Liverpool In £10m Charlie Adam Talks

Liverpool will hold talks with Blackpool this weekend in a bid to finally sign Charlie Adam.

The Anfield club are said to be tabling a £10m offer for the 25-year-old midfielder, aimed a seeing off interest from Aston Villa.

Manchester United could also enter the market for Adam, who is a fan of the Old Trafford club.

But Liverpool are now firm favourites to land the man they bid £8m for in January, with Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston expected to meet Anfield director of football Damien Comolli tomorrow, according to the Blackpool Gazette.

Liverpool To Swoop For World Cup Star

Liverpool are set to make a move for Algerian midfielder Ryad Boudebouz in the coming weeks.

The Algerian, who starred at last summer's World Cup, currently plays his trade at FC Sochaux-Montbeliard, but Kenny Dalglish has identified him as a potential transfer target after sending scouts to France last season.

According to Italian website Tuttomercatoweb, the 21-year-old is keen to test himself in the Premier League, with Liverpool willing to pay the €7 million required to obtain his services.

Boudebouz has been ear-marked as a great talent, and is seen as the more affordable option, with the British market currently over-inflated.

The midfielder had an impressive season last year, finding the net eight times. Although he is more accustomed to attacking, it is his ability to assist which is most attractive.

Having played for France at youth level, Boudebouz switch allegiances in order to play for Algeria.

He is the latest target, highlighted by Kenny Dalglish and Director of Football Strategy Damien Commoli, as young talent who can move the club forward.

Dalglish Considers £15m Move For Swiss Wing Wizard

A host of European clubs including Liverpool have been put on alert after Swiss club Basel put a £15m valuation on star player Xherdan Shaqiri, talkSPORT has reported.

The football site claims the 19-year-old winger could have been available for as little as £5m back in January but his club will now be demanding three times that amount.

That's because in the last six months, Shaqiri's stock has risen considerably after some stunning displays for both club and country.

His class was confirmed by his man-of-the-match display against England at Wembley earlier this month, whilst he has shone at the current Under-21 European Championships in Denmark.

talkSPORT claim Bundesliga club Bayern Munich are the ones who have expressed the keenest interest in Shaqiri but a number of Premier League clubs are monitoring the Swiss star.

Newly appointed Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is said to have targeted Shaqiri as a replacement for Manchester United-bound Ashley Young.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is another manager thought to be tracking the highly-rated winger.

The Scot is eager to add wide players to his squad and has turned his attentions to Shaqiri after missing out on Young to United.

The promising teenager also fits the profile of Liverpool's transfer policy of recruiting young and talented players that can be shaped into world-beaters.

Shaqiri's contract does not expire until 2014 which puts Basel in a strong position when the time comes to cash in on their prized asset.

Reds Miss Out On Lucas Marcelinho

It appears that Liverpool have missed out on the signature of 18 year old Brazilian player-maker Lucas Marcelinho as reported on the Reds official website, which gave their source as givemefootball.com.

Marcelinho has been playing so well for his club Sao Paulo, that he has earned an international call to the national team. His playing style has been compared to an existing Brazilian playmaker Kaka, with speed, good passing and typical Brazilian dribbling skills.

Liverpool has been left staggered by the Euro 79 million release clause in Marcelinho's current club contract, which has all but ended the interest Liverpool had in him. The Brazilian giant is not willing to lose their young star players and is hoping that this information will put a stop to anymore interest in the playmaker.

It is looking like manager Kenny Dalglish will have to look elsewhere, when looking for an attacking midfield that he has been after.

David Ngog Wage Demands Delay Sunderland Transfer

David Ngog’s proposed switch to Sunderland is being held up by the striker’s wage demands.

Liverpool are happy to sell the Frenchman for a fee of around £4million but the Black Cats have so far been unable to agree personal terms with him.

The Wearside outfit insists they can’t match the wages Ngog would earn if he remained at Anfield next season.

And they are hoping the Reds will agree to drop the asking price for the 22-year-old to enable them to meet his demands.

Ngog was initially expected to complete his move to Sunderland as part of the deal which saw Liverpool snap up midfielder Jordan Henderson earlier this month.

However, with Ngog on holiday and keen to weigh up his options, the clubs agreed to conduct the transfers separately with Henderson signing for £16million.

