GWistooshort

Quotes from Krasic re us "I'd love to be in the same jersey as him [Jovanovic]," admitted Krasic. "But it is, at least for now, mission impossible. "I'm familiar with the situation at Liverpool. "The price set by my team is too high for the English giants and, frankly, I have other ambitions." http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/726558/KRASIC-SNUBS-LIVERPOOL-INTEREST.html

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Sorry folks just started a new job & just don't have the time at the moment even to look at it all, let alone do the daily round ups

The Daily Telegraph today reckons Spurs are close to signing him on a free http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/tottenham/7024243/Ruud-van-Nistelrooy-in-talks-with-Tottenham-over-free-transfer.html

Dave Maddock reckons Birmingham have increased their offer for Babel to £10m http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Ryan-Babel-fears-he-is-being-forced-out-of-Liverpool-against-his-will-article279953.html

Liverpool Daily Post Jan 5 2010 Liverpool FC confident of sealing Maxi Rodriguez deal as Napoli fly in to try and sign Andrea Dossena by Ian Doyle LIVERPOOL remain confident they can complete a loan move for Maxi Rodriguez by the end of the week – as Andrea Dossena agreed a deal to leave Anfield. Atletico Madrid are keen to offload Rodriguez this month with the player, who is out of contract in the summer, having refused to sign a new deal at the La Liga side. Liverpool are favourites ahead of Boca Juniors to land the Argentina international on loan until the end of the season. Atletico are reluctant to allow Rodriguez walk away for nothing and are more inclined to do business with the Anfield outfit as they, unlike Boca, are willing to pay a loan fee for the right-winger. Newell’s Old Boys, where Rodriguez started his career in Argentina, have also expressed an interest, while Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan have both made tentative enquiries about the 29-year-old. Rodriguez currently earns £85,000 a week, prompting fears the move could be scuppered by Liverpool being unable to match his demands. But Liverpool are confident they can wrap up the loan switch in the coming days and anticipate no problem with the player’s wages, although they are yet to discuss personal terms. Rodriguez, who can also play as an attacking midfielder, was left out of the Atletico squad for Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sevilla because of a “fever” and has almost certainly played his last game for the club. Rafael Benitez has earmarked the right flank as an area for reinforcement this month, but is aware he must balance the books given the financial climate at Anfield And that will start with the departure of Dossena, with reports in Italy last night claiming the player had agreed a £4million move back to his homeland with Napoli. Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon arrived in Merseyside yesterday in attempt to thrash out a deal for the Italy international, who has endured a difficult time since his £7m arrival from Udinese 18 months ago and made just five appearances this season. Dossena came close to moving to Napoli last summer, but talks broke down after the two parties were unable to agree terms. But now the Serie A side claim to have negotiated a transfer for the left-back, who is desperate for more regular first-team football to improve his chances of forcing his way into Italy’s World Cup squad. Andriy Voronin and Philipp Degen are among several other players that Benitez will also allow to leave as he looks to generate further funds, with a striker also high on his list of priorities. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/01/05/liverpool-fc-confident-of-sealing-maxi-rodriguez-deal-as-napoli-fly-in-to-try-and-sign-andrea-dossena-92534-25525708/ & similar article from the Echo............ Liverpool Echo Jan 5 2010 Andrea Dossena close to Liverpool FC exit as Reds close in on Maxi Rodriguez by Dominic King, LIVERPOOL were today edging closer to concluding a deal for Maxi Rodriguez – as two of their misfits moved a step nearer to the exit door. Though there are a number of clubs monitoring the Atletico Madrid winger, including Argentina side Boca Juniors, Liverpool are confident they hold the aces. Rodriguez is understood to be keen to link up with his close friends Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres and has also indicated a desire to play in the Premier League. Discussions are on-going with the Argentina international but the player’s agent, Jurgen Milewksi, has revealed the chances of Rodriguez joining the Reds are “high”. Provided there are no hitches, the 29-year-old’s arrival could be concluded before the weekend, raising the possibility of his inclusion in the squad to face Tottenham. But as Rafa Benitez prepares to bring out the welcome mat for Rodriguez, he is on the verge of waving goodbye to Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena. Voronin, who has been absent from Liverpool’s squad since an erratic performance against Lyon on November 4, was due in Russia today for talks with Dinamo Moscow. CSKA Moscow have also expressed an interest in the Ukrainian and his imminent departure – a deal could happen within 48 hours – will open the door for Rodriguez. Benitez is to cut his losses on Dossena, as a number of Serie A club, including Napoli, are courting the Italian left-back. Reports in Italy suggested last night that Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon has flown to Merseyside to try and thrash out a deal and though there is no official word from the Reds, it’s highly likely Dossena will soon be on his way. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/01/05/andrea-dossena-close-to-liverpool-fc-exit-as-reds-close-in-maxi-rodriguez-100252-25525358/

