Liverpool Transfer Gossip - Thursday

[LeTallecWiz]

Daily Express:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/102455/Benitez-ready-to-ditch-Alonso-

XABI ALONSO is braced to play his final game for Liverpool this weekend as his future becomes central to Rafa Benitez’s spending plans for the second successive summer.

Spanish midfielder Alonso, a strong candidate for the club’s player of the year award, looks increasingly likely to leave Anfield, with Real Madrid’s presidential candidate Florentino Perez keen on recruiting him if he is elected back into power on June 17. Liverpool manager Benitez tried to offload Alonso last summer in a bid to finance a move for Gareth Barry, only for both deals to collapse, but will consider sacrificing him again.

A belated deal for Aston Villa star Barry has been secretly set up, while Benitez is also ready to seal a £10million move for Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson, who has been on his wanted list for some time. Benitez is also interested in unsettled Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Valencia’s David Silva.

But he knows that his budget of about £30m will not stretch to cover his targets without him first raising additional finance.

Alonso’s departure would be unpopular among Liverpool supporters and suggestions from Spain yesterday that Real had agreed in principle a £23m move for the player were premature, given Perez is not even in power yet. They were quickly denied by a Liverpool spokesman, who said: “There has been no contact from anyone and Alonso is not for sale.â€

Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...nitez-to-break-Liverpool-transfer-record.html

Benitez will be handed an initial kitty of only around £20 million – to be supplemented by sales – by Tom Hicks and George Gillett, the club's co-owners, but his admission that he is willing to spend more than that sum on one player alone is bound to increase speculation surrounding the future of Carlos Tevez.

His spending will be supplemented by the likely departures of Andrea Dossena, Andrei Voronin and Sebastian Leto, while Benitez could also be tempted to part with Ryan Babel and Xabi Alonso.

Daily Mail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-bid-capture-Portsmouth-England-defender.html

Liverpool have launched a fresh £15million bid to land Portsmouth right back Glen Johnson.

Manager Rafa Benitez identified the England defender as a target this season but did not have anywhere near the budget to land the player.
However, Portsmouth still owe around £7m from the £12m transfer of striker Peter Crouch last summer, and Benitez hopes to use that to good effect in his bargaining for Johnson.

The 24-year-old former Chelsea defender signed an improved four-year contract in January but would jump at the chance of a move to Anfield as Benitez looks to add key signings in preparation for a renewed assault on the Barclays Premier League title.

The Spaniard has been encouraged by his side's progress this season and knows his recruitment this summer is pivotal to Liverpool finally toppling fierce rivals Manchester United.

Pompey's financial problems - with owner Sacha Gaydamak still looking for a buyer - mean they will want to drive the price as high as possible, and Liverpool are wary of being dragged into an auction with other clubs.

 

[Farkmaster]

Those are some pretty disheartening made up stories.

 

[spider-Neil]

signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.

 

[Pesam]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=33661.msg871865#msg871865 date=1242897789]
Those are some pretty disheartening made up stories.
[/quote]

I would be happy with; Johnson, Silva, Tevez and Barry in and Xabi and a few lesser-lights out.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33661.msg871872#msg871872 date=1242898059]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=33661.msg871865#msg871865 date=1242897789]
Those are some pretty disheartening made up stories.
[/quote]

Silva, Tevez [/quote]

both? no chance.

 

[Pesam]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871876#msg871876 date=1242898217]
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33661.msg871872#msg871872 date=1242898059]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=33661.msg871865#msg871865 date=1242897789]
Those are some pretty disheartening made up stories.
[/quote]

Silva, Tevez [/quote]

both? no chance.
[/quote]

I'm sure you're right but we could accommodate both. Rafa looks on enviously at Slur Alex as he rotates; Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney, Berbatov and the midfielders. Rotating is not a bad thing as long as you have the quality players to do it with and below are a few examples of differing line ups that would all prove effective.


