LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

10/7/13

IN

1.jorginho (hellas verona)
2. christian benteke (aston villa)
3.stevan jovetic (fiorentina)

OUT

1. luis suarez (chelsea)
2.stewart downing (west ham)

CHELSEA TO BID FOR SUAREZ

Chelsea are looking to test Liverpool's resolve with a £40 million bid for Luis Suarez who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Liverpool who insists that the Uruguayan is not for sale will be forced to at least listen to offers of at least £40 million as there is a clause in Suarez's contract to that effect. The Reds had earlier turned down a £30 million  offer from Arsenal for Suarez who has made no secret of his intention to leave Anfield after a turbulent season at the club.

 

 

WEST HAM LOOKING TO SIGN DOWNING FROM LIVERPOOL

Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager has already brought in few players this transfer window and it seems like Stewart Downing is not part of Rodgers' long term plans for the club. West Ham is looking to take advantage of this by making a bid for the England international after bringing Andy Carroll to the club.

 

 

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

9/7/13

IN

1.jorginho (hellas verona)
2. tiago Ilori (sporting lisbon)

OUT

1. luis suarez (chelsea)
2.stewart downing (west ham)

 

FOWLER BACKS LIVERPOOL'S PURSUIT OF SHAKHTAR'S MKHITARYAN

Anfield legend, Robbie Fowler is supportive of Liverpool's efforts to sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian who is said to also be the target of Borussia Dortmund was missing from training recently because of the whole transfer saga involving him, his current club and Liverpool. ‘Yes, he’s a great player. I’ve seen him a few times in the Champions League,’ he said.‘He’s a very attacking, very young forward. We’re linked to him. I don’t know if he’s going to sign. I’m sure whoever comes in will be the right fit.’

 

 

ARSENAL TO BID FOR SUAREZ

Arsenal who are looking for a new striker to make up for losing Robin Van Persie to rivals Manchester United are said to be considering a move for Liverpool striker, Luis Suarez. While earlier reports had suggests that Suarez may move abroad to escape the intrusive British media, it has now emerged that Suarez may consider moving to Arsenal since they can offer him Champions League football on a consistent basis.

 

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

5/7/13
IN

1.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)
2. tom ince (blackpool)
3.david villa (barcelona)

OUT

1. luis suarez (arsenal)

2. jonjo shelvey (swansea)

REAL MADRID HAS NOT MADE ANY BALE OFFER

 In a news that will shock many pundits and fans alike, Jonathan Barnett, the agent for Gareth Bale claims, Real Madrid has not made an offer for the highly rated Tottenham Hotspurs winger. The winner of last year's prestigious PFA  Player of the Year award is believed to be seeking a move to a bigger club on the continent and one that regularly features in the Champions League but surprisingly, Madrid has not made a formal approach for the player. Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has previously insisted that Bale would not be going anywhere. “We have the pledge of the chairman that Bale is not going to leave the club,” the Portuguese told Marca last month.

 

 

LLORENTE HOPES FOR ANOTHER SERIE A WIN TO IMPRESS DEL BOSQUE

 

Few seasons ago, many thought Fernando Llorente would end up in England but as it turns out he's now in Italy with Juventus, Italy's most successful club. The Spaniard had great difficulty towards the end of his time at Athletic Bilbao after a falling out with the club's management and made few appearances and scored few goals. This resulted in fewer appearances for Spain and now he's hoping for success at Juve to revive his national career.He told the club's official website: "For me it's a dream to be here. Juventus is a fantastic club and I believe the club is perfect for someone like me who always wants to improve.

 

 

 

 

JONJO SHELVEY MOVES TO SWANSEA

Jonjo Shelvey who was signed from Charlton few years ago will move to Swansea in a 4 year deal. He was regarded as one of England's bright young prospects but a move to Liverpool seemed to change all of that as he failed to break into a first team. Shelvey who was signed before Brendan Rodgers came to Anfield is not part of Rodgers' long term plan for the club so a move away from Anfield seemed almost inevitable. This may also help improve his chances of playing for the England senior team as he would now have more playing time to show his ability.