Papers are speculating that it's Atletico Madrid

Liverpool Echo Dec 30 2009 Andrea Dossena heading for Anfield exit claims agent THE agent of unsettled Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena has claimed a deal is at an “advanced stage” for the full-back to move to Spain. Representative Federico Pastorello has ruled out a return to Italy for the full-back who has failed to sparkle at Anfield, claiming that Spain is a likelier destination. “We are in negotiations with several foreign clubs, with a very important Spanish club who are not in European competition – the deal is even at an advanced stage,” said Pastorello. The Italy international has been strongly linked with a move away from Anfield in the winter transfer window, having failed to live up to his £7million price tag since moving to Liverpool from Udinese in 2008. A return to Italy was seemingly on the cards with Napoli favourites to sign the 28-year-old after narrowly missing out last summer. Roma were also among the interested parties but Dossena now looks set for a move to Spain. “A move to Napoli is impossible. “The negotiations for a possible move for Dossena to Napoli are over. “I heard of an agreement between the parties but since Christmas I have not heard from any Napoli director so the news is without foundation. “If I was to make a prediction I would say that Andrea will not return to Italy. Roma? Difficult. Napoli impossible.” http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-25491938/

More from Maddock in the Mirror today................ Emile Heskey, Kenwyne Jones and Roque Santa Cruz top Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez's Christmas list By David Maddock 26/12/09 Rafa Benitez will make an instant splash in the transfer window, with Premier League strikers Emile Heskey, Kenwyne Jones and Roque Santa Cruz topping his wish list. The Liverpool boss has been given the go-ahead to bring in two new players as soon as the window opens on January 1, and his main priority is a forward to take the pressure off Fernando Torres. The Spanish coach has targeted one of the experienced trio, and also has young Spanish star Juan Manuel Mata on his short-list, as he looks for the reinforcements he hopes can help salvage something from Liverpool's disastrous season. Benitez has been told he can spend the money he raises from selling fringe players like Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena, Andriy Voronin and Philipp Degen, which could give him a figure approaching £15million. And he wants a striker in immediately, which means he will swing into action as soon as the New Year dawns. Heskey is his prime target, but the Anfield boss is painfully aware that his relationship with Aston Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill is non-existent, and that could scupper any chance of a deal. O'Neill would prefer to sell his striker to Chelsea, and that deal could go through swiftly, with the London club hoping to bring the England striker in as cover for Didier Drogba, who will be away for much of January on African Cup of Nations duty. If Liverpool lose out on Heskey - and that seems likely with Chelsea ready to spend upwards of £5million on the 30 year old - then he will put all his efforts into landing one of the next three on his list. The Reds manager though, knows that the asking price for all three will be prohibitive, and that could stop him from making a deal unless he can get decent money from his surplus to requirement players in the January sales. Mata is a highly regarded full Spanish international who, at the age of 21, has already shown his immense promise with Valencia in La Liga, but that has catapulted his price towards the £20million mark, which is far too expensive for Liverpool. Santa Cruz too, could be priced out of Liverpool's league. The Paraguay international centre forward has made only eight appearances since signing for Manchester City for £17.5million, but the Eastlands club will not want to let him go to a direct rival unless the money is right. Jones is more in Liverpool's price range, and he could be available in January, after relations with his Sunderland boss Steve Bruce have become strained in recent months. The Trinidad and Tobago international has scored 23 goals in 76 Premier League games for Sunderland, and would be available at around the £10million mark. Stoke have been pursuing the striker too, but Jones would be keener to make the move to Anfield, and he could become a more likely option for Benitez if his other targets prove unattainable. When Benitez has determined which striker he will sign, he will then swiftly turn his attentions to bringing in a wide player who can help provide the threat that has been missing this season. He has looked at Erik Huseklepp a 25 year old Norwegian international who can also fill in as a striker, after the Brann Bergen midfielder starred against Scotland for his country recently. He has also looked at Celtic's Aiden McGeady, Arda Turan, the captain of Galatasaray who has 34 caps for Turkey and Eljero Elia a 22, Dutch international who plays for Hamburg. Benitez will wait to see how much money he has left after trying to sell at least four players in the window, but he is determined to also bring in a winger as well as a striker to bolster his squad as he looks to markedly improve performances in the New Year. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Emile...icle267299.html