Ngog, who cost Liverpool £1.4million from Paris St Germain three years ago, has scored 19 goals in 94 appearances.

But he is now surplus to requirements at Anfield with boss Kenny Dalglish keen to bring in Ipswich striker Connor Wickham to provide competition for first choice duo Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

Sunderland’s talks with Ngog are ongoing and despite the delay they remain hopeful a compromise will be reached to enable them to secure his services.

Melo Rages At Talk Of Liverpool Move

Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo has reacted furiously amid reports that he will be used by the club in a part-exchange deal for Liverpool's Raul Meireles.

Melo, 27, has endured a difficult time since moving to Turin from Fiorentina in 2009 and was 'awarded' the Bidone d'Oro - meaning Golden Bin, given to the player fans judge to be the worst in Serie A - during his first season with the Bianconeri.

His performances were much improved in 2010-11, but speculation has been mounting in the English and Italian press that he will be used as a makeweight in a move for Meireles.

In contrast to Melo, the Portugal international enjoyed an impressive debut Premier League campaign, scoring five goals in 33 games and picking up the ESPN PFA Fans' Player of the Year award.

Juventus are thought to be ready to offer £13.5 million for Meireles, with Melo thrown in, but the Reds are not thought to be interested in the Brazilian, who is fuming at his role in the protracted transfer.

"Let us say that Juve are not respecting me, or at least that's the impression I get," Melo said. "I'm not just anyone. I'm not a bargaining chip to be used to reach anybody."

Liverpool paid £20 million for young midfielder Jordan Henderson, while the likes of Charlie Adam and Dimitri Payet have also been linked with a move to Anfield.

Aquilani Back At Liverpool As Juventus Move Falls Through

Liverpool is stuck with Alberto Aquilani for the time being after failing to agree terms with Juventus.

The Italian flop has been a disaster at Anfield and was shipped out on loan to Juventus last season in order to get his career back on track.

But Kenny Dalglish has no plans to keep him at Liverpool and is eager to sell him, despite the fact he's likely to make a massive loss on the £20million shelled out for him by Rafael Benitez in 2009.

The injury prone midfielder arrived from Roma but first struggled to shake off an ankle injury before failing to command a regular starting place in the team.

A loan to Juventus followed but despite being keen to strike a deal with the Italian giants, Dalglish has been unsuccessful.

Aquilani, 26, is due back at Liverpool for pre-season training but that will not stop Dalglish's bid to sell him this summer.

Martin Skrtel Keeping Up His Fitness During Season Break

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel insists that he is maintaining his fitness during the season break so that he can return to the club and put in performances reminiscent of last season.

The Slovakia international managed to play every single minute of the club's Premier League campaign and put in strong showings during the course of a rollercoaster campaign which saw the Reds occupy the relegation zone at one stage before eventually finishing seventh.

"I am still relaxing but it is not just sitting next to the pool," Skrtel said on his official website.

"I need to be fit for the upcoming season so I do train every day. I am with my girlfriend every day but I also go to the gym daily.

"I also use my bike a lot because I need to stay in good shape.

"My holidays are nearly over and it was great to be with my family again. I stayed out of football for a while but now I am in the middle of a strict regime.

"I also played with my friends from the national team in a charity match and it was great fun to be with them again.

"I will be heading to Liverpool soon and I hope this season will be a huge success."

Reserves Heading To Ireland

Rodolfo Borrell will take his Liverpool reserve side to Ireland next month for a pre-season friendly against Bray Wanderers.

The game, which will be played at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray, Co. Wicklow, will take place on Monday 18th July.

Pat Devlin, Manager of Bray Wanderers FC, said: "We are delighted that a Liverpool XI has agreed to visit Bray. It promises to be a great occasion for Bray Wanderers, and I have no doubt that the game will be a tremendous advertisement for the club and the town.

"To have a club with the great tradition of Liverpool visiting us is something that we should be very proud of. There is a huge amount of supporters of Liverpool within the area, and I know that they will be very keen to avail of the opportunity to see the upcoming stars from Anfield.

"I would particularly like to thank Kenny Dalglish for his assistance with this game, and hope that all who travel from Liverpool enjoy their time in Bray."

Hillsborough Families Reject Return To Terraces

Families of Hillsborough victims rejected any return to standing at football matches.

