Stewart Downing Set To Hand In Aston Villa Transfer Request To Force Through Liverpool move

Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing is set to hand in a transfer request in an attempt to speed up his protracted move to Liverpool, according to reports in the The Mirror.

Downing has been the subject of keen interest from Liverpool, and the England winger is keen on joining Kenny Dalglish’s team - although Aston Villa are reluctant to lose the former Middlesbrough winger after seeing Ashley Young join Manchester United.

The 26-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract but has no intention of renewing his deal. However, Liverpool must find a compromise with Villa, who has slapped a £19 million asking price on the player.

Downing has 27 caps for England but believes a move to Liverpool would help boost his chances of securing a more regular starting role in the national side.

Aston Villa are keen to keep the player but it is thought they would reluctantly accept a sizeable fee as they look to raise some transfer funds for new manager Alex McLeish, who has been linked with moves for Scott Dann and Ben Foster from his former club, Birmingham City.

Unsettled Diego On Anfield radar

Liverpool is reportedly considering bidding for Werder Bremen playmaker Diego.

Diego was this list week fined a massive €500,000 (£443,000) for storming out of the club's hotel when learning he was not to start the club's final game of last season. The Brazilian international is said to be keen on leaving the Bundesliga side whom he joined last summer.

The unsettled playmaker is said to be on Anfield director of football Damien Comolli's transfer wish-list and the 26 year old may be offloaded by Wolfsburg boss Felix Magath. The former Juventus man also was fined earlier in the season for taking a penalty, which he subsequently missed, which he was not designated to take.

Diego's overall form over the last campaign was mixed but the pint sized midfielder did weigh in with crucial performances that eventually help steer Wolfsburg away from relegation in what was a very poor season for the club overall. The Volkswagen backed side had won the title back in 2008/09 but finished last season in 15th spot in the Bundesliga, during which time Steve McClaren was fired and star striker Edin Dzeko was sold to Man City.

Liverpool is keen to bring in more creative talent and are said to be closing in on Blackpool talisman Charlie Adam and having already signed Sunderland youngster Jordan Henderson, Kenny Dalglish is expected to bring in further signings to help push his side back into the top four next term.

Diego had been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool during Rafa Benitez's spell at the club and the much traveled midfielder may be looking for a fresh start after stuttering seasons with Juventus and Wolfsburg.

Tony Pulis Eye Possible Double Swoop From Liverpool

ClubCall announced that Stoke City Manager Tony Pulis is possibly interested in a double move for Liverpool's Christian Poulsen and David N'Gog.

Poulsen never got his career off the ground for the Reds, despite reiterating desire to fight for his place he will most likely move on this summer.

David N'Gog has seen an offer from Sunderland recently but it looks to be that he will refuse as they will not match his wage demands.

Pulis had great success with former Liverpool wide man Jermaine Pennant, whom he signed permanently last season, and could be seeing an opportunity to make good on some other Reds outkasts.

Mata Shrugs Off Speculation

Juan Mata has sought to distance himself from mounting speculation regarding his future.

The Valencia winger is currently away on international duty with the Spanish U21 side, as they go in search of European Championship glory.

Mata is determined to add that prize to his collection, having formed part of the senior Spain squad that lifted the World Cup in 2010.

A number of eye-catching displays have helped the U21 side to make it through to Saturday's final, where they will meet Switzerland.

Mata has also drawn plenty of admiring glances for the manner in which he has helped guide Spain through the tournament.

Reports suggest he could be the next high-profile departure from Valencia, following the sales of David Villa and David Silva last summer.

The likes of Liverpool and Barcelona are reported to have expressed an interest, but for now the talented playmaker is keen to put transfer talk firmly to one side.

He told AS: "I would rather focus on the final against Switzerland at the moment.

"I don't know if it will be a long summer. At this point I am only thinking about winning the European championship and hopefully returning to Spain with a title that will allow me to enjoy my holidays."

Boudebouz Snubs Liverpool

Reported Liverpool target Ryad Boudebouz says he has no interest in leaving Sochaux and believes he needs another year in France.

The Reds are thought to have been weighing up whether to offer £5million for the Algeria international after his impressive season in Ligue 1.

The 21-year-old scored eight goals as Sochaux secured a place in the Europa League.

Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli is thought to have gone to France in January in the hope off securing the midfielder during the winter transfer window.

However, Sochaux knocked the Reds back at the time and it looks as though they will miss out again after he stated his intentions to stay with his current club for at least another season.

"I would want to stay here for a further year," said Boudebouz.

"It is for the president to decide. It is true when I say that I'm with Sochaux 100% but we know that things happen fast in football so all I'm going to say for now is that I'm not looking to leave."

Lucas Eyes Up Trophies With Brazil

Lucas Leiva is ready to step into the lion’s den and spearhead Brazil’s push for an historic triumph. The Liverpool midfielder is in Argentina preparing for the Copa America which gets under way next Friday.

It will be Lucas’ first senior tournament with the Samba stars who are gunning for an unprecedented hat-trick of South American titles.

Coach Mano Menezes’ young side has been unconvincing in their warm-up games and is guaranteed a red-hot reception in the backyard of their fiercest rivals.

