Odds Slashed On Franck Ribery Joining Liverpool

The odds on Franck Ribery leaving Bayern Munich for Liverpool tumbled yesterday, plummeting from 66-1 to 8-13 on.

Bookmakers Skybet last week slashed their odds ahead of Michael Owen's shock move to Manchester United and are taking no chances this time around, even though the money is only coming from a small group of punters.

Skybet's Dale Tempest told sports betting website oddspreview.com: "Every price we have put up has been taken on Ribery moving to Liverpool, which has left us stumped as in recent weeks he has been liked with every other club but the Reds!

"After seeing money for him to join Man United and Real Madrid at the same time that Bayern Munich say he’s going nowhere, we’ve now seen a flood of bets on him to join Liverpool.

"8/13 may seem a very short price but after the losses we made last week on Michael Owen, who was gambled down from 20/1 to move to Manchester United, we are taking no chances."

Rafa Wants Loyalty From Duo

Rafa Benitez believes Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano owe it to Liverpool to stay at the club.

Midfield duo Alonso and Mascherano have both been strongly linked with moves away from Anfield to Spain this summer.

Real Madrid have openly declared their interest in Spanish ace Alonso, while Barcelona are keeping tabs on Mascherano.

Benitez is confident the key duo will remain on Merseyside and he has revealed he would like the pair to show some loyalty to Liverpool.

"I do not think Alonso or Mascherano will go. It is clear that they both are under contract with long-term agreements. That is it," insisted Benitez.

"There has been a lot of things written, a lot of rumours, but both players are under contract and we have no more need to talk about things.

"They are both very good players and I will be very pleased to keep them. They both have very good contracts.

"We signed them both from different situations. Alonso was coming from Real Sociedad and nobody had really heard much of him outside of Spain, he did well and we renewed his contract because of that.

"Mascherano came from West Ham where he had not been doing well. We brought him here and gave him a good contract, so we are very pleased with them both and that Liverpool has been very good to them."

Pennant Completes Zaragoza Switch

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has joined newly promoted Primera Liga outfit Real Zaragoza.

Speculation about the future of the once highly regarded England youth International reached fever pitch in the January transfer window, with a number of high-profile Spanish clubs rumoured to be interested in securing his signature ahead of his release by the Anfield club.

However, following a largely anonymous loan spell on the south coast with Portsmouth, the 26-year-old has opted for Zaragoza and joins on a three-year deal.

"I wanted to come to Spain and I had offers from important teams in Europe but joined Real Zaragoza," explained Pennant.

"I really want to get started and do well in the league."

The move to Spain brings to an end a troubled career in English football, which saw the once record-breaking youngster gain notoriety for playing for Birmingham City while wearing an electronic tag following a drink-driving conviction.

'Crazy' Transfers Concern Benitez

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed his club are struggling to compete in an over-heated summer transfer market.

The Reds paid £17m for Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson, but saw long-term target Gareth Barry opt for Manchester City rather than Anfield.

The Spaniard is also preparing to fend off enquiries for midfield pair Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

"The market is now crazy. It is all money, money, money now," he said.

"We had to pay big money. But we were signing a good player, an England player (Johnson), and that is very positive."

Johnson was reportedly tracked by Chelsea and Manchester City, two clubs whose owners have contributed to spiralling transfer fees for top players.

Since he bought the club in 2003, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has supplemented Chelsea's transfer funds with large loans, while City were taken over by the ambitious and wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group in September.

Barry, 28, who came close to joining Liverpool last summer, became the latest big-money arrival at Eastlands as he followed Roque Santa Cruz, Jo, Robinho and Craig Bellamy in an £12m move at the start of June.

"City have signed a lot of good players, but that is no guarantee they will win anything. But it will be interesting to see what happens next season," said Benitez.

The summer's most spectacular spending has taken place at Spanish side Real Madrid, where Benitez spent his early years as a coach.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol have been recruited at a combined cost of about £183m, but the Reds boss warned that building a team through the chequebook is no guarantee of success.

"Things have changed. You have to adapt to a situation. Manchester City and big clubs in Europe are spending big money, so the market has changed and we have to work harder," he added.

"If you spend big it is always easier to perform well but when you have a good understanding between players, that is also important. If they are together, they work hard, that is just as important."

