OLYMPIAKOS have made a move for Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio.
The Brazilian is out of contract this summer and the Greek Super League outfit are hoping to snap him up on a free transfer.
They have informed the 30-year-old’s agent of their interest. Aurelio’s injury woes this season have halted any talks regarding a new deal at Anfield and it’s unclear whether he will be offered a chance to stay.
He has been limited to just 13 starts during a campaign which has seen Emiliano Insua establish himself as first choice left-back.
Aurelio missed the start of the campaign after hurting his knee playing football with his family on the beach back home in Brazil and he’s currently sidelined with a thigh problem he suffered in the win against Blackburn at the end of February.
Manager Rafa Benitez hopes he will return to training next week and play again before the end of the season but he is running out of time to earn a fresh contract.
Aurelio has been beset by problems since Benitez signed him from his old club Valencia on a free transfer in July 2006.
The defender, who won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup under Benitez in Spain, ruptured his Achilles in the Reds’ Champions League quarter-final against PSV Eindhoven and was forced to sit out the 2007 final against AC Milan in Athens.
Aurelio enjoyed his best spell at the club last season starting 27 games, but this season has been another major disappointment.
In total Aurelio has scored four goals in 110 appearances for the Reds in four years.
Meanwhile, suggestions that Fernando Torres could be fit to face West Ham at Anfield next Monday may now be over optimistic.
Torres has been treated by specialist Dr Ramon Cugat in Spain this week after a knee problem kept him out of action against Fulham.
Cugat said: “The problem's not serious but he needs to stop and rest to avoid more risk. In normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week.
“It depends how it settles down. The decision is now up to Liverpool's medical staff and the manager.â€
Rafa Benitez’s agent, meanwhile, has denied reports in the Italy he met Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc yesterday to discuss the Reds manager’s arrival.
Manuel Garcia Quilon was reported to have been in Milan for talks lasting six hours with Juve officials.
But Quilon said: “I never met anyone from Juventus, I was here in Madrid (home of his agency). I repeat that Benitez has a four-year contract with Liverpool, which in principle means he will remain there.
“(But) for the next months, I do not know what will happen.â€
Liverpool will travel to Borussia Monchengladbach in a pre-season friendly on July 31 as part of the German side's 110th anniversary plans.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/04/14/olympiakos-in-move-to-sign-reds-defender-aurelio-100252-26240444/
The Brazilian is out of contract this summer and the Greek Super League outfit are hoping to snap him up on a free transfer.
They have informed the 30-year-old’s agent of their interest. Aurelio’s injury woes this season have halted any talks regarding a new deal at Anfield and it’s unclear whether he will be offered a chance to stay.
He has been limited to just 13 starts during a campaign which has seen Emiliano Insua establish himself as first choice left-back.
Aurelio missed the start of the campaign after hurting his knee playing football with his family on the beach back home in Brazil and he’s currently sidelined with a thigh problem he suffered in the win against Blackburn at the end of February.
Manager Rafa Benitez hopes he will return to training next week and play again before the end of the season but he is running out of time to earn a fresh contract.
Aurelio has been beset by problems since Benitez signed him from his old club Valencia on a free transfer in July 2006.
The defender, who won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup under Benitez in Spain, ruptured his Achilles in the Reds’ Champions League quarter-final against PSV Eindhoven and was forced to sit out the 2007 final against AC Milan in Athens.
Aurelio enjoyed his best spell at the club last season starting 27 games, but this season has been another major disappointment.
In total Aurelio has scored four goals in 110 appearances for the Reds in four years.
Meanwhile, suggestions that Fernando Torres could be fit to face West Ham at Anfield next Monday may now be over optimistic.
Torres has been treated by specialist Dr Ramon Cugat in Spain this week after a knee problem kept him out of action against Fulham.
Cugat said: “The problem's not serious but he needs to stop and rest to avoid more risk. In normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week.
“It depends how it settles down. The decision is now up to Liverpool's medical staff and the manager.â€
Rafa Benitez’s agent, meanwhile, has denied reports in the Italy he met Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc yesterday to discuss the Reds manager’s arrival.
Manuel Garcia Quilon was reported to have been in Milan for talks lasting six hours with Juve officials.
But Quilon said: “I never met anyone from Juventus, I was here in Madrid (home of his agency). I repeat that Benitez has a four-year contract with Liverpool, which in principle means he will remain there.
“(But) for the next months, I do not know what will happen.â€
Liverpool will travel to Borussia Monchengladbach in a pre-season friendly on July 31 as part of the German side's 110th anniversary plans.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/04/14/olympiakos-in-move-to-sign-reds-defender-aurelio-100252-26240444/