They spoke out as a public debate about the reintroduction of "safe" standing at football grounds in England went ahead in Liverpool last night.

The meeting was organized by the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) at The Sandon pub, in Anfield.

The FSF said its proposal would not be a shift back to terracing, with each fan instead given an exact spot to stand behind a galvanized metal bar.

But Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who lost her son James, 18, at Hillsborough, said the group would never change its opinion on standing.

She told the ECHO: "I will firmly say our group will not change its opinion. We definitely do not want any form of standing whatsoever at football grounds.

"It is an insult to the memories of the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough. It is like moving 10 steps backwards rather than going forward."

She added: "Are they going to give them a guarantee people will be safe in a standing area?

"With all-seater stadiums, we are 99% certain there will not be another disaster in this country and there has not been one since Hillsborough. Why go backwards with standing?

"The legacy of the Hillsborough disaster is that people are safe in all-seater stadiums. We do not want to go back to the 1980s."

Mrs. Aspinall did not attend the meeting but the HFSG will meet the FSF to discuss its stance in the next few weeks.

FSF chairman Malcolm Clarke said: "This is not an insult to the 96. We are fully committed to the campaign for justice and we hope next year the [government-appointed] panel will reveal the truth of what happened at Hillsborough.

"We can understand the sensitivities in Liverpool. We are not proposing Liverpool, Everton or Tranmere Rovers should do this.

"We are asking for the law to be changed. It would lead to a stand passed by the authorities."

Top-flight grounds saw the conversion of terraces to all seater stadiums following the Lord Justice Taylor report.

The document was produced in light of the 1989 disaster, when 96 Liverpool fans died.

An example of the safe standing area - which is in use at Stuttgart FC's stadium in Germany - was on show in the pub's car park.

The gathering of around 70 people at The Sandon heard the model could not be retro-fitted on to current stadiums.

It was also said that the model would not be suitable for children because of height issues.

Dalglish Finding The Balance Between Congestion And Versatility In Liverpool’s Midfield

With some haste, a majority of Liverpool supporters will tell you what their side require this transfer window: a centre-back, a left-back, a striker and some natural width. Far from that list would be another central midfielder.

Few loyal to the Merseysiders would dare question Kenny Dalglish but it would be fair to say there have been slight whimpers of uncertainty following the Jordan Henderson signing. Questions are being posed as to why he is continues to bolster the already over-populated central midfield area, when there are other departments in need of investment. However, Dalglish represents a figure of trust for those faithful to the club, and perhaps it is he being held in such high-esteem, which grants the Scot unquestioned licence in the market.

There is an abundance of central midfielders competing for places at Anfield. Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Jordan Henderson, Lucas Leiva, Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing, Christian Poulsen, Joe Cole and even forgotten man Alberto Aquilani will grapple for games - although the futures of that final three are unclear. No secret has been made of an underlying British foundation being laid at Liverpool, but there is also an emphasis being placed on adaptability and rotation. These players surely offer scope for a 4-4-2, a 4-4-1-1, a 4-3-3 with three central playmakers or even a 4-5-1 away from home, to stifle an opposition’s creative midfield.

Henderson is a young, hungry and talented English footballer, some say over-priced, but a separate valuation policy has developed for home grown Premier League players. He is considered a central midfielder because Steve Bruce used him to plug an injury enforced gap at Sunderland, but many would argue he is naturally more right-sided. Although not an outright winger, his passing range and crossing ability will offer his new side something fresh. He is not the finished article, and although his price tag may suggest otherwise, don’t be surprised if Dalglish primarily nurtures him into the first-team.

To succeed in modern football a manager needs varying tactics and formations at his disposal, and to lack a plan B, or indeed a plan C, is a fundamental flaw. The flexibility of Dalglish’s side in the second half of last season was evident, and his transfer strategy apparently looks to compliment this. The evidence implies then that Dalglish is building an interchangeable midfield. Most will agree that Gerrard defines flexibility and Meireles showed last season, although not as effective, if needed he could play on the right. Some suggest if the perennially linked Charlie Adam also arrives, then the Portuguese should make way, but surely such a move negates the notion of strength in depth.