Glen Johnson Reveals Choosing Liverpool Over Chelsea Was ‘Easy’

Glen Johnson appeared in a calm and composed mood during his first press conference as a Liverpool player following his lucrative £18 million switch from south coast club Portsmouth, revealing to the attending press that making the move to the Anfield outfit was an "easy" decision.

The defender, who vastly improved his game last season and firmly established himself as England manager Fabio Capello's first choice right-back, claimed that working under the tutelage of Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was a key reason in signing for the Reds.

Johnson noted that, despite Chelsea's reported interest, there was only one destination for him.

"When I left Chelsea I needed to play games, so I'm grateful to Portsmouth for taking me on," he enunciated clearly to the nation's journalists.

"Hopefully I've shown people a greater perspective of what I can do. I want to try and do what I did last season, with Liverpool, and also push on."

The Greenwich-born West Ham United academy product continued, "Even though I'm from south London, the first kit I had was a Liverpool one, but don't ask! I don't know how that happened!"

On the decision to sign for Liverpool ahead of a return to west London club Chelsea, Johnson said, "It was easy. Rafael Benitez was keen to help me improve and turn me into the best player that I can be.

"According to the press there was a lot of interest [from Chelsea], but when I knew of Liverpool, it was an easy decision."

Liverpool will be the fifth club that Johnson will have signed for. He received his footballing education at West Ham, before enjoying a loan spell at Isle of Dogs side Millwall.

He then signed for Chelsea, becoming the first addition in the Blues' money-laden era bankrolled by Roman Abramovich.

After failing to establish himself he left for Portsmouth, where he began to display the exceptional form that booked his Liverpool transfer.

Benitez Backs Mature Johnson To Show Chelsea What They're Missing

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has hailed the £18million arrival of Glen Johnson and insists the former Chelsea reject in now ready to assert himself amongst the big four.

Johnson collected a Barclays Premier League title medal at Stamford Bridge under Jose Mourinho's stewardship yet the former Blues boss deemed the full-back not good enough for his squad and sent him swiftly packing to Portsmouth.

But after three successful seasons at Fratton Park, the 24-year-old recovered to establish his spot in Fabio Capello's England squad, earning his rightful place among the Champions League contenders ahead of next year's World Cup.

Despite the Spaniard's recent admission that he was forced to pay over the odds for the one-time West Ham star, Benitez is confident Johnson will prove to be a snip.

'We are really pleased because we've signed a really good player, an England international,' he told the club's official website at the player's unveiling today.

'It's very positive. He has quality and a very good mentality, and from the first time I spoke with him it was clear he wanted to come here.

'Chelsea were trying to win big trophies at the time he was there and they needed experience in order to win.

'Now it is a good moment because he is a much better player, he has the experience and the desire. He has quality, that's clear. He's more mature now.'

Johnson quickly underlined his ambition to help Liverpool celebrate their first league trophy since 1990 by eclipsing reigning champions Manchester United this season.

'We've got some fantastic players and I wanted to come here and help Liverpool win the league,' he said.

'We want to go as far as we can in every competition but all the lads want to win the Premier League and that would be a great start.

Rafa Pleased With Gerrard Deal

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he is 'really pleased' that captain Steven Gerrard has finally signed a new contract.

Gerrard originally agreed a two-year extension to his deal back in April and has now put pen-to-paper after returning to training this week.

The contract ties the inspirational midfielder to Anfield until 2013 and Benitez is happy to have secured the long-term future of another key player.

"We have spent this summer trying to secure the players we have," said Benitez.

"It's really good to keep Kuyt, Torres, Agger, Benayoun and Steven. They are the here and now of the club and for the future it is really good.

"We are really pleased. We have a lot of good players who want to stay, to win and compete.

"The message has to be the same again this year - to be there, to be contenders and to fight.

"If we can win trophies it would be fantastic."

Liverpool Boss Rafa Benitez Plays Down Xabi Alonso & Mascherano Exit Talk

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has attempted to play down the transfer talk linking two of the Spaniard's midfield stars, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, with respected moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona, by reminding the press that both players have a number of years left on their contracts.