Liverpool Echo today says Aquilani was due to go to Belgrade, but didn't end up going as bad weather forced his flight to be cancelled, & has now returned to training. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-25453873/

Liverpool Daily Post Dec 23 2009 Credit crunch puts squeeze on Emile Heskey bid by Ian Doyle RAFAEL BENITEZ’S attempt to sign Emile Heskey looks set to be scuppered by the Anfield credit crunch. Liverpool manager Benitez is desperate to bolster his strikeforce and is a long-time admirer of England international Heskey. But the club’s current financial climate, with the Spaniard told he must once again wheel and deal in the transfer market in January, has lessened the chances of Heskey returning to Anfield. Benitez pondered signing Heskey from Wigan Athletic two years ago, but ultimately declined to follow up his initial interest with the striker eventually making a £3.5m switch to Aston Villa. Heskey has started only seven Premier League games this season and would welcome the opportunity of coming back to Liverpool as he aims to safeguard his place in England’s World Cup squad for next summer. But Villa are unlikely to sell cheaply given the player is contracted to the West Midlands club until July 2012, and manager Martin O’Neill would be loathe to help a direct rival for a top-four place. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...92534-25453980/

Maddock in the Mirror this morning says "Liverpool have dismissed suggestions that Saudi tycoon Prince Faisal bin Fahd Bin Abdullah al Saud is close to agreeing a deal to buy a stake in the club. The member of the Saudi royal family owns the F6 marketing group and has been invited as a guest to Liverpool’s Boxing Day match with Wolves by owner George Gillett. But insiders claim no deal to sell any stake in the club is near, and the prince is not a serious contender to buy into Anfield." http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/incoming/L...icle266579.html

Daily Mirror 23/12/09 Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez may try to re-sign Emile Heskey from Aston Villa By David Maddock RAFA BENITEZ will be allowed to buy two players next month – and he wants Emile Heskey back at Anfield as one of them. The Liverpool boss has come under sustained pressure following a dreadful first half of the season. But Benitez will be offered backing by the board, proof he still has a future at the club. Star striker Fernando Torres last night admitted the situation was bleak, as he said: “I think it is really difficult because I think we don’t have money to bring in the best players – and obviously we need players. “But if we can bring in quality players, it should be really positive for us.” Heskey scored 60 goals in four years at Liverpool before being sold in the summer of 2004 – a month before Benitez took over. With the World Cup looming and his starting position at Aston Villa far from guaranteed, the England striker could be attracted back to the club. Benitez admires Heskey’s unselfish approach and feels he could provide the perfect foil for Torres. Benitez has also looked at Ruud van Nistelrooy and Italy international Luca Toni as alternatives. He wants a wide player, and is considering a move for Celtic’s Aiden McGeady, available for about £8million. Also on the radar is Holland winger Eljero Elia, who could be prised away from Hamburg for £10m and Turkish flyer Arda Turan. Benitez may have up to £15m to spend as he allows up to four players to leave in the transfer window, with Ryan Babel chief among his saleable assets. He can also try to raise funds by selling Italy defender Andrea Dossena, Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin and Swiss full-back Philipp Degen. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/incoming/L...icle266579.html

definitely the winner for me & he didn't deserve to get sent off either

Rafa did start to contest it - remember his we wanted 4, but got 3 comments - around about which point Purslow started sitting in on his press conferences

According to the Liverpool Echo reports in Belgium suggest we have made an approach for Standard Liege's striker Milan Jovanovic, who is apparently available for around €2m, but the Echo says we won't be bidding for him. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-25444881/