Kuyt----------Gerrard------------Mascher------------Silva
---------------------------Tevez-------------------------------
------------------------------Torres----------------------------


Kuyt--------------Barry------------Mascher----------------Silva
-------------------------Gerrard---------------------------------
----------------------------Torres----------------------------


Benny-----------------Barry-----------Gerrard--------------Silva
------------------------------Tevez---------------------------------
-----------------------------------Kuyt------------------------------


Kuyt----------------Barry------------Mascher--------------Babel/Riera
------------------------------Silva------------------------------------------
----------------------------------Tevez------------------------------

 

[Fallon]

[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33661.msg871872#msg871872 date=1242898059]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=33661.msg871865#msg871865 date=1242897789]
Those are some pretty disheartening made up stories.
[/quote]

I would be happy with; Johnson, Silva, Tevez and Barry in and Xabi and a few lesser-lights out.
[/quote]

You and your Xabi hate :🙂

 

[HC]

'Could also be tempted to part with Ryan babel'

I'd like to think he's more than fucking tempted to offload him!

 

[HC]

[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33661.msg871897#msg871897 date=1242899406]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871876#msg871876 date=1242898217]
[quote author=Pesam link=topic=33661.msg871872#msg871872 date=1242898059]
[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=33661.msg871865#msg871865 date=1242897789]
Those are some pretty disheartening made up stories.
[/quote]

Silva, Tevez [/quote]

both? no chance.
[/quote]


Kuyt-----------------Barry-----------Gerrard--------------Silva
------------------------------Tevez---------------------------------
-----------------------------------Torres------------------------------

[/quote]

Bingo

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=33661.msg871911#msg871911 date=1242900415]
'Could also be tempted to part with Ryan babel'

I'd like to think he's more than fucking tempted to offload him!
[/quote]

bren = lucas
hardcastle = babel

 

[Whitey85]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

well that's up for debate certainly.

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871938#msg871938 date=1242903500]
[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

well that's up for debate certainly.
[/quote]

Not much. Going forward there is no competition - it's a whitewash. Defending there's probably not much in it. both are good, not brilliant, defenders. On recent form is there even any question ?

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=33661.msg871946#msg871946 date=1242904754]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871938#msg871938 date=1242903500]
[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

well that's up for debate certainly.
[/quote]

Not much. Going forward there is no competition - it's a whitewash. Defending there's probably not much in it. both are good, not brilliant, defenders. On recent form is there even any question ?
[/quote]

Why would anyone want to spend 15m on a "not brilliant" right back?

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

Who gives a fuck. Arbeloa is the better defender.

 

[Wilko7]

I would be very sad if Xabi left. It's a huge risk to let him go to fund transfers because the player coming in will have to succeed immediately or he and Rafa will face the fans' wrath.

 

[Judge Jules]

Agree with all that, but Xabi's own views on the subject are a factor which tend to get left out of this discussion. It's not clear to me how much he himself wants to stay and, were he to want away, then - however reluctantly - we'd be better off with the money.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=33661.msg871952#msg871952 date=1242906356]
[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

Who gives a fuck. Arbeloa is the better defender.
[/quote]

it becomes a factor when you want to break down a packed defense intent of nicking a point at anfield.

 

[Hansern]

I saw a story today were they said Pompey still owe us 7 mill for Crouch. That should mean Glen Johnson could be ours for a lot less. Pompey are heavily in debt aswell..

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=33661.msg872068#msg872068 date=1242917267]
I saw a story today were they said Pompey still owe us 7 mill for Crouch. That should mean Glen Johnson could be ours for a lot less. Pompey are heavily in debt aswell..
[/quote]

they give us johnson we call it quits would be an excellent deal.

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=33661.msg871911#msg871911 date=1242900415]
'Could also be tempted to part with Ryan babel'

I'd like to think he's more than fucking tempted to offload him!
[/quote]

In other news, he's also tempted to never, ever select me at center midfield.

 

[Squiggles]

Johnson will be signed to compete/deputise for Dirk Kuyt on the right-flank also; he's adaptable, which is a key ingrediant for Rafa.

I've been a fan since his Chelsea days and was bemused when they let him leave. This years been a breakthrough year for him and I see him cementing his place in the England team over the next few years.

Hopefully we can write off the £7M they owe us for Crouch and throw £3M at them and he'll become a Liverpool player, because whatever you think about Arbeloa, it's fair to say he needs competition to keep his fresh and on his toes.