Alonso and Mascherano have proved a formidable midfield pairing for Liverpool. The Argentinian battler anchored and protected his defence last season in admirable fashion, while Alonso's deep-lying playmaking credentials allowed the creative hub in front of him, whether this was Steven Gerrard or Yossi Benayoun, to develop play.

Their sterling performances have attracted interest, with Florentino Perez wanting to lure Alonso to Madrid as his Galactico policy continues after the acquisitions of Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barca trainer Pep Guardiola is believed to be a keen admirer of Mascherano's skills.

Benitez, though, claimed that the aforementioned pair are a part of the club's long-term future.

He explained to the press today that, “Both players are our players and we are really pleased with them. Both have two to three years on their contract so we don’t need to do anything,” he concluded.

The ambiguous financial future of Liverpool's parent club Kop Holdings Ltd paved suggestions that if Benitez is to continue to reinvest in his squad, then he may need to sell one of the two in-demand midfielders, but his latest comments imply that he is keen to dig his heels in, in order to ward off foreign interest.

Italian Press Claim Ferguson And Benitez Are Ready To Lock Horns

Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Manchester United and Liverpool are leading the chase for AS Roma striker Mirko Vucinic and that a bidding war for the Montenegrin international looks a likely outcome.

The publication also claims that Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Redknapp is monitoring the situation should Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benitez decide to pull out of negotiations.

The striker, who only signed a new contract extension last month, is thought to be happy in the Eternal City but could find himself the victim of his club’s poor financial state.

The report suggests that Liverpool have made indirect contact with Roma as boss Rafael Benitez tentatively weighs up partnering Vucinic with Spanish hitman Fernando Torres.

The news comes off the back of an enquiry last summer from Old Trafford which was eventually turned down, a scenario that appears unlikely to repeat itself following Vinico Fioranelli’s failed takeover and the continued instability at boardroom level.

Indeed this week sporting director Daniele Prade reported to Il Corriere dello Sport that no player’s future with the Giallorossi was secure.

"I cannot guarantee that certain players will stay," he stated.

Vucinic is thought to hold a value in excess of €23 million and could be followed out of the door by midfielder Daniele de Rossi who is set to move to Real Madrid.

Balague: ‘Alonso Has Asked Rafa To Release Him’

Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has revealed Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has told Rafa Benitez to allow him to move to Real Madrid.

The Spanish journalist who is a regular expert on Sky Sports’ ‘Revista de la Liga’ suggests at the moment the deal is in danger of falling through because of Liverpool’s lofty valuation of the former Real Sociedad star, yet Balague intimates it might be better for all concerned to let the 27-year-old leave Anfield.

Writing on his official website, Balague said: “It is true that Real Madrid are getting a little impatient with the situation (Alonso transfer saga) and they would like to find a solution as soon as possible – not only with Xabi Alonso but they would like all of their transfer activity complete before pre-season in around two weeks time.”

“Rafa Benitez has been publicly sending out the message that he does not want Xabi Alonso to leave – but I cannot help wondering if, in these circumstances, it is entirely fair to do so when Xabi appears determined to move on.”

Balague also suggested the relationship between Alonso and Benitez is nearing a breaking point.

The esteemed journalist continued: “Their relationship may have reached breaking point: Rafa decided to sell him last summer and the player accepted the situation. However, when there were no concrete offers that matched Rafa’s valuation, Xabi was told he would be staying. Xabi was previously asked to sign a new deal and he did so.”

“The player now feels it is time to move on and he has asked Rafa to release him so that he can pursue fresh challenges.”

“Under entirely normal circumstances, when there are healthy relationships between player, manager, agent etc – everything would be fairly straightforward and concluded with the minimum of fuss.”

“However, it appears that nobody is willing to make compromises or make concessions and the situation seems to be in stalemate.”

If a deal is not concluded between Real Madrid and Liverpool, Balague intimates it would not be beneficial for the player or indeed Liverpool.

Balague added: “The danger is that Real Madrid will run out of patience and focus their attention on other targets (the Spanish newspaper Marca is reporting that De Rossi of Roma is already being lined up as an alternative).”

“If that were to happen, and Xabi ends up staying at Liverpool – I have to ask how healthy that would be for the relationship between manager and player at Anfield, and how motivated will Xabi be next season?”

