Liverpool Failed In £9m Bid For Rangers Striker

According to a report in The Sun this morning, Liverpool aimed a speculative offer for Rangers hitman Nikica Jelavic as the transfer deadline approached on Wednesday night.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish allegedly aimed a £9 million offer at the Glasgow side after seeing David Ngog, Raul Meireles and Joe Cole leave Merseyside on various deals.

Though Craig Bellamy was brought in on a free from Manchester City, Dalglish chanced his arm with an approach to take Jelavic to Anfield on loan, before making a more realistic multi-million attempt as the clock ticked down.

Despite the fact that Liverpool’s frontline is brimming with talent, and Luis Suarez looks to be in fantastic form to start the new season, Jelavic would have been a great addition.

Since arriving from Rapid Vienna in 2010, he has scored 22 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions, helping Rangers to the Scottish Premier League title.

A 12-cap Croatian international to boot, there is no doubt that Jelavic could be a force at Premier League level and Dalglish's interest may indicate that a January swoop could be in the offing.

Cardiff City Tried To Keep Bellamy From The Clutches Of Liverpool

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has revealed the Bluebirds tried in vain to keep Craig Bellamy from the clutches of Liverpool on deadline day.

The 31-year-old spent last season on loan at his hometown club from Manchester City, but was unable to help them secure a passage into the Barclays Premier League.

Cardiff were, however, keen to bring to Bellamy back to South Wales before the close of the transfer window, but had to step aside when Liverpool made their interest known.

"You're talking about Liverpool, which is a huge club," Mackay said.

"[Bellamy's] someone I've spoken to three or four times since I've taken the job, in a friendly capacity.

"Really until Manchester City decided what they were going to do, I think there was nothing I could have done.

"Certainly we looked at something and put a proposition when we found out it was an opportunity that he'd be leaving.

"But at the end of the day you're talking about Liverpool, which is a huge club.

"But our chairman really showed ambition yesterday and we'd made tentative calls, but by that point it was so far down the road with Liverpool."

Clarke - Coates Is Ready

Liverpool coach Steve Clarke believes new signing Sebastian Coates is ready to be thrown into the first team.

The 20-year-old Uruguayan completed his move from Nacional on Tuesday to provide extra competition at centre-half in an undisclosed deal.

Fresh from being crowned Young Player of the Tournament at the Copa America, in which Uruguay were triumphant, Coates arrives with undoubted potential.

Clarke, though, is wary of the demands of the Premier League, which has so often got the better of youngsters making their bow in the English game.

"He's a full international and Uruguay is amongst the top five in the world, so they're a strong international team," Clarke told the club's official website.

"He's a talented youngster and gives us different options at the back. He's ready to play if required, but we've also got many other centre-halves ready to play if required.

"You never really know how a foreign player coming into the English game is going to adapt. Some take a long time to adjust, while others like Luis Suarez come in and settle straight away.

"You just keep an eye on it and hope the boy settles quickly, gets to know his team-mates, gets a few chances to play and then you build on it from there.

"It'll be a different challenge for him because the English Premier League is a league that takes a little bit of getting used to, so hopefully we can nurse him along, get him ready and he'll be a valuable addition to the squad.

"We look to sign young players that can improve and we looked at his performances throughout the Copa America when he was named Young Player of the Tournament. It's certainly exciting."

Coates is one of seven summer signings made by Liverpool, and Clarke reckons things are starting to take shape.

"All over the team you can see little partnerships and combinations starting to form," he said.

"We're basically a young team who are still getting to know each other and still working on strengths and weaknesses.

"Hopefully over a period of time we'll improve and the team performances will improve too."

Carra Lauds Bellamy Return

Jamie Carragher believes Craig Bellamy can top his first spell at Liverpool after returning to his former club on transfer deadline day.

The 32-year-old signed a two-year deal on Wednesday having come to an agreement over the final 12 months of his contract with Manchester City, where he had fallen out of favour with manager Roberto Mancini.