On the surface it may look like an over-congested area of the squad, but look no further than Manchester United’s failure - and equally Barcelona’s success - in the recent Champions League final, to demonstrate the importance of a vibrant midfield. There are few better weapons as a manager than having versatility at your disposal.

Steven Gerrard Could Miss Start Of Season After Injury Recovery

Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, is in a race to be fit for the start of the new season but says he is feeling "as good as ever".

Gerrard is currently undergoing a program of rehabilitation - the club's physios have been working with him every day at his holiday home in Portugal - after groin surgery in March.

He said: "I've had time to get my body right, get my body strong. I'm still four or five weeks away from playing a game but I believe I'll come back in better physical condition than I've ever been."

"I want to come back with a bang, I want to have a big season," Gerrard said.

"It's been non-stop football for me since I started when I was 17. I've never had a period of more than four or five weeks out of the game, so it's been nice to rest mentally.

"You don't want to miss games but when you're watching them it gives you that edge, that buzz to get back."

It is has been the longest spell on the sidelines of his career but the England midfielder is confident he and Liverpool will feel the benefit when the new campaign kicks off in August.

"I'll come back hungry and hopefully there's a very productive season ahead for me," Gerrard added.

"I've had a rest mentally, my injury's coming on well and I can't wait for the season to start.

"There's still a lot of time for me to achieve bigger and better things. I'd like to finish my career with a few more trophies.

"I always look at the 35 marker. If I get there and I'm still involved with Liverpool I'll be delighted but at the moment I'm feeling as good as ever."

Two Liverpool Scouts ‘Watching AIK Trio

According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, there were two Liverpool scouts watching AIK Solna’s match against Norrkoping.

They were believed to be watching AIK’s Alexander Milosevic, Per Karlsson and Niklas Backman.

AIK’s sporting director Jens Anderson confirmed that they were at the match:

“It’s a situation we are very pleased with. This means that our business has been good, that all three develop in AIK’s colors. It is a favorable situation.”

Anderson went on to suggest that Arsenal target and defender Milosevic may have been the primary reason for their visit:

“I think that means that they could be interested in any of our players. Alexander Milosevic is wanted by many clubs across Europe.”

Juan Mata 'Will Listen To Liverpool Transfer Offer'

Liverpool target Juan Manuel Mata will ‘listen to all offers’ after the European Under-21 Championships, according to his dad.

The Valencia winger is currently on international duty with Spain’s youngsters in Denmark, and Barcelona are the latest club to have expressed an interest in the £20million-rated midfielder.

But the player’s father and agent, Juan Snr, has said all transfer talks will be put on hold until after his son’s Euro participation in Scandinavia.

‘Until after the Euro, we won't listen to anybody. After that, we're willing to listen to all offers we receive,’ said Mata.

‘Interest Barcelona? From next Monday on, we'll analyze what is the best option for the future.’

The Reds held talks with Mata’s representatives some time ago, but Valencia were adamant that they would not sell.

Now though, it appears their hand may be forced after Mata’s agent’s recent comments, and an auction will probably ensue for the 23-year-old's services.

Dalglish Keeping Tabs On £20m Real Madrid Wing Wizard

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is keeping a close eye on the situation at Real Madrid with regards to the future of winger Angel Di Maria.

Di Maria enjoyed a successful debut season at the Bernabeu, however according to reports in Marca, he has infuriated Real Madrid bosses by going public about wanting a pay rise at the club.

The 23 year-old who is currently on duty with the Argentina national side ahead of the Copa America tournament, was heavily linked with a move to the Premiership last summer with Manchester United, but he decided to join Jose Mourhino at Real Madrid for £20million.

Whilst on international duty, Di Maria said: "I'm anxiously waiting for the renewal. I was told upon arrival that if I did well in the first year, I was going to improve my contract. I am nervous about waiting for this."

It is believed the Spanish giants will listen to offers for Di Maria if they are able to sign Brazilian star Neymar, who is on the verge of agreeing at deal in the Spanish capital.

That has opened the door for Reds manager Dalglish to make an offer. Liverpool are desperate to acquire a natural winger, having lost out to rivals Manchester United for the signature of Ashley Young.

Both Dalglish and Liverpool's director of football Damien Comoilli feel Di Maria will be the perfect solution in their quest to find some natural width, and feel he will be able to create chances for strikers Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, as well as chipping in with goals himself.