“This could also lead to another potential problem for Benitez: if a price tag has been placed on Alonso, a player who has asked to leave – what happens if a premiership rival puts that money on the table after Madrid have withdrawn their interest?”

“Would it have been better to have sold to Spain, rather than to a Premier League rival?”

“Perhaps a bid may come in from one of the big Italian clubs, but if not, the situation becomes increasingly more complicated and I fear it may not end to everyone’s satisfaction”

Benitez Calms Aurelio Fears, Insisting Injured Defender Could Return For The Start Of The Season

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has allayed fears that first choice left Fabio Aurelio will be out for the rest of the year after confirming the extent of the Brazilian's freak injury.

There were fears that Aurelio would be missing for the rest of the year after he suffered damaged his knee in a kickabout in his back garden.

But Benitez refuted reports of a six month lay-off and insisted the 29-year-old full-back is expected to return in time for the new Barclays Premier League campaign.

'He was injured playing with his son and really disappointed because he was enjoying the summer,' Benitez said.

'He had the operation - he has had a problem with his cartilage - so he will be one month, maximum two months, not six months like I see in the press.'

The setback, however, has forced manager Benitez to abandon any thoughts of allowing Juventus to follow up their interest in Andrea Dossena, who could still have a part to play in the opening weeks of the season.

Meanwhile, uncertainty still surrounds Xabi Alonso's Anfield future after Real Madrid continued to send out mixed messages about their pursuit of the Spain midfielder.

Just 24 hours after appearing to concede defeat and launching a bitter attack on Benitez over a £35m asking price, Real director Jorge Valdano said: 'Everything can still be turned around. Everyone knows we have always been interested in Alonso.'

Steven Gerrard Puts Pen To Paper On New Contract

Steven Gerrard has officially put pen to paper on a contract extension that will keep him at Anfield for the rest of his career.

The Liverpool captain agreed two years on top of his current deal - which ran for another two seasons - back in April.

And now, having returned for pre-season training after being given extra days off following his commitments with England, he has finally made it official by signing a contract until 2013, worth a reported £26 million in total.

Gerrard has said this will likely be his last deal and is considering retirement after it expires, when he will be 33.

The news of Gerrard's signature will come as a further huge boost to manager Rafa Benitez, who had already tied down Yossi Benayoun to an improved four-year contract earlier this week.

Benitez will now push ahead with contract paperwork for Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger, who have all agreed to extend their current Liverpool deals.

The Spaniard will also sit down with Javier Mascherano and urge the Argentine to ignore pleas from Barcelona for him to swap Anfield for the Nou Camp.

Messi Eyes Cesc And Mascherano

Lionel Messi is hoping Barcelona can push through deals for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool lynchpin Javier Mascherano.

Both players have been heavily linked with summer moves to the Nou Camp, with Thursday's Daily Star suggesting Barca are ready to cash in on Samuel Eto'o to raise the funding needed to move for Fabregas.

The Spaniard recently voiced his frustration at Arsenal's lack of silverware - though within hours had insisted he remained committed to the club.

That has apparently not put off his former club, though, with Mascherano also reportedly featuring on the European champions' summer shopping list.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has insisted the Argentine is "not for sale" but speculation persists in both England and Spain that a deal is on the cards.

And Messi is hoping both Fabregas and Mascherano will join him.

He told Sport: "I hope Mascherano can come and we can form a solid partnership. His qualities are always appreciated.

"The same goes for Fabregas. A good footballer like him who can contribute is always welcome."

McDermott Hails Rafael Benitez's Decision To Tie Up Yossi Benayoun

Three-time European Cup winner Terry McDermott has backed Rafael Benitez’s decision to tie Yossi Benayoun to a long term deal at Anfield.

The Israel captain put pen to paper on a two-year extension to his Liverpool contract earlier this week and declared: “Now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware."

It means the 29-year-old has now committed his future to the club until 2013.

And McDermott, who scored 81 goals in 329 appearances for Liverpool, admits he is thrilled at the decision and is backing the Israeli international to go from strength to strength in 2009-10.

"I think it's brilliant news for club and I'm delighted," said the current assistant boss at League One side Huddersfield.

"It's definitely a good signing for Rafa as I'm sure there are plenty of clubs out there who would like to have him.