Aquilani's gone to Belgrade to see the horse placenta doctor according to the Daily Mail, which was the 1st to break the news that Benayoun & Johnson had gone there http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...nta-doctor.html

The Guardian Tuesday 22 December 2009 Rafael Benítez forced to scrimp and scrape for reinforcements Andy Hunter • Liverpool manager must sell before he can buy • Spaniard keen to offload Voronin, Dossena, Degen and Babel Rafael Benítez is facing another financial balancing act in the January transfer window as he attempts to revive Liverpool's floundering season with a budget unlikely to stretch beyond loan signings and player exchanges. The Liverpool manager is desperate for additions to improve the depth and morale of a squad languishing in eighth place in the Premier League and relegated from the Champions League to the Europa League. He is particularly keen to increase Liverpool's striking options in a campaign where injury to Fernando Torres has brought an over-reliance on David Ngog, but his spending will again be restricted to what he can raise through sales. Offloading unwanted players in January, when managers are often reluctant to spend, increases the complications for the Spaniard. Benítez spent only what he brought into Anfield from transfers in the summer, albeit with Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Yossi Benayoun signing new long-term contracts, as Liverpool began to reduce the £310m debt loaded on to the club by the owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. With their search for new investment yet to come to fruition, the manager will be in an identical predicament in the next transfer window unless the owners – who have either sold or are in the process of selling sporting franchises in the United States – respond to the threat of failing to qualify for next season's Champions League by reinvesting in the squad. The Liverpool manager has received no indication that is the case and therefore plans to raise funds for a forward by finding a buyer or an exchange for Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Andrea Dossena and/or Philipp Degen. All four are deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield, despite Dossena starting Saturday's abysmal defeat at Portsmouth in place of Benayoun, and will be sold should the opportunity arise. Benítez could be restricted to loan deals if the four remain in situ. Voronin was reluctantly retained by the Liverpool manager in the summer only when it became apparent he did not have the resources to invest in a new striker. The Ukraine international enjoyed a successful loan spell at Hertha Berlin last season and several Bundesliga clubs remain interested in his services, although the 30-year-old's agent has ruled out a return to Hertha despite Voronin being ostracised by Benítez since the Champions League draw at Lyon. Napoli are among the clubs keen to take Dossena, a £7m flop, back to Italy, although they balked at Liverpool's asking price in the summer. Babel represents the most saleable asset of the four. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/de...transfer-window

Liverpool Daily Post Dec 22 2009 Cash-strapped Rafael Benitez must wheel and deal in January sales Ian Doyle RAFAEL BENITEZ is again faced with the prospect of having to wheel and deal in the transfer market next month as he strives to remedy his ailing Liverpool side. The Anfield manager will be restricted to swap deals and loan signings after being told there will be once more be no major financial backing for new recruits. Benitez still has the full backing of Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow but, with the club compelled to lower their level of debt, that support will not come in financial terms. Instead, the Spaniard, who had to sell before he could buy last summer, is expected to again be creative in the transfer market, although he will be given access to funds raised from any departures from Anfield in January. The most likely to be allowed to leave are Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena, Andriy Voronin and Philipp Degen, with Liverpool open to the possibility of them being used as makeweights in any incoming deals. Benitez has placed a striker and a right winger at the top of his list of priorities, but may have to make do and mend in any position given he will be shopping at the lowest end of the transfer market. It is not the Christmas cheer Liverpool supporters will have been hoping for, with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth meaning Benitez’s side have won just four of their last 17 games. But it underlines the current financial climate under co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who, with no new investment yet forthcoming, are refusing to endanger their debt repayments at the expense of much-needed team strengthening. That, though, may ultimately prove counter-productive, with Liverpool currently eight points off the lucrative Champions League places and desperately requiring a shake-up in the New Year if they are to turn their season around. Babel would be the highest-profile exit, with his Anfield career having been in major doubt since declaring earlier this season he would be willing to move back to Holland in an attempt to bolster his chances of appearing in next summer’s World Cup. Dossena was a target for Juventus and Napoli in the summer with the latter believed to still maintain a strong interest in the Italy international. Voronin has not even been involved in the first-team squad since the Champions League draw in Lyon last month, and despite a poor time at Anfield is still highly regarded in the German Bundesliga. Degen, however, has rarely played since moving to Liverpool on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund and does not have a lengthy list of potential suitors. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...92534-25444951/