He returns to the Merseysiders four years after leaving following just one season under Rafael Benitez in which he scored nine goals.

"It's a great signing. As a kid he always said he was a Liverpool fan," said Reds vice-captain Carragher.

"I think he was quite disappointed with how it finished, with how he left.

"He'd have liked to have done a lot better and hopefully this gives him the chance to do that.

"For the last few years at Man City he has been excellent, not just as a striker but as a wide player. In the squad we've probably only got Stewart Downing as an out-and-out wide player.

"I think Craig prefers to play as a striker but he could certainly do that job for us."

Carragher was also pleased to see the defence reinforced with the arrival of 6ft 6in Uruguay centre-back Sebastian Coates, who impressed during this summer's Copa America.

"I haven't seen a lot of him but I think he got young player of the tournament," the veteran centre-back told Liverpool's official website.

"That shows he's got great quality and I think it's going to be a great addition to the squad.

"You can't think of yourself, you have to think of the club. One centre-back (Sotirios Krygiakos) went so we needed another.

"Time will tell how good the lad is but his pedigree looks fantastic.

"He's probably been brought up playing a different type of football than I have, a South American style - so maybe I can learn from him as well.

"It's not always about the older players helping the younger - it can work vice-versa. You're always learning from different people."

Henderson Fires For England

Jordan Henderson scored an excellent goal while captaining England U21s to a 6-0 Euro qualification victory over Azerbaijan on Thursday night.

The 21-year-old bent a right-foot shot beyond the goalkeeper to cap a mature display in the centre of the park.

Jon Flanagan also impressed on his U21 debut, playing 90 minutes and looking every inch a Premier League player.

Andre Wisdom didn't get off the bench but another debutant Jonjo Shelvey was sharp after entering the game in the 79th minute.

England's other scorers on the night were Henri Lansbury (2), Craig Dawson (2) and Martyn Waghorn.

Maxi Sets Goals Target

Maxi Rodriguez hopes his new squad number will inspire him to a best ever goals tally in a Liverpool shirt.

The Argentine enjoyed a rich vein of form in the latter stages of 2010-11 including hat-tricks in consecutive games but has already set his sights on surpassing those exploits this time around.

Our new No.11 told LFC Weekly: "Football is a game where you always want to do better and, after scoring 10 goals last season, it would be nice to improve on that this year.

"From when you are a kid you always want to improve year on year so if I can, that will be fantastic.

"The main thing is to try and make the most of any opportunities you do get to play so I will be going all out to do that."

Maxi switched shirt numbers during the summer having previously donned the No.17 jersey.

He admits he has a fondness for the number 11 and hopes it can have a positive impact upon his game.

"It was something that I asked for personally. It's just my favourite number," he said.

"I wore it at Newell's Old Boys and at Atletico and also in a couple of games for the Argentina national team.

"Albert Riera was the last person to have it at the start of last season but he left that summer and so the number was spare. Let's hope it brings a lot of luck."

Downing: Kenny Given Me Confidence

Stewart Downing claims Kenny Dalglish has given him the confidence to become an England hero.

By his own admission, the winger has had an up and down England career, but he is now aiming to follow former Aston Villa teammate Ashley Young in becoming a regular for Fabio Capello.

Like Young at Manchester United, Downing has been on top form since swapping clubs in the summer - and our new No.19 has doffed his 27 caps at the part played by Dalglish.

"I certainly feel more confident as a player," said Downing ahead of England's clash with Bulgaria. "The team at Liverpool is playing well and I'm happy with my form at the minute. The fact the manager put a lot of faith in me, spending that amount of money, does give me a lot of confidence.

"He's quite a man-manager, always hands on and speaking to you. He knows how to play and he's given me a lot of confidence as a player - and when players are playing with confidence they tend to play quite well.

"As soon as I went to Liverpool I felt settled at a great club.