LIVERPOOL MEETS SHAKHTAR'S ASKING PRICE FOR MKHITARYAN

The 24 year old Shakhtar Donestk star will reportedly complete his move to Anfield within the next 72 hours after the two clubs agreed a €30m (£25.6m) fee for the Armenian international. This may come as  a shock to some who felt sure he'd move to Borussia Dortmund after the German club made a bid first but now it seems that the player will move to England and not Germany. Last week there were reports of the player missing training because he was unhappy that a deal to Liverpool could not be materialised but now it seems he will get his way after all. This will excite many Liverpool fans as the player is a good prospect and will add more firepower to the squad. It'll also send a strong message to critics about Liverpool's long term ambition.

 

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

4/7/13

IN

1.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)
2. tom ince (blackpool)
3.christian atsu (porto)

OUT

1. luis suarez (real madrid)

2. jonjo shelvey (swansea)

BARCELONA STILL HAVE MONEY TO SPEND

In a bid to quash reports that they have no money to sign more players following the capture of Neymar, a club spokesman confirmed Barcelona can still sign more players. While the signing of Neymar is welcomed, many will want Barcelona to sign at least one more striker and if Neymar gets his way, it could very well be Wayne Rooney from Manchester United. It's no secret that David Villa is not as good as he was before he injured his tibia and Barcelona's participation in various competitions including the Champions League means Barcelona needs more strikers in the event of injuries. Another area that needs strenghtening is defence where the reliable Carlos Puyol has been plagued with injuries. Gerard Pique has been paired with Javier Mascherano who is not a proper central defender but is actually a defensive midfielder. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona does spend.

 

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER TARGET MKHITARYAN TO JOIN DORTMUND

In a news that won't please Liverpool fans, highly rated Shakhtar player, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is very close to signing for Borussia Dortmund. Few days ago, there were reports of a bid from Dortmund and the need for Liverpool to sell Luis Suarez to raise cash for the purchase of Mkhitaryan but now it has been confirmed that the Shakhtar player will end up in Dortmund. Apparently, Dortmund and Shakhtar have agreed a fee and Dortmund will now wait to discuss personal terms with the player.The only consolation for Mkhitaryan is that unlike Liverpool, Dortmund will feature in next season's Champions League.

 

 

DAVID LUIZ COULD END UP AT BAYERN

Chelsea defender, David Luiz who had a good outing in the recent Fifa Confederations Cup  is drawing attention from German Champions Bayern Munich. UK's Daily Mail reports: 'Pep Guardiola is a long-term admirer of the Brazil defender, who is also attracting interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.'.  It'll be a big surpise to many if the Brazilian were to leave when Jose Mourinho's just returned to Chelsea and there hasn't been any indication from Chelsea that they'd like to get rid of Luiz.

LIVERPOOL INTERESTED TO SIGN TOM INCE

Brendan Rodgers is keen on yet another winger and this time it's none other than Tom Ince. The player who is a product of Liverpool's youth academy is currently at Blackpool and is also the target of Swansea and Cardiff.Unfortunately, Tom's father Paul believes, Tom could still stay at Blackpool despite interests from other clubs.

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

3/7/13

IN

1.gerard deulofeu (barcelona)

2.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)
3. tom ince (blackpool)
4.christian atsu (porto)

OUT

1. luis suarez (real madrid)

2. jon shelvey (wigan)

NEYMAR URGES ROONEY TO JOIN HIM AT BARCELONA

Wayne Rooney who's made no secret that he wants to leave Manchester United in recent times has been advised by recent Barca recruit, Neymar to join him at the Catalan club.The style of football we (Barcelona) play and the level of the players we have – we are the perfect club for the top players to join,” he said.“I have met Wayne on a few occasions and he seems a good guy but importantly, he is one of the players I admire most in the world. Wayne is one of the most gifted and technical players in the world.“Of course he would improve Barcelona. He would improve any club in Europe. And on a personal level, it would be a dream to play with him.” The player himself has not indicated his preferred destination but given he didn't have a good relationship with Sir Alex towards the end of Sir Alex's tenure at Old Trafford and David Moyes while he was still playing for Everton, any move away from Manchester would be welcomed by Rooney.

PAULINHO CLOSE TO JOINING TOTTENHAM

The Brazilian midfielder is expected to move to White Hart Lane very soon in deal worth £17m. Paulinho who featured in Brazil's recent successful outing in the FIFA Confederations Cup hinted at his exit when he said "What I have to say to Corinthians is 'see you soon',". "Pretty soon I'll be back, owing to everything you have done for me." Real Madrid were thought to be another possible destination but all signs are that the player's headed for White Hart Lane instead. This will be another good news for Tottenham fans with reports suggesting David Villa will also move to White Hart Lane.

