bitter enemies Real Madrid would stand no chance of acquiring Xabi Alonso.

It is understood that Liverpool’s new managing director, Christian Purslow, has received strict orders not to sell both the team’s central midfielders, meaning it will be first come, first served between Real and Barca.

On the other hand, it could also be seen as a way for AS to push Madrid towards making an immediate offer for Alonso before the Catalan giants, or any other team, snap up Mascherano.

Ibrahim Afellay: £9M Dazzling Dutchman On Rafa’s Liverpool Hitlist

Press reports suggest a number of Serie A’s biggest clubs are vying for the signature of PSV’s attacking midfielder Ibrahim Afellay this summer alongside Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool.

The talented 23-year-old has also been linked to a number of Premier League clubs in the past with Arsenal thought to be very keen although the arrival of Andrey Arshavin seems to have ended that interest. There are a number of English clubs looking to add more width to their teams and Afellay could prove to be an excellent signing for those clubs.

The PSV star was born in Utrecht but is of Moroccan descent and came through the ranks at his present club. Afellay made his PSV debut in the 2003/04 season as a 17-year-old but has since become one of the stars of the Dutch giants. In fact, apart from his debut season, the young star has played his part in 4 successive Dutch title wins but hopes of a 5th ended when AZ finished top.

Despite his superb winning record, a poor season for PSV seems destined to result in the sale of at least one of their star players as the club languished in 4th place, a staggering 15 points behind newly crowned champions AZ. PSV may have struggled but Afellay certainly didn’t. Last season he enjoyed his most productive season yet with an impressive 13 goals in 28 league appearances (27 starts).

Despite his age, Afellay has now made 111 League appearances for the club and scored 25 goals. Only 7 players have scored more league goals than the youngster this season which has prompted the attention of a number of Italian clubs. These reports were recently highlighted by FIFA agent and expert on the Dutch transfer market, Alberto Faccini, who revealed in an interview with ilsussidiario.net, “Regarding Afellay to Inter or Lazio I don’t know anything, only what I’ve read in the news”

“For him, Fiorentina is a likely option in the event he were to arrive in Italy. He’s a very good player, but not cheap.”

“He is an interesting option for team who are looking for this type of player.”

The PSV midfielder demonstrated his quality in the 2007/08 season when he played a starring role in his side’s 1-0 Uefa Cup 1st leg win over Spurs at White Hart Lane. His ability to beat his marker on the outside or inside was perfectly illustrated in this match as he gave Pascal Chimbonda a torrid time.

Afellay has also won 16 caps for his country which is impressive in itself when you consider the amount of midfield talent the Dutch boast. He was given the opportunity of playing for either Holland or Morocco but opted for his resident country. He won his first cap under Marco Van Basten in against Slovenia in March 2007 and has since become a permanent fixture in the squad including 3 appearances at Euro 2008.

Chelsea have been crying out for more width and Guus Hiddink had reportedly informed Roman Abramovich of his fellow countryman’s talents but whether Carlo Ancelotti would be interested remains to be seen. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has missed out on a number of reported transfer targets with Croatian Danijel Pranjic heading to Bayern Munich and Brazilian Keirrison set to move to Barcelona, so he will be determined to make sure Afellay joins Glen Johnson at Anfield. The fact that Afellay can play on either flank or as a 2nd striker makes him the perfect addition for Liverpool.

Paul Anderson Completes His Move To Nottingham Forest

Liverpool winger Paul Anderson has signed for Nottingham Forest in a £250,000 deal.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at the City Ground and has agreed a three-year contract.

Anderson failed to break into the first team at Anfield but believes he can achieve his dream of playing in the top flight with the Championship outfit.

He said: “Everyone’s ambition is to play in the Premiership and play at the highest level possible and I think we’re going to do that at this club.

“The ambition I’ve seen and the players I’ve seen at the club, there’s no reason why in the next couple of years we can’t be up in the Premiership.

“I’d love to go back to Anfield one day and show them what they have missed out on really.”

Anderson, who scored two goals in 28 appearances for Forest last season, turned down the chance to sign for Swansea City.

Real Plan £55 Million Triple Raid On Anfield

Real Madrid are reportedly planning an audacious triple bid for Liverpool stars Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Daily Mail suggests Florentino Perez will look to appease some of the press in Spain calling for the club to invest in more home-grown players by buying Alonso and Arbeloa.

In addition to the two Spanish internationals, Perez will try to undermine bitter rivals Barcelona in their attempts to sign Argentina captain Mascherano. The European Champions remain interested in the former West Ham player, despite Rafa Benitez insisting the player would cost £50 million alone.

Benitez is unlikely to sanction such a deal with the La Liga giants although the Daily Mail indicates there maybe three separate negotiations.

Publicly Benitez has stated Alonso is not for sale; however the Mail suggests Liverpool would sell for £35 million meaning he could hold onto Mascherano, who he is almost certain not to sell despite the player’s reputed family problems.

Having signed Glen Johnson from Portsmouth, Benitez would seemingly sanction a deal for Arbeloa, and although he would preferably keep Alonso, the player’s eagerness to leave Anfield might persuade him to cash in.

Foxes Clinch Ajdarevic Deal

Leicester City have completed the permanent signing of midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic from Liverpool.