"Playing in a big squad, fighting for my place every week, will bring the best out of me."

Downing added: "Ashley has seen people competing with him for a place in the team and he's grabbing it with both hands, which we all have to do when given the chance."

"His progress does act as an inspiration, and not only for me. We all have to be ready when called upon by Fabio.

"I've got myself back in the squad but I don't just want to be making up the numbers. I want to be playing. There's a big championship at the end of the summer. To get in that squad will be difficult, because there are a lot of players playing for places, a lot of wingers. So I've got to be on form and playing well."

Downing started Capello's first competitive game in charge of England against Andorra but competition from James Milner and Adam Johnson meant opportunities were limited thereafter.

"It's been up and down, I'm not hiding that," he said. "I had a run of games under Steve McClaren and was then in and out.

"The thing for me is that I have been in and out but of late I've been in the squad and involved in games. I think it's a big season for me. I want to play well, get in that 11 and be in the squad.

"I started Capello's first qualifier. I thought I did well in some games. In others not so well, and I've got to be honest and say that.

"I don't worry about other things. I need to play well and not worry about the past. I'll be happy if I can get into the team and stay there."

Comolli Hails Fenway Backing

Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli has praised Fenway Sports Group for their "brave" approach to the transfer window.

Liverpool's American owners provided significant cash for the signings of Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Alexander Doni early in the summer.

They supplemented those additions by bringing in Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates over the last fortnight before Craig Bellamy arrived on a deadline day which saw four players moved on.

In the two transfer windows since taking over the club last October FSG have sanctioned about £120million-worth of signings, although they have recouped well over half that from the sales of Fernando Torres, David Ngog, Ryan Babel and - late on Thursday night - Raul Meireles to Chelsea.

Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen, both drains on the wage bill, were offloaded to Lille (on loan) and Evian (permanently) respectively.

And Comolli believes the way they operated in the window worked out almost perfectly, thanks to the backing he and manager Kenny Dalglish received from principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner.

"It's difficult for me to put into words what they gave us throughout the summer," said the Frenchman.

"Their support was absolutely tremendous, in the down times and in the up times.

"When they needed to invest money we didn't think they'd have to, John and Tom were unbelievably helpful.

"I think we are very lucky to have these owners because people need to realize a lot of owners would have said the squad is too big so you need to reduce it, and then when you've done that bring some players in.

"But that was never the approach they had. They were happy to take risks, for us to spend the money, to support us and to trust us as well.

"I told them in the summer we need to buy players first and towards the end of the window there would be a lot of movement with players going out.

"They were very brave to accept that, having had no experience of a similar transfer window.

"From the outside it might be difficult to understand, but from my side their support was absolutely tremendous."

Ruthless Streak Returns To Liverpool FC’s Off-field Dealings

If there’s one thing Liverpool’s extensive summer squad overhaul has shown, it’s that the Anfield outfit have regained a ruthless, decisive edge.

Gone are the days of dawdling over lengthy negotiations for prospective new signings who eventually lost patience and headed elsewhere.

Gone are the days when the playing staff was top-heavy with has-beens, could-have- beens and never-will-bes struggling for a sniff of first-team action.

And gone are the days when the club would pander to those who weren’t fully committed to the cause.

Clearly, you are now either with the Anfield revolution, or you aren’t. No grey areas. No confusion. No hesitation.

Like Fernando Torres in January, Liverpool wasted no time in moving on Raul Meireles once the Portuguese decided he preferred Stamford Bridge to L4.

It’s the kind of sure-footed decision-making that was lacking during previous ownership regimes of the all-too-recent past.

Liverpool supporters will hail the magnificent seven new arrivals, but it’s in chopping much of the deadwood that the club has most impressed.

Suddenly, while there’s a streamlined appearance to Kenny Dalglish’s squad, with it has come a genuine competition for places.

That hasn’t come without considerable expense, but for the £120million-plus outlay of Fenway Sports Group since the New Year, more than half has been recouped in player sales which have also greatly lessened the wage bill.