During his first season at Real Madrid, Di Maria made 53 appearances in all competitions and scored nine goals while proving 20 assists.

Terry McDermott Tips Jordan Henderson To Rack Up Goals

Former Liverpool and Newcastle player Terry McDermott thinks that Jordan Henderson can become a star performer and a regular goalscorer if he applies himself at Anfield.

Henderson moved to Merseyside from Sunderland for a fee in the region of £20 (€22.5) million and the former great believes the midfielder has the ability to live up to his price tag.

The England international has only scored five senior goals in his career but McDermott thinks with time and practice he can improve that aspect of his game.

He told LFC Weekly: "I never scored many for Newcastle and if you look at my record you'll see I didn't get many in the first few seasons at Liverpool.

"I think it's definitely something you can learn to do. You adapt as you get older and you become a wiser footballer. You learn about what you can and can't do. I was a daft sod off the pitch but on it I wanted to win and cared about becoming a better player. I studied those around me and watched what they did. That helped me a lot.

"I began to realize what I needed to do to score more often. I was good at getting forward and knew that I could score more goals. The coaches at the club encouraged me to do it and that helped too. All of a sudden I was getting 15 to 20 goals a season.

"I think if Jordan works on that side of his game, there's no reason why he can't get double figures too. He's definitely capable of it. I think he has shown that with the goals he has scored for Sunderland."

The former Newcastle man thinks Kenny Dalglish is the right man to get all he can out of Henderson and fellow big-money signing Andy Carroll.

He added: "Kenny is the master. I'm sure he'll work with Jordan on what he needs to do. Any player who signs for the club now will learn plenty from Kenny. Andy Carroll's the same. I'm sure Kenny will help him become an even better centre-forward.

"As well as Kenny, Jordan will also have Steven Gerrard to look up to. I think he's spoken about how he admires him already. If he listens to him and puts in the effort that's required, there's no reason why he can't be a great player for the club. I think he's a very astute signing.

"Any time I have seen him play it has been on the box. I recently watched him for England under-21s at the European Championships. It's clear to me that he's a good player. He's very energetic and can function in more than one position.

"That versatility is a great asset. It gives the manager options if he has players who can slot in to different positions. It's great for Jordan too became it gives him more chance of playing.

"When everyone is fit, Kenny will have a lot of options in midfield and that's got to be a good thing."

Andy Carroll Hit By Second Twitter Hoax Over Arrest On Holiday

Poor Liverpool were at the centre of another web hoax, this time by someone claiming striker Andy Carroll had been arrested.

Rumours started circulating on Twitter that the Geordie hitman had been locked up during a holiday in Ibiza.

The gossip turned out to be false, but generated enough attention and jokes to keep it trending on the social network for the majority of the afternoon.

One fan quipped: ‘BREAKING NEWS: Andy Carroll arrested. Sources reveal he was part of a syndicate who swindled an elderly Scottish man out of £35m.’

Reds 60-year-old boss, Kenny Dalglish, shelled out a British record £35million to take Carroll to Anfield from Newcastle back in January.

The England striker has subsequently made just eight appearances for the Merseysiders, mainly due to injury, and scored two goals.

This latest viral con comes hot on the back of another hoax involving Carroll and Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

A picture emerged on the internet of the pair holding a Liverpool scarf in a Spanish bar.

It was later proved to be a mock-up, as the hand holding the scarf had too many fingers.

Ian Ayre Defends Ticket Sales Change For Official Members

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has defended the club’s decision to change the way tickets are sold to LFC official members.

Next month members will be able to buy tickets in advance for all of the Reds’ home league games to be played prior to December 31. Tickets for all home games in the second half of the season will go on sale in November.

Last season the week-long window for fans to take advantage of priority access to the 8,000 seats for members was restricted to around four weeks before each fixture.

Some supporters have expressed concern that to secure tickets for each game they will now have to shell out a large lump sum of cash months in advance of matches or risk missing out.

However, in response to questions from supporters union Spirit of Shankly, Ayre insisted the change will benefit rather than hinder most members.

“There is an enormous demand for season tickets at Liverpool FC – we have over 70,000 people on a waiting list,” he said.

“That number alone provides a very clear indication that there is an enormous appetite for people to attend as many games as possible, and an enormous base of fans indicating that they are prepared to pay in advance for tickets.