 

SHAKHTAR BOSS SURPRISED WITH MKHITARYAN LIVERPOOL LINK

Shakhtar Donetsk boss, Mircea Lucescu believes that midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan should only leave for a club that's better than Shakhtar like Real Madrid or Barcelona but not Liverpool or Spurs. His latest statement won't sit well with fans of the English clubs who may feel that Donetsk only does well domestically and appears frequently in European competitions because it doesn't face much competition in the Ukrainan league. The Barclays Premier League is regarded by many as one of the most difficult leagues to play in.

 

 

TORRES INVOLVED IN MILAN EXCHANGE MOVE

Apparently, Jose Mourinho doesn't fancy Fernando Torres and would like to exchange the Spaniard with AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy for a fee in the region of £30m. We suspect it's got nothing to do with the latter's hairdo either.

 

 

 

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

2/7/13

IN

1.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)
2. mamadou sakho (PSG)

OUT

1. luis suarez (real madrid)

2. pepe reina (barcelona)
3.jonjo shelvey (crystal palace)
4.jay spearing (wigan)
 

GARETH BALE IS NOT FOR SALE

According to Andre Villas-Boas, his club's most prized asset at the moment is not for sale at any price. Despite being linked with an expensive move away to Real Madrid, Spurs reiterates that Bale will be at the club when next season starts. It is unclear whether the player himself wants to move but even if he does stay, he will almost certainly move after next season. Bale may feel that while he may be very good, it's still not enough for Spurs to qualify let alone do well in Europe since most of his team mates are as good as he is and so to have domestic and European success he may have to play elsewhere. We can expect this story to run until the player himself issues a statement on this.

FIORENTINA SET SIGHTS ON MARIO GOMEZ

Apparently, Mario Gomez has said that he'd like to play in Serie A and Fiorentina may sell Stevan Jovetic to make that happen. Jovetic was rumoured to join Juventus but now things have changed after Juventus signed Carlos Tevez from Manchester City.

MICAH RICHARDS WANTED BY BAYERN MUNICH

Micah Richards is reportedly wanted by Bayern Munich. It is understood that the talented Englishman is also a target of Inter Milan but now it has emerged that the Bavarian club are also interested. This would be something the player may seriously consider as he tries to revive his career following his lack of playing time due to injuries and stiff competition at Manchester City.

 

 

SUAREZ IRKS LIVERPOOL ON MADRID ISSUE

Liverpool are not happy with Luis Suarez after reports suggested that the Anfield man has agreed personal terms with Real Madrid. Liverpool had said that Suarez would have to hand in a transfer request if he wanted to leave the club but until now he has not done so.Should the Uruguayan leave, Liverpool would expect a sizeable transfer fee as they look to purchase in-demand Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The latter failed to turn up for preseason training with his club after being frustrated about a possible failed move to Liverpool.

 

 

SPURS TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE MOVE WITH DAVID VILLA

Tottenham’s new technical director Franco Baldini will hold talks with Barcelona striker David Villa this week. The Barcelona ace who did well for Spain in recent major tournaments has spent less time on the pitch since returning to the side after injuring his tibia. Liverpool are also believed to be considering a move for Villa as replacement for Luis Suarez. Villa may feel he still has one more World Cup left in him and with Spain's abundance of riches, he may be willing to move away from the Nou Camp  to ensure his place in the national side.

 

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

28/6/13

IN

1.gerard deulofeu (barcelona)

2.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)
3.oussama assaidi (PSV)

OUT

1. luis suarez (real madrid)

2. pepe reina (barcelona)
 

BENITEZ WANTS TO BRING CALLEJON TO NAPOLI

Corriere dello Sport reports that Rafael Benitez has specifically asked for the signing of Jose Callejon from Real Madrid. This may serve as a precaution in the event Napoli star, Edinson Cavani leaves the club. Napoli was also considering a move for Gonzalo Higuain but have resigned to losing the Argentine to Arsenal.

 

 

 

 

MKHITARYAN NOW A TRANSFER TARGET FOR DORTMUND

Borussia Dortmund have made a formal bid for the Shakhtar star who was reported missing few days ago. However, Dortmund's bid is believed to be below Shakhtar's asking price so Liverpool may still be able to get their man. Dortmund is moving swiftly to replace the talented Robert Lewandowski who is wanted by rivals Bayern and a host of other big clubs. It is unclear who Mkhitaryan himself fancies but a failed move to Liverpool has been cited as a reason for the player's absence from training few days ago.