Credit must also go to Damien Comolli.

His initial appointment and subsequent promotion to director of football were greeted with skepticism by many supporters.

But, working alongside Dalglish, the early signs are that the Frenchman’s efforts have been worthwhile.

Now Liverpool must show they can be the sum of their parts.

Raul Meireles Signs For Chelsea

Chelsea has signed Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles from Liverpool in a deal rumoured to be worth around £12million.

Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas signed the 28-year-old minutes before the summer transfer window closed on Wednesday evening.

It was announced Meireles had handed in a transfer request at Liverpool just 30 minutes before the deadline closed, with Chelsea announcing their new signing shortly after.

A statement on the club’s official website declared: ‘Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Raul Meireles from Liverpool on a four-year contract.’

Meireles made 44 appearances at Liverpool after joining from Porto in August 2010.

Villas-Boas moved to secure the services of the 28-year-old after it became apparent Chelsea were not going to be able to persuade Spurs to part company with Luka Modric, despite bidding £40million for the Croatian.

Craig Bellamy Re-Joins Liverpool

Manchester City were at the heart of two of the most surprising deals on transfer deadline day but the world's richest club did not spend a penny as Owen Hargreaves and Craig Bellamy were given the chance to resurrect their careers.

Bellamy left the Wales training camp on Wednesday afternoon and flew into Liverpool for surprise talks with his former club.

Bellamy left Anfield in 2007 after just 12 months at the club but completed a surprise return to Anfield on the final day of the transfer window.

Liverpool confirmed the deal in a statement on Wednesday, declaring: 'Liverpool have tonight announced Craig Bellamy has signed a contract with the club.

'He will wear shirt number 39.'

Liverpool Striker Completes Move Away From Anfield

Liverpool striker David N'Gog has completed his deadline day move to Bolton.

The French striker, who joined the club from Paris Saint Germain in 2008, has failed to live up to expectations and following the signings of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January, has found his first team opportunities limited.

Kop boss Kenny Dalglish has made it clear that N'Gog is surplus to requirements at Anfield, especially with the club still holding out for a last minute capture of Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy has reportedly undergone a medical at Anfield and this has paved the way for the young Frenchman to secure a £4 million switch to Owen Coyle's Bolton.

A statement on the Liverpool website confirmed the departure of N'Gog. It read: "Liverpool has confirmed that David Ngog has completed his transfer to Bolton Wanderers.

"Everyone at Liverpool FC would like to wish David all the best with his future career."

When asked about his new acquisition, Owen Coyle said: "David will be a great addition to our squad.

"He is quick, can score goals and he knows what the Barclays Premier League is all about.

"Added to that there is his European experience with Liverpool in the Champions and Europa Leagues.

"He has represented his country at a host of junior levels and he will offer our team further attacking options.

"We are delighted to bring another quality, young prospect to Bolton."

Liverpool Sign Villyan Bijev & Loan Him To Fortuna Dusseldorf

Liverpool has signed young American striker Villyan Bijev from US side California Odyssey.

After impressing on a trial period at Melwood, scoring five goals in two games for the Reds in July, the youngster has now signed a three-year deal with the club.

The 18-year-old netted over 20 goals for his side at under-16 level, averaging a goal a game and was voted into the national starting XI at the under-18 rank.

However, Bijev has yet to be handed a work permit to play in England and has been loaned out to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

JR Eskilson, of Goal.com USA, says Bijev is a "very gifted" player who can operate as a striker or in midfield, with good technique and a goalscoring mentality, although he is not the strongest in possession.

"In brief terms, he is very gifted," he said. "He has a deft touch, nose for the goal, and is deceivingly elusive for a player of his stature. He is making a big jump in terms of quality from a playing standpoint, but he is a very determined young man who comes from an educated family (in terms of soccer and smarts) and he is taking calculated risks for the better of his long-term career.