"Yossi is a great player and has proved how good he is since he moved to Liverpool. He's busy, creative and scores goals. He is a great asset to the club.

"He was excellent at the end of last season and it's that form he showed that probably earned him the new deal.

"His displays in some of the bigger games, the likes of Real Madrid away, were fantastic and he's demonstrated he is a man for the big occasion.

"I don't see any reason why he can't replicate the superb form he showed at the end of last campaign this time around.

"He was one of our top performers last season and, with the confidence of signing a new contract, I am sure there is more to come from Yossi."

Nabil El Zhar Eager For More Liverpool FC Success

Liverpool’s Moroccan winger Nabil El Zhar has pledged to do all he can to prove his worth to Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

El Zhar admits he is living the dream at one of the world's top clubs and has vowed to make an even bigger impression next term.

El Zhar made 19 appearances for the Liverpool first-team last campaign and played a prominent role in some of the Reds' dramatic early season comebacks, leading Benitez to describe the 22-year-old as a 'lucky charm'.

Now El Zhar is eager to repay the faith shown in him by the boss and play his part in next term's title push.

"I have to work hard and God willing improve and prove my worth and play my part for the first team," he said.

"I feel as though I am more at home at the club now. I've been gaining more confidence by coming on more, and now I just have to keep on going, work hard and try and play many more games.

"You have to forget about the big names you are playing with and try to show people what you can do. I have to keep at this level.

"The manager has said to me that he wanted to give me more chances in the first-team. He told me that I had to work hard and listen to advice and take my opportunities when they come."

El Zhar, who scored his only goal of his Liverpool career so far against Cardiff City in a League Cup tie at Anfield in 2007, added: "I also love playing for Morocco and want to make a big impact. I have a lot of work to do and keep my feet on the ground but it was great to score in front of the Kop and now I am living the dream."

The Reds No.31 says he had no reservations about swapping Saint Etienne for Merseyside in October 2006 at the tender age of 20, admitting the prospect of playing for a club of Liverpool's stature was too good to turn down.

"I've read about all the history of Liverpool Football Club in France, and what they've won, and how a bigger name it is in world football," he continued.

"It's a well known club throughout many communities. Outside of the French clubs a lot of people from many backgrounds support Liverpool more than other English teams because of what Shankly and Paisley achieved. They inspired many people to support Liverpool.

"Also, there are a lot of French players who have played in England and developed into a big name. The club has many supporters back in Morocco and throughout the whole of Africa."

Many of Benitez's charges returned to Melwood on Monday to begin preparations for the 2009-10 season.

El Zhar is relishing another assault on the Barclays Premier League title, but acknowledges the Reds must find a way of slashing the number of home draws if they are to be crowned champions come next May.

"Liverpool are a top team, and we all know that we have to work hard," he says. "The whole squad knows that they have to be playing well and working hard to get into the team and stay there.

"By beating United and Chelsea, and drawing at Arsenal, we've shown that we can do well against the other top teams. But we're going to have to start winning more games against smaller teams if we want to remain contenders for the title."

Liverpool FC Sign French Starlet Chris Mavinga From Paris St Germain

Liverpool are set to make their second summer signing after agreeing a deal to bring promising French left-back Chris Mavinga to Anfield.

The France under-18 international has been snapped up from Paris Saint Germain under the nose of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who was keen to take Mavinga to the Emirates.

Liverpool will have to pay PSG a compensation fee for the 18-year-old who was yet to sign a full contract with the French club.

Mavinga’s recruitment is timely with Fabio Aurelio set to miss the start of the season with a knee injury and Andrea Dossena likely to leave Anfield should Liverpool receive a suitable offer for his services.

Emiliano Insua underlined his promise last season but Benitez will be happy that the young Argentinian will face increased competition for his place when the new season gets under way.

With Glen Johnson already signed from Portsmouth in a club record deal for a defender, the Reds boss has clearly earmarked Liverpool’s full-back positions as areas which can be improved.

Johnson was today undertaking his first day of training as a Liverpool player as he and fellow England international Steven Gerrard joined in with their team mates at Melwood.

Benitez gave the England duo an extra few days holiday to allow them to recover from their excursions with the national team in early June.