 

 

INTER MAY SIGN MICAH RICHARDS

Micah Richards who is known to be talented but plagued by injuries in recent times, is reportedly wanted by Inter Milan. Manchester City have an embarassment of riches so Richards has had subtantial limited playing time. This affects his chances of playing for the national team so if this Inter rumour is true, he may actually fancy a move to Italy.

 

 

 

 

BRENDAN RODGERS INTERESTED IN PSG WINGER

According to Liverpool Echo, talented PSG winger, Jeremy Menez, who used to play for Roma is now prepared to leave PSG following Carlo Ancelotti's departure from the club. Although Brendan Rodgers has already made some notable signings this transfer window, he may feel that having a winger like Menez makes Liverpool's attack more potent. Stewart Downing has not had the impact Brendan would have hoped for and Raheem Sterling is still very young and had problems off the pitch recently.

 

ARSENAL TO BID FOR REINA

Arsene Wenger is looking to replace the inexperienced Wojciech Szczesny with Pepe Reina. It is believed that now that Liverpool have signed Simon Mignolet from Sunderland, Pepe Reina will almost certainly leave Anfield. Reina is nearing his 30s and will feel that if he's going to push Iker Casillas for the number 1 spot for Spain for the coming World Cup, the time would be now. Mignolet's arrival would mean limited playing time for Reina as Mignolet had an outstanding season with Sunderland.

 

 

MOYES TO CONVINCE ROONEY TO REMAIN AT OLD TRAFFORD

 

The Daily Mirror report that David Moyes will try to convince Wayne Rooney to stay at Old Trafford. The Scot will 'try to make peace' when Rooney reports back for training at the start of July in the hope of switching the focus to his pre-season plans. The unsettled Rooney is wanted by Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and now Barcelona.

 

CHELSEA UNWILLING TO MEET CAVANI'S RELEASE CLAUSE

Initially Chelsea had agreed to purchase Napoli star, Edinson Cavani  based on his release clause  but according to the Daily Star, Roman Abramovich wants a cheaper Cavani. It is still unclear which club Cavani fancies, with his new manager Benitez wanting the star to remain at Napoli as part of his long term plan to revitalise Napoli.

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

27/6/13

IN

1.gerard deulofeu (barcelona)

2.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)

OUT

1. luis suarez (real madrid)

2. pepe reina (barcelona)

THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF ANCELOTTI'S APPOINTMENT ON PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS

Apart from someone like Jose Mourinho, few managers have the pulling power to attract talented players to their club.When Real Madrid announced that Carlo Ancelotti had joined them, the fears of many clubs, in particular English clubs, came true. Ancelotti's desire to revitalise Real Madrid after Mourinho's disastrous spell at the Bernabeu may have a negative effect on certain possible big name transfers.

Isco, who some thought may join Manchester City from Malaga, is now believed to welcome a move to Real Madrid. Chelsea who are also looking to strengthen with a new man at the helm, is interested in Cavani but may now resigned to losing the Napoli star to Real Madrid. The same with Tottenham who are looking to replace Emmanuel Adebayor with Paulinho who may now lose the latter to Real Madrid. It is not yet known whether Wayne Rooney may consider moving to the Bernabeu if Madrid came calling rather than the Nou Camp but given what could happen with the other big name transfers, it could be a possibility.

While Mourinho's time at Real Madrid is regarded at a failure by many, one suspects the same is unlikely to happen to Ancelotti. This could be what La Liga needs to revitalise itself after Iniesta claimed Mourinho did more harm than good for Spanish football during his time in Spain.

 

MANCHESTER UNITED TO LAUNCH MASSIVE CAVANI BID

In a desperate attempt to cover for Wayne Rooney's possible departure from the club, Manchester United have launched massive bid for Napoli's Edinson Cavani. While new manager Rafa Benitez would like to hold on to Cavani, his hands may be tied if the price is right. Barcelona are also believed to have joined the chase for Rooney's signature.

 

 

ARSENE MAY JOIN PSG NEXT SUMMER

In a story which I find bizarre, some reports in France are suggesting that Arsene Wenger, who's been at Arsenal for as long as I can remember, may leave the club to manage Paris St-Germain (PSG) at the end of next season.