But Lucas is confident they will rise to the challenge and is relishing the opportunity to showcase his development on the big stage.

“It’s my first official competition with Brazil and I can’t wait for it,” he said.

“It means a lot – to play for Brazil is the highest target you can have.

“I know how difficult it is to get into this squad when you are competing against so many good players. It’s reward for what I’ve done for Liverpool and now I want to help Brazil do well.

“When you are playing in the country of your biggest rivals that makes it more difficult. I’m sure we will have more fans against us than for us.

“We know the people in Brazil love football so much and the expectation level is always really high. There will be a lot of pressure but I’m used to that from playing for Liverpool.

“It’s our first competition under the new manager.

“We have a very young team and are building for 2014.

“That’s the big target but when you go into any tournament like this you have to go into it focused purely on winning it.

“Brazil must always be one of the favourites to win and I want to help make history.”

The Copa America comes after a whirlwind few months for the 24-year-old.

The birth of his first son Pedro Lucas was followed by recognition that he has established himself as a key member of Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool side.

A new long-term contract to keep him at Anfield was finalized before he was deservedly crowned the Reds’ player of the year.

His progress has also seen him hold down a regular spot in the Brazilian midfield alongside Chelsea’s Ramires.

Menezes, who was Lucas’ manager at Gremio prior to his £6m switch to Anfield in 2007, has entrusted him with the coveted No 5 shirt worn by the likes of Dunga and Mauro Silva.

“A lot of big players have worn that shirt,” he admitted.

“It is really important. In Brazil they think everything starts with the No 5.

“For me it’s just a pleasure to wear that shirt and have the opportunity to play for Brazil.

“The manager has known me since I was 18. He knows me well but there are no favours.

“Everyone in the squad deserves to be there because of the form they have produced for their clubs.

“I try to prove myself in every game and show that I’m capable of being in the national team.

“It will be great if I can achieve good things with Brazil.”

Menezes took over from Dunga last summer and is tasked with developing a side capable of winning the 2014 World Cup on home soil.

Brazil is a work in progress, highlighted by their two friendlies earlier this month when a goalless draw with Dirk Kuyt’s Holland was followed by a 1-0 win over Romania.

All eyes will be fixed on striking sensation Neymar.

“The exciting 19-year-old joined up with the squad on a high this week after firing Santos to glory in the final of the Copa Libertadores against Uruguayan outfit Penarol.

Neymar has been strongly linked with a bumper move to Chelsea or Real Madrid and Lucas is in no doubt about his talent.

“He’s a fantastic player and one of the biggest talents we have at the moment in Brazil,” Lucas said.

“We know Chelsea tried to sign him before but he decided to stay in Brazil. Neymar’s been doing really well in Brazil and I’m really looking forward to watching him over the next few years.

“In time I know he will come to Europe and play for a big team.”

Brazil start their campaign against Venezuela next Sunday and also face group games against Paraguay (July 9) and Ecuador (July 13). If Brazil are going to retain their grip on the trophy they are likely to face a semi-final clash with Luis Suarez’s Uruguay prior to a final showdown with arch-rivals and pre-tournament favourites Argentina.

Lucas could find himself locking horns with Lionel Messi in Buenos Aires on July 24.

“Messi is the greatest player I’ve ever come up against,” he said.

“I played against him in the semis of the Olympics in China in 2008 and then when we played Argentina in a friendly last year he scored in the last minute. We know he’s in a very good moment and it’s hard to stop him.

“Argentina has the best player in the world and they are always really strong but Uruguay will also be tough. They did very well in the World Cup and have very good players like Luis.

“Luis and I have been talking about maybe facing each other in the quarter-final or semi-final. That would be a great occasion but hopefully Brazil will do better.

“If Brazil play against Argentina in the final then the world will stop to watch. The rivalry is massive.

“It will be a very good competition to watch and to play in. I can’t wait for it to start.”

Carragher Admits He Would Like To Become Club's Youth Coach After Retiring

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has admitted he would be keen on coaching the club's youth team when he retires from playing.

The 33-year-old is keen to remain at the club he has played for since 1996, making more than 500 appearances on Anfield.

"I want to carry on playing but maybe in the future, that will be up to the club," he told Chinese reporters ahead of the club's tour to the Far East this summer. "That's something I'll look at because you want to help Liverpool in anyway you can.

"I think we've seen two new young players in the last few weeks, [John] Flanagan and [Jack] Robinson at full-backs and Jay Spearing. The youth team is very good."

Carragher also praised Kenny Dalglish after his return to the manager's seat at Anfield, he said: "Kenny has brought a lot of positivity to the club. He has been a great galvanizing figure for the club."

Reds To Visit Singapore

Singapore Reds can look forward to another memorable summer as Liverpool Football Club are returning to the country which gave us so many happy memories two years ago.

With the planned visit to Korea having been cancelled earlier this month, the Reds have taken the exciting opportunity to return to Singapore for a special training session on the third leg of their Standard Chartered sponsored pre-season tour of Asia.

Kenny Dalglish's squad will travel to Singapore - where they enjoyed an unforgettable welcome back in 2009 - immediately after their friendly game in Malaysia on July 16 and will train in front of invited supporters at a training session the following evening before their flight back to Liverpool.

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."