Forest Complete Anderson Capture

Championship newcomers Nottingham Forest have acquired the services of highly-rated Liverpool youngster Paul Anderson on a season-long loan.

Forest beat off stiff competition from Championship rivals Swansea, who Anderson spent last season on loan with and helped them pip Colin Calderwood's side to the League One title.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who played 36 times for the Swans and scored eight goals, said he jumped at the opportunity to return to his native east midlands when he was aware of Calderwood's interest.

He told the club's official website: "I enjoyed last season at Swansea but after speaking to Forest I just felt that it was the right move for me.

"I'm joining a big club in Forest and I am very excited about the challenge of trying to help them make an impact in the Championship."

Torres Is The World's Best - Carragher

Jamie Carragher has hailed Liverpool team-mate Fernando Torres as the best striker in the world following his exploits at Euro 2008.

Torres has helped Spain reach the final of the competition with some impressive showings in Austria and Switzerland.

The former Atletico Madrid ace has carried on where he left off at Liverpool last season after scoring an impressive 33 goals in his debut season at Anfield.

Carragher is a big fan of Torres and insists he would not swap the Spaniard for anyone in the world.

"He has a great partnership with Villa they look really sharp the two of them and Fernando has took his form from Liverpool into the national team," Carragher told Sky Sports News.

"He does not have to prove anything to anyone at Liverpool as he has done it in the Champions League and I am sure he has gone down well in Spain.

"I am Liverpool player and I am biased, I suppose, but for me he is the best.

"I am just delighted to be in the same team as him and it was a great bit of business by the club last summer, great for Rafa who brought him in and he has repaid everyone.

"Hopefully he will do it for the next four or five years for Liverpool, but at the moment I would not swap him for anyone."

Carragher: Reds To Challenge

Central defender Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool will mount a serious challenge for silverware next season.

The Reds stalwart has backed manager Rafael Benitez to bring some quality new signings to Anfield this summer, as they look to close the gap to the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal both domestically and in Europe.

Liverpool finished 11 points off the pace of eventual Premier League champions United last season, while they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stage at the hands of Chelsea.

The Reds have failed to claim the domestic league title since 1990 and have not won any trophies during the last two seasons.

"At a club like Liverpool every season is a big season and we will be going for every trophy we possibly can," said Carragher.

"It is a big competition not just in the Premier League but around Europe, but I am confident we can produce something this season.

"We didn't win anything last season, so we want to look to improve and that is something we have already done.

"We have brought in two or three players already and I am sure the manager is looking to bring some more in."

Liverpool Line Up Shock £10m Swoop For Boro's England Winger Stewart Downing

Liverpool will make a surprise £10million swoop for Middlesbrough's England winger Stewart Downing, according to reports.

Anfield boss Rafa Benitez wants a left-sided midfielder following Harry Kewell's departure and he has targeted England star Downing, The Sun reports.

The Boro ace was a Spurs target last season. But Gareth Southgate wants to keep him, especially as Downing was handed a new five-year deal just five months ago.

Boro want to build a team around Downing, 23, and aim to have James Harper and French midfielder Didier Digard alongside him next term.

Chief executive Keith Lamb said: "We are pursuing a number of players. The negotiations are going very well and we hope to have most of our incoming transfers completed before the players return to training on July 7."

Liverpool will wrap up the signing of £7m Italian defender Andrea Dossena next week. The Udinese full-back, 26, will become Benitez's second capture of the summer following Swiss ace Philipp Degen.

Anfield chief executive Rick Parry said: "The deal should go through next week after finalising the paperwork." Benitez has also pounced for AZ Alkmaar's Dutch strike prodigy Vincent Weijl. Weijl, 17, is due to move for a nominal fee as he has yet to sign a professional contract.

Chester Look To Take Godwin Antwi On Loan

CHESTER City last night approached Liverpool to enquire about the availability of central defender, Godwin Antwi.

The 20-year-old Ghanaian-born player is highly thought of at Anfield, but it is understood that they would be receptive to a temporary loan spell, if the player was agreeable.

Antwi, who moved to Spain with his family when he was 14 years of age, played for the Real Zaragoza youth team before being spotted by Paco Herrera, who persuaded him to move to Anfield.

The player, who was a member of the Liverpool’s FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2006, had a loan spell with Accrington Stanley 18 months ago, before spending a year-long temporary period with Hartlepool United last season.

During his time in the North East, he made 27 League One appearances for the Victoria Park club.

City manager Simon Davies said last night: "We have spoken to Liverpool and if the player is receptive then we would like to bring him to the Deva Stadium on a season-long temporary loan arrangement.

"Godwin is an exceptional player and he is just the sort of defender that we are looking for. Hopefully he will see the benefit of joining us for a season and see the temporary move as an integral part of his football progression."

Rafa Benitez To Seal Double Capture Of Nikola Saric And Andrea Dossena

Liverpool are set to complete two transfer deals – after beating a host of top clubs to one of Europe’s most promising young strikers.

Italian left-back Andrea Dossena agreed terms to complete his move from Udinese for a fee in the region of £6million earlier this month before going on his honeymoon.

He is now set to put pen to paper when the transfer window officially opens on Tuesday, and Anfield chief executive Rick Parry said: “We are now ready to confirm the signing of Dossena. The deal should go through next week after finalising the paperwork.”
But the signing of Danish youngster Nikola Saric (pictured above) is a longer-term investment, the 17-year-old joining on a three-year deal from Herfolge for an undisclosed fee.

Barcelona were just one of a clutch of clubs keen to seal the signature of the striker, who can also play wide on the left, but after Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez contacted the player personally he dropped out of his club’s training camp in Greece to fly in to Merseyside yesterday.

“All the top clubs in Europe have been involved with this player,” Herfolge’s sporting director Per Rud told the Daily Post.

“So it says something about the club that he is turning up at Liverpool.

“We are very proud to sell him to one of the biggest clubs in the world and glad that they came up with the best package for him.”

Saric made his debut for the Danish second division club when he was 15 but he was restricted to just three appearances for them last season because of country commitments.

He began the campaign playing for Denmark under-17s but was promoted to the under-18s as he started to catch the eye with his performances in the international set-up. He is set to sign his contract next week and is likely to join the ranks of promising teenagers in Gary Ablett’s reserve side next season.

Saric said: “It is a unique opportunity for me.

“I will train with the big names over there, and in time they will develop me at reserve level.”