 

I guess maybe some feel that if he's not allowed to spend big money on improving the squad, he may want to leave. Arsenal are a well run club but for some reason, the management is reluctant to spend even when the club look like they need reinforcements to seriousy challenge other top clubs.Some Arsenal fans may start to feel nervous.

 

 

 

EVERTON EYE HONDA

Keisuke Honda from CSKA Moscow is wanted by Everton's new manager, Roberto Martinez who is looking for someone to replace Marouane Fellaini. However, the English club have to fend off competition from Milan for the Japanese star's services.

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER TARGET MKHITARYAN GOES MISSING

Shakhtar Donetsk claim that Henrikh Mkhitaryan has gone AWOL (absent without leave) after failing to turn up for a pre season training camp in Austria. Some reports in Ukraine are suggesting that the player is aggrieved that his purported move to Liverpool has not materialised. The club is now considering taking action against their player should they find his behaviour inexcusable and without justification.

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

26/6/13
IN

1.christian tello (barcelona)

2.lucas piazon (chelsea)
3.henrikh mkhitaryan (shakhtar donetsk)

OUT

1. luis suarez (real madrid)

2. pepe reina (barcelona)

MILAN TARGETS JAPANESE STAR HONDA

Milan  target Keisuke Honda believes a move to a bigger club will bring out the best in him. Honda, 27, is contracted to Russian Premier League's CSKA Moscow until December this year but after starring for club and country, a move seems likely.“I don’t know where I’ll be taking the next step yet, but I know I’ve got a chance to play for a big club. I have until August so I’ll wait and see,” Honda told The Japan Times.“If I go to a big club, I’ll become an infinitely better player. The improvement I’ll make then will be anything but minor.“I’m the type to soak up everything and anything in my surroundings, and if I play with better players, I’ll get better. It’s how I’ve been able to get this far in my career.” If Honda does move to the Serie A, he will follow in the footsteps of a certain Japanese legend, Hidetoshi Nakata who played for Roma as well as Yuto Nagatomo at Inter.

 

honda

MILAN OWNER BERLUSCONI GIVEN JAIL SENTENCE

Former Italian prime minister and Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to seven years in prison.Berlusconi – who is also the honorary president of the Serie A club – was found guilty of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and was banned from holding a position of public office, pending appeal. Berlusconi's lawyers will now prepare an appeal. Berlusconi will not serve his sentence pending the outcome of the appeal which can take years.

LIVERPOOL TARGET WILLIAMS PREFERS ARSENAL

It's no secret that Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers in particular are targetting Swansea's Ashley Williams because of Jamie Carragher's retirement last season. Unfortunately for Liverpool, according to the Daily Telegraph, Williams will inform manager Michael Laudrup that he prefers to move to Arsenal. The only stumbling block for Williams, assuming Daily Telegraph is right, is Swansea's valuation of the player, which Arsenal feels is too high.

 

 

ANCELLOTTI AND ISCO INCH CLOSER TO REAL MADRID MOVE

Real Madrid is close to getting their preferred replacement for Jose Mourinho. Their preference for Carlo Ancellotti is hardly surprising as the PSG man has also done well at Juventus, Milan and Chelsea, both domestically and in Europe. Real Madrid hopes that by having a reputable manager like Ancellotti at the helm, bright young prospects like Isco of Malaga would consider moving to the Bernabeu. An agreement has been reached between  Laurent Blanc and PSG which now paves the way for Ancellotti to go to Spain.

Isco

Ancelotti

 

LEWANDOWSKI BAYERN MOVE IN DOUBT

Manchester United's possible bid for Borussia Dortmund's Lewandowski have been given a major boost after new Bayern Munich manager, Pep Guardiola hinted that he may be prepared to walk away from the Dortmund man. United is looking for a replacement for Wayne Rooney who has hinted he may be prepared to leave his club unless new manager David Moyes refutes Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim that he handed in a transfer request last season. Guardiola's statement may come as a shock to many who felt sure that the Dortmund star would join Bayern. Lewandowski is also wanted by Chelsea as Mourinho rates him highly, even when he was still at Real Madrid.

 

TOTTENHAM MAY BID FOR BENTEKE

Spurs have expressed interest in Liverpool target Christian Benteke. The Aston Villa man has not openly expressed his desire to leave his current club but may consider a move away from Villa if he feels he has a better chance of winning silverware elsewhere. Spurs are interested in David Villa as are Liverpool but Villa is expected to join Fiorentina instead. Andre Villas-Boas is looking to replace Emmanuel Adebayor who is widely rumoured to leave Spurs before the start of next season.

