Roy Hodgson Seeking Guarenteed Transfer Funds Before Commiting To Become Liverpool Manager

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson insists that he be guaranteed funds to help strengthen Liverpool’s squad this summer before he is appointed the Reds new manager.

Liverpool are set to agree to terms with the Cottagers over compensation for Hodgson to replace new Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez.

However, Hodgson want some assurance that the Reds will give him the funds to go into the transfer marker and improve the club before he commits to lead Liverpool next season, according to The Mirror.

The Reds are coming off of a very disappointing season, finishing in seventh place in the Premier League and being eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League.

Hodgson is concerned that the financially burdened club, who are currently about £400 million in debt, may not allow him to spend this summer.

Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson is the favourite to replace Hodgson at Fulham.

Klose: Germans Rate Liverpool Midfielder Gerrard Bigger Tthreat Than Rooney

Bayern Munich veteran Miroslav Klose says the Germans rate Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard as England's biggest threat.

Klose says they're more wary of Gerrard than Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Klose told the Daily Star Sunday: “I personally like Steven ­Gerrard as a player. In many ways I see him as more ­important than Wayne Rooney as he can create everything for England in the ­middle of the park.”

Klose, 32, who won the Golden Boot at the 2006 World Cup, knows all about Rooney as he plays for Bayern Munich, who beat Manchester United over two legs in the Champions League semi-finals in March and April.

And he said: “I know a lot of hope is on Wayne Rooney for the England team but we won't give him any special attention. Yes he is a good player and we will mark him like we would any good player – but we won't be doubling-up on him or ­anything like that."

DIC Return To Negotiating Table With Liverpool

Dubai International Capital are again in takeover talks with Liverpool.

The Sunday Express says while managing director Christian Purslow has been concentrating on finding Rafa Benitez’s successor, chairman Martin Broughton has been focused on attracting buyers to take over from George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

One of Broughton’s tasks has been to knock down Hicks’ claims that the Americans were looking for £800million.

He has been in advanced talks with parties in the Middle East, including Dubai International Capital, and believes a deal could be done for £500m.

Fernando Torres Still A Dangerman, Says Spain Coach Vicente Del Bosque

Fernando Torres has yet to hit top form in the World Cup but Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque insists the Liverpool striker is still a major threat.

Torres had to play catch-up with regards to his preparations for the World Cup after missing the majority of Spain’s build-up having undergone knee surgery in April.

His only appearance in the warm-up matches came during Spain’s final friendly against Poland, and although he managed to score in a 6-0 win in that match, he has failed to get off the mark in three games in South Africa.

But Del Bosque said: “What’s important is that he’s played in the three games and has progressed in his preparation.

“He’s a player who, even though he hasn’t scored goals, he benefits us as someone who makes it hard for opposing defences and who is always a threat to the other team. He’s a very dangerous player.”

Torres himself admits he is not yet back to full fitness, saying: “I’m still lacking a bit – it’s not easy to return after an operation.

“I think I’m still a little away from being 100%, although I’m close.”

Spain face Portugal tomorrow, and Torres said: “We’re ready for whatever comes. We are where we wanted to be, living the opportunity that we dreamed of.

“We only need to look ahead, be optimistic, positive and show the people what we are capable of. We have confidence in ourselves.

“We’ve all seen the level that this team have and we know we haven’t reached that yet.”

Liverpool Prepared To Sell Kuyt

Liverpool are prepared to sell Dirk Kuyt.

The Daily Star Sunday says the word from within Anfield is that Kuyt, in Holland’s team at the World Cup, is for sale.

The new boss at ­currently managerless Liverpool – ­expected to be Fulham’s Roy Hodgson – could reverse that decision.

But there is a feeling that the manager-elect has already sanctioned the sale of Kuyt, 29.

The versatile Kuyt has been at Anfield for four years. He joined from Feyenoord for £10million after scoring 71 goals in 101 games.

And Liverpool are hoping to receive £8m from his sale.