Time For Xabi To Put Cards On The Table

Xabi Alonso's future is threatening to overshadow Liverpool's pre-season build up for the second successive summer.

However, the circumstances now compared to a year ago are very different.

In 2008 Alonso was left feeling unwanted and let down by Rafa Benitez's willingness to sell him in order to finance the purchase of Gareth Barry.

His situation commanded sympathy from the majority of Reds fans who felt he had been unfairly treated.

Fast forward 12 months and the ongoing uncertainty over where he will be playing his football next season is all of his own making.

Real Madrid have been openly courting the midfielder but Liverpool have made it abundantly clear he is not for sale.

As for Alonso, he has repeatedly refused to come out and publicly state his own intentions.

In fact the 27-year-old has been doing so much fence sitting in recent weeks that he's in danger of getting some nasty splinters.

When pressed about his future on his return to Spain after the end of the Confederations Cup, he said: “It is always positive when various teams are said to want you because that is better than nobody being interested.

"I will be able to decide what happens next whenever it arises.

“I do not think a move to Real Madrid is impossible, but I would also have no regrets at all staying at Liverpool.

"I do miss certain things from Spain. I cannot rule out a move or even staying in the Premier League.”

A game of chess is being played out with Real, who have yet to officially submit a bid, seemingly happy to bide their time.

Benitez is loathe to lose Alonso but admits he can't keep someone who wants to be elsewhere.

If he reluctantly agrees to sell and the price is right then the Reds boss knows letting Alonso go won't be a popular decision.

And if Liverpool are going to do business, Benitez will rightly want Alonso to come out and admit he wants a transfer.

However, there appears to be little sign that the player, who has three years left on his current deal, is prepared to put his cards on the table.

Of course, there will be plenty of fans who feel Alonso is well within his rights to act like he is after the way he was treated last summer.

But that argument just doesn't add up. The reason Liverpool were willing to sell Alonso last summer was because during the 2007/8 campaign his form had dipped alarmingly.

Yes, he angered Benitez by his decision to miss the Champions League game against Inter Milan in March 2008 to attend the birth of his son.

But the decision to consider selling him wasn’t down to some petty grudge.

Alonso only played 27 out of 59 competitive matches that campaign and didn't look like the player whose slick passing had endeared him to Reds fans since his arrival in the summer of 2004.

He had lost his way and if anything last summer's saga gave him the kick up the backside he needed to get his career back on track.

His response was professional and emphatic as last season he was key to the Reds' sustained title challenge and a strong contender for the club’s Player of the Year accolade.

Losing Alonso would undoubtedly be a major blow but the most important thing now is that the issue is resolved as soon as possible.

Madrid are clearly happy for it to drag on hoping Liverpool will drop their asking price but time is not on the Reds’ side. Even if he goes for £30million, finding a replacement will be no easy task.

Alonso’s place in the club’s history books is secured and if he does want a new challenge then he should do the decent thing and come out and say so.

Another Reds player hardly covering himself in glory at the moment is Barcelona target Javier Mascherano, who has refused to distance himself with a move to Spain.

He said: "I am very proud and thankful for the interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. It's good for me to have these two teams interested in me.”

Mascherano needs to remember two things. Who rescued him from the obscurity of West Ham Reserves two years ago? And who allowed him to fulfill his Olympic dream at a crucial stage of last season?

Liverpool's Fabio Aurelio Faces Six-Month Lay-Off After Holiday Injury

Liverpool could lose defender Fabio Aurelio for up to six months after the Brazilian picked up an injury on holiday.

The 29-year-old left-back suffered a twisted knee while playing football with his children and is likely to require surgery.

Aurelio is definitely ruled out for the start of the Premier League season and the club now fear he will be sidelined until the end of the year.

The injury means manager Rafa Benitez is set to pull the plug on Andrea Dossena's potential move to Juventus.

Dossena, 27, has failed to make an impact since his £7 million move from Udinese and it was widely expected that he would return to Italy this summer, with Turin his most likely destination.

That now looks remote, although even with Aurelio's injury, Dossena is still set to play second fiddle to Argentine Emiliano Insua, while Benitez has brought in Chris Mavinga from PSG as further back-up.