 

BALE EXPECTING TO MOVE TO REAL MADRID

Last season's PFA Player of Year winner, Gareth Bale is expected to demand a move to Real Madrid in the coming weeks when he meets Spurs' chairman, Daniel Levy. It is believed that Real Madrid are willing to spend big before the start of next season by bringing in highly rated Bale from Spurs and Edinson Cavani from Napoli. Since Spurs will miss out on Champions league football next season Bale may want to move to a club with good prospects for major silverware. If Bale does move to the Bernabeu, he may be joined by Cavani from Napoli to bolster Real Madrid's attacking force that already includes the likes of Christiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

 

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

25/6/13
IN

1.christian tello (barcelona)

2. lucas piazon (chelsea)

OUT

1. luis suarez (manchester city)

 

2.jordan henderson (unknown)

SHOULD LUIS SUAREZ STAY OR GO?

Ill treatment of Suarez and his family

I recall watching a press conference on Fox Sports Asia where Luis Suarez spoke candidly about how he and his family have been treated by the media and the public. He recalled this one time when he and his family were in Manchester "....... I was walking in a shopping Centre near Manchester and three or four guys asked me for a photo. While we were posing for it my wife said to me: 'Luis, get out of the photo.' She noticed they were making biting gestures. I was with my wife and my daughter. Things like that get on your nerves. My wife was on the brink of tears and the blokes ran off laughing. You get tired of stuff like that." He has also said that he is followed everywhere by media, in Shopping Centre’s and even his back garden.

 

Unfair treatment by FA

I was actually surprised when John Terry received what I thought was less severe punishment than Suarez for racially abusing another player. There was solid evidence of Terry’s wrongdoing but he only got banned for 4 games while Suarez got banned for 8 games even though the evidence against him was sketchy (Patrice Evra’s word against his). In Terry’s case they had lip readers confirming what Terry had said to Anton Ferdinand  but Terry still only ‘escaped’ with a 4 match ban. I think because Suarez feels the FA was too harsh on him and the club did not support him fully during this ordeal and during the Ivanovic ordeal, he may not give 100% on the pitch and at a time when the club’s closest rivals are strengthening and there’s a lot at stake in the game now, Liverpool cannot afford this.  

Exceptional talent

Racism and biting aside, Suarez is an exceptional talent. Kenny Dalglish had good reasons to sign him and make him wear the famous number 7 shirt. For some, if not for the racism and biting controversy, Suarez would have beaten Bale to the PFA Player of the Year award. Suarez gives Liverpool something different, which, should he stay, may enable them to seriously challenge for a top 4 finish. With Suarez upfront, the Liverpool midfielders always know they have options as he is a game changer while opposing defenders always have to be on their guard with Suarez on the pitch.

Verdict

He should leave but only for a good price and for a genuine top club. Liverpool can use proceeds from the sale of Suarez (if he leaves) to buy 3-4 reasonably good players. His reputation in England is already ruined, not just as a footballer but as a person so remaining at Anfield in the longer term is unwise. If you look at players who stayed at the club for a long time like Hypia, Dudek and even Hamann, none of them got into trouble as much as Suarez has in such a short period. We can only hope that wherever he goes, he stays out of trouble and just allow his football to do the talking.

 

HOW SHOULD LIVERPOOL REPLACE JAMIE CARRAGHER?

The man

When Jamie Carragher announced his retirement from the game, I was sad but not entirely surprised. As he was reaching his mid 30s, I felt that his game was slipping a little. He could no longer catch forwards like he used to and sometimes his tackling was reckless. Although he grew up supporting Everton, he ended up playing for Liverpool and even retired as a Liverpool player. He could’ve joined other bigger clubs in Europe but decided to only play for Liverpool. He showed what it meant to be a “one man club” and the true meaning of loyalty.

Liverpool legend Carragher

Possible Carragher long term replacements

When I heard Kolo Toure was being considered for Carragher’s position, I was not happy because for me although Toure is experienced, he is not the long term solution. I also never rated him in the same bracket as people like Carlos Puyol, Ricardo Carvalho and Paolo Maldini.  The only things I like about us signing him is the fact that he was available on a free. So if Brendan doesn’t sign some more defenders before the start of next season, then I hope he’d seriously consider bringing in some more defenders in the next window. Below are just some players I’d consider buying if I were him to give Liverpool’s defence an added boost.