"He will do extremely well as long as he is placed in the right environment to help his development."

Poulsen Lured To Evian

Christian Poulsen has revealed he was persuaded to leave Liverpool by Evian coach Pascal Dupraz.

The 31-year-old was signed by former Liverpool coach Roy Hodgson for £4.5million from Juventus last season.

Poulsen arrived at Anfield with an impressive reputation but struggled to find his best form at Liverpool.

His situation was not helped when Hodgson was sacked so early into his reign and was used sparingly under Kenny Dalglish.

Competition for places in midfield was increased over the summer with the acquisitions of Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson.

Poulsen, who is a Denmark international, had expressed a desire to remain at Anfield but the loquacious tones of Dupraz convinced him to accept a new challenge.

"I liked the speech of Pascal and the project of the club is really good too," he told the club's official website.

"What matters is the level of competition. The French Ligue 1 championship is very good. I will do everything to have a dominant share in the future success of my new team."

Fellow Denmark internationals Stephan Andersen and Daniel Wass are already at the club and Poulsen feels having familiar faces around will make it easier for him to settle at Evian.

"Stephan is a very good friend and the integration will be easier."

Liverpool Given First Refusal On Eden Hazard

French newspaper La Voix du Nord are reporting that Liverpool will be given first refusal to sign Eden Hazard next summer as Joe Cole's loan move has now been completed.

The highly rated Belgian winger has been highly coveted throughout Europe this summer with Arsenal been heavily linked with a move for the 20-year-old but now Cole's move to Lille has gone through, Liverpool have been given the opportunity to sign Hazard next summer.

Hazard said on Monday: "I hope we will have an even better season than last year. Anyway, I enjoy it here. The rumours must stop. I am here."

Despite the signing of Stewart Downing this summer, Kenny Dalglish appears keen to add to his numbers in the wide positions, to assist Andy Carroll.

Liverpool have already spent in excess of £100 million this summer and with the squad now full, a move for the Lille man this summer would seem unlikely.

Cole Relishing Lille Challenge

Midfielder Joe Cole is looking forward to a fresh challenge after joining French champions Lille on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool.

The England international completed the move on transfer deadline day to end a summer of speculation over his future.

The 29-year-old had failed to establish himself at Anfield since arriving on a free transfer last summer and had fallen well down manager Kenny Dalglish's pecking order.

Cole will get the chance to play UEFA Champions League football with the Ligue 1 club this season and is looking forward to a change of scenery.

"I wanted a challenge from abroad," he said. "Lille is a beautiful club, a family club that plays well.

"I like intelligence in football. It will be an interesting experience for me.

"I think I'm going in the right direction. I'm here to help Lille by bringing my experience and the quality to win many trophies."

Degen's Contract Terminated

Liverpool might not have managed to sell Philipp Degen, however he's left the Reds.

The Swiss defender has seen his contract terminated by mutual consent, as a statement on Liverpoolfc.tv explained:

'Liverpool Football Club have tonight confirmed they have cancelled the registration of Philipp Degen by mutual consent.

'The Swiss defender moved to Anfield from Borussia Dortmund in 2008 and made 13 first-team appearances.'

Downing Eyes England Spot

Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has revealed he hopes to emulate former Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young and earn a regular spot in Fabio Capello's England squad.

Young has become a regular fixture in Capello's starting XI over the past year, scoring his first international goals against Denmark in February and Switzerland in June.

His form for club and country saw him secure a big-money move to Manchester United this summer, while Downing also moved on from Villa Park, joining Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool in July.

Speaking ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifier in Bulgaria on Friday the former Middlesbrough winger stated his determination to join Young in the England starting line-up.

"Ashley's progress does act as an inspiration, and not only for me. We all have to be ready to be called upon by Fabio Capello," said the 27-year-old.

"There is competition for places. He [Young] has seen people competing with him for a place in the team and he's grabbing it with both hands which we all have to do when given the chance.