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=33661.msg871948#msg871948 date=1242905779]
[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=33661.msg871946#msg871946 date=1242904754]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871938#msg871938 date=1242903500]
[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

well that's up for debate certainly.
[/quote]

Not much. Going forward there is no competition - it's a whitewash. Defending there's probably not much in it. both are good, not brilliant, defenders. On recent form is there even any question ?
[/quote]

Why would anyone want to spend 15m on a "not brilliant" right back?
[/quote]

At last! Common sense prevails. £15 on a right back who's defensively prone and didn't make it at Chelsea is madness of the highest order. I would be very unimpressed especially if it meant we're stuck with flank options of Riera/Babel/Kuyt because of it.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=Spionkop69 link=topic=33661.msg872289#msg872289 date=1242938105]
[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=33661.msg871948#msg871948 date=1242905779]
[quote author=Frogfish link=topic=33661.msg871946#msg871946 date=1242904754]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871938#msg871938 date=1242903500]
[quote author=Whitey85 link=topic=33661.msg871933#msg871933 date=1242902724]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg871868#msg871868 date=1242897855]
signing johnson makes sense, when arbleoa is injuried carra or skrtel have to play at right back.
[/quote]

It makes even more sense when you consider that Johnson is a better footballer than Arbeloa.
[/quote]

well that's up for debate certainly.
[/quote]

Not much. Going forward there is no competition - it's a whitewash. Defending there's probably not much in it. both are good, not brilliant, defenders. On recent form is there even any question ?
[/quote]

Why would anyone want to spend 15m on a "not brilliant" right back?
[/quote]

At last! Common sense prevails. £15 on a right back who's defensively prone and didn't make it at Chelsea is madness of the highest order. I would be very unimpressed especially if it meant we're stuck with flank options of Riera/Babel/Kuyt because of it.
[/quote]

For £15 quid I'd by him and set him to work in the garden.

Bargain.

 

[rage]

they owe us 7 million pounds and they're skint. we'll probably end up giving them another 5 million to get the lad i reckon. better this way than getting the 7 million in drip payments over the next 5 years. suppose parry did the negotiating when selling crouch. :🙂

 

[Paddy]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=33661.msg872071#msg872071 date=1242917612]
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=33661.msg872068#msg872068 date=1242917267]
I saw a story today were they said Pompey still owe us 7 mill for Crouch. That should mean Glen Johnson could be ours for a lot less. Pompey are heavily in debt aswell..
[/quote]

they give us johnson we call it quits would be an excellent deal.
[/quote]

That would be quite awesome.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

[quote author=rage link=topic=33661.msg872299#msg872299 date=1242938759]
they owe us 7 million pounds and they're skint. we'll probably end up giving them another 5 million to get the lad i reckon. better this way than getting the 7 million in drip payments over the next 5 years. suppose parry did the negotiating when selling crouch. :🙂
[/quote]

Part payments are the standard for most clubs. I'd prefer to take the 7m, whenever it arrives, rather than overpaying for someone to get it quicker.

 

[rage]

i'd have at least wanted 50% upfront though. i'd rather srna anyway

 

[Asbo]

[quote author=Gerry_A_Trick link=topic=33661.msg872340#msg872340 date=1242941009]
[quote author=rage link=topic=33661.msg872299#msg872299 date=1242938759]
they owe us 7 million pounds and they're skint. we'll probably end up giving them another 5 million to get the lad i reckon. better this way than getting the 7 million in drip payments over the next 5 years. suppose parry did the negotiating when selling crouch. :🙂
[/quote]

Part payments are the standard for most clubs. I'd prefer to take the 7m, whenever it arrives, rather than overpaying for someone to get it quicker.
[/quote]

Liverpool have a habit of scrapping debts owed by small clubs/lower league clubs, we have done it numerous times, lets not do it this time though eh......

 

[LadyRed]

Friday's Gossip
Tottenham and Liverpool are battling it out for the chance to buy Portsmouth and England right-back Glen Johnson.

We shouldn't be paying more than about £12mill for him, right?