The Daily Post & the Guardian today are both saying Rafa has been told he will have no money in the Jan transfer window & will have to sell to buy, with Babel, Degen, Dossena & Voronin most likely to leave & the NOTW on Sunday had quotes from Aurelio saying Liverpool haven't re-started new contract talks with him yet

The Independent Friday 18 December 2009 Reds promise £15m to redevelop Anfield By Ian Herbert Liverpool have insisted they are willing to invest the estimated £15m it would take to upgrade Anfield to a World Cup venue for 2018 or 2022 should the club not get their proposed new stadium off the ground in time. The Football Association asked the city's bid team to include Anfield as a back-up option in case the proposed new stadium at Stanley Park does not materialise. There have been doubts in some quarters in the city about the club's willingness to commit to the overhaul of car parking, corporate facilities and seating needed, when only a brand new stadium would enable the club to earn as much match-day revenue as Manchester United and Arsenal. But a senior Liverpool source said the investment would be made if necessary. The FA said that the city's bid included undertakings committing Liverpool financially to such work on Anfield if the stadium were called upon. Liverpool are anticipating having the new stadium in place, though. The key to that is the pursuit of investors which has been under way for several months with the aim of raising at least £100m by selling a 25 per cent share of the club to one or a number of equity holders. The idea of having a number rather than just a single investor – a model resembling the institutional shareholders of a public company who are consulted at an AGM but are otherwise at arm's length to let the business develop under its management – has its attractions. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ld-1844086.html

I'm sure the commentator just said that Aquilani's coming on

Liverpool Echo Dec 2 2009 Bayern Munich dismiss move for Liverpool FC’s Ryan Babel by David Randles BAYERN MUNICH have denied they are about to make a bid for Ryan Babel. The Dutchman has been the subject of speculation regarding an Anfield exit during the January transfer window following a recent outburst in which he criticised some of his Liverpool team-mates and manager Rafael Benitez. Reports in Germany have suggested that Babel is top of Bayern manager Luis van Gaal’s wish-list as the former Holland boss looks to bolster his striking options ahead of the expected departure of out of favour Italy forward, Luca Toni. While the outspoken Italian international has hinted he would welcome a transfer, Bayern director of sport, Christian Nerlinger, has dismissed any links between Babel and the German giants. Nerlinger said: “I can assure you that we’re not interested in bringing Babel to Munich. “I don’t know anything about it (Babel joining Bayern) and so you can take it for granted that there is no truth in it. “This has nothing to do with Babel’s qualities, but we have plenty of options in his position. Both Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez are in superb form and we don’t need another attacker.” With German international Miroslav Klose and Under-21 prospect Thomas Muller also in their ranks, Bayern are not short of attacking players, plus there are doubts whether van Gaal will be in charge come January after Neslinger issued him with an ultimatum recently to transform the team’s ailing fortunes by Christmas. Bayern are currently fourth in the Bundesliga, six points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, and need to beat Juventus in Turin next week to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. Babel has failed to command a regular place in Rafael Benitez’s side since joining Liverpool from Ajax for £11.5m in the summer 2007. With just five starts this season the 22-year-old is thought to be in favour of a January loan switch in order to boost his chances of joining Holland at next summer’s World Cup in South Africa. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-25300058/

Click on the links below to Rafa's pre-match press conference............. Liverpool Echo [3:40] BBC [3:16] Sky [1:11]

News of the World 28/11/2009 BENITEZ WANTS AURELIO TO BE REALISTIC By Chris Bascombe BRAZILIAN Fabio Aurelio, 30, has been offered an appearance-related deal to seal his Liverpool future after this season. Boss Rafa Benitez wants a 'realistic' agreement because of the full-back's injury record. Aurelio, who was in the most recent Brazil squad for the friendly against England, is available on a Bosman next summer. Benitez said: "Fabio has been really unlucky. When we spoke to him about an extension he had an injury and he has had a lot of injuries in the past. "We made him an offer and the agent said not at the moment. "We will talk to him again in the future because he is a good person and great professional. "Maybe the situation needs to be looked at in a different way. He has to be realistic. I know he's pleased here and the important thing is I have a good relationship with him." http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/foot...-REALISTIC.html