Ajdarevic finished last season on loan with the Foxes, making five substitute appearances as the club clinched promotion from League One.

He had been keen to secure a permanent deal at the Walkers Stadium after being impressed by Leicester boss Nigel Pearson.

The Swedish youth international has now signed a one-year contract and becomes the club's sixth capture of the summer.

Liverpool Agree To Sell Sebastian Leto To Panathinaikos

Sebastian Leto's proposed move to Panathinaikos is set to be completed as Liverpool have agreed a fee with the Greek club, according to liverpoolfc.tv.

Midfielder Leto spent last season on loan with Olympiakos and had expressed a desire to stay there, but the Greens were the first to bid for the player.

The winger arrived at Anfield in August 2007, touted as an exciting prospect for the future.

He made his debut against Toulouse in a Champions League qualifier in the same month - one of only four competitive appearances.

Work permit problems have since limited his first-team opportunities, leading the 22-year-old to a spell in Greece.

Leto began his career in 2005 in his native Argentina, with Lanus, based in Buenos Aires.

He made over 50 appearances there, scoring eight goals before leaving for Liverpool.

Liverpool Youngster Ryan Flynn Set For Loan Move

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is set to loan out youth product Ryan Flynn in order to help the midfielder gain first team experience.

Flynn is said to be keen to play regular football again, after enjoying a loan spell with Wrexham last season, with whom he made 21 appearances.

David Threlfall, the agent of the exciting young prospect, believes this is a key time for his client, who has plenty of options to consider this summer regarding next season.

"Liverpool are prepared to loan out Ryan during this summer's transfer window," Threlfall told Sky Sports.

"This is a big year for Ryan and he wants to be playing regular first-team football to continue his development.

"I have had a few enquiries for Ryan and we will sit down and decide what is the best option for him before deciding where to go."

Flynn was part of the Liverpool side that won back-to-back FA Youth Cups in 2006 and 2007.

Xabi Alonso Sets Deadline To Finalise Move From Liverpool To Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has reportedly told his agent he wants his future resolved by July 19.

The Liverpool midfielder, who has been on international duty with Spain at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, met his representative Inaki Ibanez immediately after flying back to Madrid yesterday.

Real Madrid hope to sign the 27-year-old, but face a determined effort by Anfield boss Rafael Benitez to keep him.

Alonso went straight to lunch with Ibanez at Madrid's Hotel Melia Barajas after getting off a 10-hour flight from Johannesburg.

The former Real Sociedad player is said to be keen on a move to the Bernabeu and, after the meeting, told Spanish newspaper AS: 'I don't know what will happen. The clubs now have to negotiate.'

Alonso insisted in a separate interview that the transfer 'was not impossible', though the two clubs are some distance apart on a fee.

Madrid are considering a £55million combined bid for Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Alvaro Arbeloa, but are prepared to negotiate players separately as Liverpool are unlikely to even contemplate losing both Alonso and Mascherano.

In a bid to scare off suitors, Benitez has quoted a price-tag of £50m for Alonso, but sources in Spain say the actual valuation coming out of Merseyside is £35m.

Madrid have bid £20m and are reluctant to go above £25m.

However, if Alonso forces the matter, the two sides could quickly converge. Liverpool report for pre-season training on July 6 but Alonso will be given extra time off because of his Spain duty.

He has already moved on to San Sebastian to start vacations but is apparently due to join up with Liverpool on July 19 ahead of their Asia tour.

AS say Alonso is keen for a resolution before then so that he can search for a new home in the Spanish capital.

Alvaro Arbeloa To Complete Switch From Liverpool To Real Madrid This Week

According to a report in the British broadsheet The Independent, Alvaro Arbeloa may move from Premier League outfit Liverpool to Primera Division giants Real Madrid at some point this week.

On Sunday, quotes attributed to the 26-year-old's agent suggested that the player is keen to complete a transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

It is thought that the 6ft right-back could be available to purchase for as little as €5.9 million (£5m) as his contract at Anfield is due to expire next summer, when he will be available on a free-transfer.

Although Reds manager Rafa Benitez may be reluctant to let the nine-time capped Spain international leave, he has already made a move in the transfer market to bring in a readymade replacement in the form of €20 million (£17m) signing Glen Johnson from Portsmouth.

Since joining the Merseyside-based club from Deportivo La Coruna for €4m (£3.3m) in 2007, Arbeloa has scored twice in 98 first-team appearances.

Juve Revisit Alonso Idea

According to Tuttosport, the Juventus board have given Alessio Secco the all clear to sign Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The Bianconeri tried to buy Alonso last year, only for Claudio Ranieri to turn his attention to Christian Poulsen.

Tuttosport understands Juventus want the 27-year-old Spain international to anchor their midfield so Diego can fully express his talent.

A new bid for Alonso was apparently prepared four days ago as talks with Udinese for Gaetano D'Agostino began to deteriorate.

The Bianconeri face serious competition in the race to sign Alonso, who is being valued at £21m amid interest from Real Madrid.

Juventus will need to sell players if they are to raise enough funds to complete the transfer.

Poulsen is the one of the players who is up for sale.

However, at the weekend he rejected a move to Fenerbahce and insisted he wants to stay in Bianconero.