"I hope I can go from strength to strength with England. I'm enjoying my football at the minute. I'm playing with a lot of confidence and I am hoping to be involved a lot more.

"There are a lot of players here from the top four or five clubs. I think the competition for places is quite strong.

"It is good for England, good for the squad. It keeps people on their toes.

"It's probably a headache for the manager but I'm sure it's one he would like."

Kelly Set For Swift Return

Liverpool is confident defender Martin Kelly will make a quick recovery from his hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old, who missed the end of last season due to a similar fitness problem, was forced off after half-an-hour of last weekend's win over Bolton at Anfield.

But first-team coach Steve Clarke is optimistic Kelly will soon be back in action, which could suggest he may return for the trip to Stoke after the international break on 10th September.

Clarke told Liverpool's official website: "Martin Kelly came off because he felt a little tightness in his hamstring.

"It was obviously disappointing for the player and disappointing for ourselves, but it's looking like a low-grade injury and so he should be back fairly quickly."

Reserves Suffer Swansea Defeat

10-man Liverpool Reserves began the 2011-12 Barclays Premier Reserve League season with a 2-1 defeat at Swansea City.

The Reds capitalized on a positive start by taking an early lead through Conor Coady at Parc-Y-Scarlets in Llanelli.

However, Scotland international Craig Beattie drew the hosts level on 31 minutes before Liverpool had Emmanuel Mendy sent off shortly after for bringing the striker down inside the box.

David Cotterill netted the resulting penalty and despite a spirited effort in the second half, the Reds were unable to muster a leveller.

Rodolfo Borrell selected a strong XI for his first league game in charge of the second string, with the likes of Coady, Raheem Sterling, Suso, Nathan Eccleston and Toni Silva all handed starting berths.

However, Swansea's line up also boasted a wealth of experience including Beattie, Cotterill, Tom Butler, Mark Gower and Andrea Orlandi.

The average age of the two sides was certainly tipped in favour of the hosts, but Liverpool's youthful exuberance saw them take a sixth-minute lead.

Krisztian Adorjan's dangerous in-swinging free-kick from the left was unwittingly flicked across the face of goal by a Swans' defender, allowing Coady to ghost into the six-yard box and tuck home.

It was just rewards for a bright start to the contest by the Reds - but Orlandi was millimetres away from drawing Swansea level with a long-range blast that clipped the roof of the net.

Liverpool's response saw Silva surge beyond Ashley Richards into the area and cut the ball back for Eccleston, who was narrowly off target, before Sterling saw an effort just clear the crossbar soon after.

Swansea had rarely troubled Tyrell Belford's goal, however they restored parity on 31 minutes.

A half-cleared corner was worked back out to Cotterill on the right. His cross was misjudged by Stephen Sama and Beattie gleefully tapped in from close quarters.

Two minutes later and on a night on which they'd started so promisingly, Liverpool were left facing an uphill task as their hopes were dealt a double blow.

Mendy's rash challenge on Beattie inside the box as the pair chased a long ball forward was punished with a penalty to the hosts and a straight red card for the Liverpool defender. Cotterill made no mistake with the resulting spot-kick.

Swansea was now firmly in the ascendancy and only a fine block by Matty McGiveron prevented Tom Butler from a clear strike on goal.

The Welsh team was dominating possession and Mark Gower's dangerous delivery into the box just before half-time was inches away from being converted by Orlandi before Daniel Alfei bulleted a header wide from a corner.

With Swansea's numerical advantage - and greater senior experience - the second half was always going to prove a difficult task for Borrell's men.

Still, to their credit, the Reds never shirked the challenge and Sterling was unlucky when his mazy run and cross just cut out before it could reach Silva in the centre.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, substitute David Amoo was sent speeding into space inside the box but the forward's low drive was turned around the post by Gerhard Tremmel.

As the game edged towards its conclusion, Sterling shaved the outside of the post with a skimming effort from the edge of the box, but it wasn't to be for Liverpool.