“I’m not sure there could be any clearer message. In addition we have very clear data that shows the mix of people travelling from local and non-local addresses to games is equally varied.

“We are a globally supported club so we need to provide solutions that work for everyone.

“This indicates that the ability for those travelling outside Merseyside post codes to have greater and longer term visibility of the certainty of having tickets to matches is a great benefit and provides a greater ability to book transport, hotels and other such facilities in advance, often at more preferential rates.

“The combination of those factors provides a clear indication of a demand to buy multiple tickets in advance.”

The sale period for LFC official members covering home league games in the first half of the season starts on July 11 depending on attendance at matches last season, but to buy tickets memberships must be renewed or purchased prior to July 7.

Members will be able to buy either for individual games or for all the games available and the members sale will remain open until all tickets have been sold or 21 days before each fixture.

Spirit of Shankly spokesman James McKenna said: “Some fans will be happy about the changes because it allows them to plan for future games but others not so happy. The club are clearly trying to progress and improve things for supporters.

“However, in future supporters would like greater consideration given to the time scale and the cost which comes with buying eight or nine tickets in one go. It shows the importance of dialogue between supporters and the club to ensure potential issues which would arise are addressed.”

The changes don’t have any impact on general sale with the number of tickets available to LFC members unchanged from last season. General sale tickets will still be available from around three weeks before each game.

Kopites Set For Eurofan Tournament

A team of Liverpool fans have arrived in Ukraine ahead of the annual Eurofan International Football Fan-Festival.

This is Anfield FC are made up of a number of players from the This is Anfield internet forum and will take part in the annual pan-European football competition in Lviv for the third year in succession.

The team was originally founded to play a series of friendlies against Everton supporters, but officials from Ukrainian Premier League club FC Karpaty Lviv contacted them via the TIA forum and invited them to compete in the tournament.

Ian Pankhurst, a member of the travelling This is Anfield squad, said: "Going there for the first time was, in every sense, a voyage into the unknown; with crashed cars, dubious border guards and Polish country roads.

"After arriving in Lviv, we played three 70-minute matches in the space of 24 hours, winning our first but losing our second and third games to crash out.

"This feat was repeated in 2010, due to a combination of lacklustre finishing, alehouse fitness and poor goalkeeping.

"Nonetheless, we've strengthened in areas, played a bit more together as a team and are going back for more.

"This year in our group we face fans of Polish team Lechia Gdansk and the national team of Slovenia.

"As both sides are first time entrants in the competition, we've got no idea if they're Europa League or Sunday League contenders. Nonetheless, we intend to batter them!"

This is Anfield have arrived in Lviv after a gruelling 12-hour train journey from Krakow and will spend today acclimatising.

Later, a couple of team members will field questions from journalists in the tournament's press conference.

Their first match takes place on Friday morning against Slovenia, before they take on Lechia Gdansk later in the day.

Charles N’Zogbia May Sing For Liverpool

The Daily Mirror is reporting that Newcastle have decided not to sign Wigan star Charles N’Zogbia, leaving Liverpool in 'pole position' to chase the star.

N’Zogbia was poised for a return to Newcastle, with Alan Pardew preparing to pay the £12 million Wigan demanded for the winger.

But after signing Liverpool midfield target Sylvian Marveaux last week, Newcastle have reportedly decided that they won’t be needing N’Zogbia’s services, and Alan Pardew feels the star made too many personal demands on his contract.

Liverpool were front runners to secure N’Zogbia’s signature anyway, but with Newcastle out of the mix the Merseyside club will be hoping to have the deal wrapped up with France international as soon as possible.

Today Wigan chairman Dave Whelan insisted that N’Zogbia wouldn’t be making a move away from the club on the cheap.

"I do think he will go this summer, but we want the right price before we allow that to happen," Whelan said.

"We have a fee in mind that we want, and we are fighting to get that fee.

"There's been an awful lot of interest in Charles. We've had three or four clubs biting, wanting to be kept in the know.

"There's been no official bids yet, and I think it'll be another week to 10 days before things get as serious as that.

"But he's worth a hell of a lot more than the fee we're asking.

"Whichever club gets Charles will be getting a great player for far less than what he is actually worth."