England And Liverpool FC Captain Steven Gerrard Anticipates Changes After World Cup Exit

Skipper Steven Gerrard expects there to be changes in the England squad for the Euro 2012 campaign but he has urged Fabio Capello to remain as manager.

The chances of the so called 'Golden Generation' to win a major tournament may have ended after England were beaten 4-1 in their World Cup second round match by Germany in Bloemfontein. #

The likes of Gerrard, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Emile Heskey are already over 30 while David James will be 40 in August.

"Everyone in the dressing room is hurting, the coaching staff and the players.

"We'll go away in the summer and analyze things personally and the team," said Gerrard.

"We'll have to see what the future holds. We've got an experienced team and players who are getting on.

"I'm sure they'll be changes by the time the next tournament comes around. But they're questions you'll have to ask the manager."

As for Capello's future, Gerrard said: "I'm sure Fabio will stay and he'll address his own situation very soon.

"I don't know when. Personally I'd like him to stay as I think he's a fantastic manager but that's my opinion."

Gerrard refused to lay the blame for England's failure down to the match officials not allowing a 38th minute equalizer when Frank Lampard's shot had clearly crossed the goal-line.

He said: "If you look at the game as a whole we've been beaten by the better team. At 2-1 if Frank's goal would have counted it could have been a turning point in the game, but we can't use that as an excuse.

"They've scored four goals and we only got one, which tells it's own story.

"We made too many mistakes as a team. Germany were more organized than us and were more clinical. They got in five or six times and scored four goals so you've got to give them credit. Germany was the better team over the 90 minutes, but even at 2-0 and 2-1 I had confidence we could win the game. The third goal was the killer."

Gerrard: No Excuses

Steven Gerrard refused to use the excuse of England's wrongly disallowed goal as the main reason behind their World Cup exit at the hands of Germany on Sunday afternoon.

The Three Lions suffered their worst ever defeat in a World Cup as Joachim Loew's side progressed to the quarter-finals after a 4-1 win.

However, at 2-1 down the major talking point was Frank Lampard's disallowed effort, which television replays showed clearly crossed the line.

While the skipper admitted the decision was hard to take, he acknowledged that Fabio Capello's side was not good enough on the day.

"There were big key decisions in the game, at 2-1 we had a goal disallowed," said Gerrard.

"At 2-1 we were hurting them and we were still in the game.

"I think it (the disallowed goal) had an effect but we cannot use that as an excuse with being beaten 4-1.

"That would have been a big goal for us. It's all ifs and buts. Germany are a fantastic team and they deserved their win.

"You go away and you have a think about what went wrong and why we didn't progress further in the tournament.

"As a team we've made a big mistake today and we've been beaten by a good team.

"They were more clinical in front of goal and they made fewer mistakes than us and we got punished for that today."

Frustration For Reds Ace

There was frustration for Liverpool FC's racer James Walker as car problems ruined his chances to make a real impression during round five of Superleague Formula in Nurburgring, Germany, on Sunday.

After a top six finish in the first race, Walker's luck ran out when he was forced to pull into the pits after the parade lap with a compressor failure.

He battled on bravely but was forced to retire soon after as his mechanical team couldn't find a way to fix the problem.

Despite the disappointment, Walker stays in eighth place in the Superleague Formula Championship.

After suffering brake trouble during Saturday's qualifier, he showed his true qualities in the first race when he finished sixth.

Meanwhile, AC Milan's hopes of winning the 2010 Superleague Formula by Sonangol title took a significant boost in Nurburgring, as the Italian Serie A giants scored maximum points in race one, thanks to a faultless drive from their Dutch star Yelmer Buurman.

In race two Alvaro Parente claimed victory for FC Porto after holding off a late-race challenge from Bordeaux's Franck Montagny.

Incredibly Chris van der Drift gave Greek club Olympiacos its second Super Final victory in seven days as the young New Zealander produced another superb performance.

Having scooped the €100,000 prize for winning the five-lap dash-for-the-cash in Jarama last weekend, van der Drift repeated the feat in Germany thanks to a brilliant start from fourth which saw him dive down the middle of front row starters AC Milan and Galatasaray into the lead.