Taye Taiwo: Liverpool Step Up Chase For African Powerhouse After Aurelio Injury

Injury to Fabio Aurelio has led to Rafa Benitez stepping up his pursuit of Marseille’s powerful left-back Taye Taiwo. Aurelio seriously injured his knee while playing football on holiday in Brazil with his family and may be out until 2010 according to reports.

Taiwo issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to the Premier League big four at the end of last season which alerted Liverpool who are in the hunt to add a left-sided defender following the disappointing performance of Andrea Dossena last season. The Italian is expected to be offloaded to Juventus this summer leaving the club having to rely on Argentine youngster Emiliano Insua unless someone is brought in. Glen Johnson has already been brought to Anfield and if Taiwo can be signed, it would provide Liverpool with two of the most attacking full-backs in the Premier League.

The player had this to say to France-Football, “If I was to depart, then I would not join a small club.”It will be Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal.

“I do not want to leave Marseille for the sake of it. If I make it, it will be for a big club, to win the UEFA Champions League, in England, or why not Spain?

“I won’t make it for money, otherwise I could immediately leave for Ukraine, where I could earn just as much.”

The defender is confident in his ability to play against the very best in the Premier League as Taiwo’s comments illustrate, “I am not scared by the level in England. I believe I have the right level to defend against [Wayne] Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Anyway I am more powerful than them. The only one with whom it would be much more complex is [Lionel] Messi.

“He is too small and too strong. That’s why maybe it could be better for me to join England rather than Spain.”

The 24-year-old Nigerian international has been linked to numerous Premier League clubs in the past year particularly Tottenham and Man City. The defender had this to say earlier in the season, “I have made my desire to play in the Premier League clear,” he told Sky Sports. “Tottenham are a big club, but I am at Marseille. I want to play in the Premier League, but I have a contract. But if the clubs agree…”

Man City, Newcastle and Sunderland had been heavily linked to the raiding full-back in the past though Liverpool are the club that would ideally suit the Nigerian from the current big four. Rafa Benitez summer signing Andrea Dossena has failed to impress since arriving at Anfield and faces the exit door. Fabio Aurelio performed well towards the end of the season although there are still a few question marks over his defensive and attacking qualities. Young Argentine Emiliano Insua shown potential when given the chance, however, Taiwo would fit perfectly into Liverpool’s style of play and has far more experience.

The left-back has played in France for the last 4 seasons and has made 134 league appearances for the club (10 goals). Marseille finished 16th in the 2007/08 season which led to speculation concerning a number of their players but they managed to retain the Nigerian and it has paid off. The club came 2nd last season just 3 points behind champions Bordeaux with Taiwo playing in 35 of the team’s 38 league games (34 starts).

Not only is Taiwo renowned for his no-nonsense defending but also his attacking forays and powerful shooting ability. His long range efforts have been clocked at over 80mph so expect him to fight with Steven Gerrard to take charge of free-kicks if he does sign for Liverpool.

Taiwo was signed by Marseille to replace legendary French full-back Bixente Lizarazu and has become a cult figure for the club. He was part of the Nigerian side that lost to Argentina in the final of the 2005 World Youth Championships. In fact, he was voted 3rd best player in the tournament behind Lionel Messi and Obi Mikel.

The Nigerian international has is a regular in his senior national side scoring 7 goals. He has also played in two African Cup of Nations tournaments.

Souness Believes Liverpool Do Not Have Finances To Compete Next Season

With escalating murmurs of player departures emanating from Anfield, together with the financial ambiguity of parent club Kop Holdings Ltd, the omens do not bode well for Liverpool's ability to compete next season.

That is the opinion of former Reds manager Graeme Souness, who informed Sky Sports News today that he does not think there will be much money spent at Anfield this summer.

"I think things will be tight," he said. "I see things being tight... I don't think there will be lots of money spent at Anfield this year."

Regarding the rumours that Real Madrid are interested in signing deep-lying playmaker Xabi Alonso, while midfield battler Javier Mascherano continues to head Barcelona's shortlist, Souness said, "They can't afford to let Steven Gerrard go anywhere, and they can't afford to allow both Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano to go."

When pressed as to what competition - the Premier League in particular - manager Rafael Benitez should prioritise, Souness answered without hesitation, "That, and the European Cup.

"It's an enormous task, though, and Liverpool don't have the finances."