 

1. Kyriakos Papadoupolos (Schalke)

He has said he wants to remain at his current club but I’ve been a football fan long enough to know that that’s not always the case when a players comes out and says that.

Why he’s a good buy?

He’s still only 21 and yet he’s done really well at a good club in a respectable league (remember how well German teams have been in recent Champions League outings). However, even if he doesn’t mind leaving Schalke, Liverpool face strong competition from the likes of Milan, Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg and because of his good performance last season, he’d costs around £19 million and we’re not sure whether FSG would be willing to spend so much on a defender.

Kyriakos

 

2. Toby Alderweireld (Ajax)

Unlike most players linked with Liverpool, Toby has indicated that he’d be open to join the club after declaring “Liverpool meets my criteria”.

Why he’s a good buy?

Same reason as the Kyriakos. He’s only 23 and also won titles at Ajax. My only concern is Liverpool’s absence from Europe next season which may deter a young ambitious player like him from coming to Anfield and the prospect of playing under little known Brendan Rodgers. Let’s be honest, the current manager is no Mourinho or Guardiola and apart from money, players also look at who’s managing the club before deciding whether to join a particular club.

 

Alderweireld

 3. Ashley Williams (Swansea)

This player will always be linked with Liverpool for so long as Brendan Rodgers remain manager of the club as both Ashley and Brendan have Swansea links.

Why he’s a good buy?

Unlike some of the other players linked with replacing Carragher, Williams has the experience of playing in the Barclays Premier League and thus doesn’t need time to adjust to life here. The only stumbling block would be his price tag as he’s highly rated not just by his current club but even Liverpool legend Ian Rush.

 

Williams

4. Raul Albiol (Real Madrid)

Another good player but with limited playing time due to competition from Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane. Already 27 and with the array of talent in the SApinish squad, he may have to seek his fortune elsewhere if he is to make the Spanish squad for the coming World Cup.

Why he’s a good buy?

Anyone who’s even good enough to sit on the bench of a club like Real Madrid must be considered ‘good’. I know at other clubs, he’d probably be in the first team. He’s not a lousy player but gets limited playing time because he’s playing for the wrong club and is of the wrong nationality.

 

Albiol

My pick

I’d sign Albiol rather than Williams but given that Toby is younger and has won titles at Ajax, I’d sign him even if I’d have to spend more than £25million. Plus, it’ll send a strong message to critics who argue that Liverpool lacks ambition and cannot challenge for the top 4.It would also help raise Brendan’s profile as a manager. After all, signing lesser known players from low tier clubs won’t endear you to fans.

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

24/6/13

IN

1.nacer chadli (fc twente)

2. victor wanyama (celtic)

 

3. danny rose (spurs)

 

OUT

1. luis suarez (napoli/real madrid)

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

23/6/13

IN

1.christian tello (barcelona)

2. ashley williams (swansea)

OUT

1. luis suarez (napoli/real madrid)

MIGNOLET TO JOIN LIVERPOOL NEXT WEEK

It'll be official when he arrives next week for his medical and signs the relevant papers.It's been a long wait but Liverpool finally have their man.There's a lot uncertainty surrounding Reina who in the last few weeks hinted he'd be willing to leave Liverpool for a  bigger club, prompting speculation he could return to Barcelona where he had started his career.

luis alberto to undergo medical at anfield

SHAKHTAR DENY MKHITARYAN LIVERPOOL LINK

Rumoured to be on Liverpool’s radar, Mkhitaryan created history in the Ukrainan league by scoring 25 goals. His current club however denies that there has been any kind of communication between Shakhtar and Liverpool. Shakhtar would like to hold on to their best players but would be willing to let go of their prized asset should there be a reasonably good offer for the player. If the £22 million man does leave, he wouldn’t be the first to leave the Ukrainan league for a better league. Remember Shevchenko?

The Ukrainian league is not as popular as some of the other leagues in Europe so unless you live in Ukraine, you may not get to watch Mkhitaryan on television that often. If that’s the case, watch the video below for an idea of what we can expect from this talented Armenian if he does join Liverpool.

 

                                                                                           video credit: Serge Production/SMcomps

LIVERPOOL TRANSFER NEWS

21/6/13

IN

1.oscar cardozo (benfica)

2.diego capel (sporting lisbon)

3.luis alberto (sevilla)

4.balazs dzsudzsak (dinamo moscow)

OUT

1. pepe reina (barcelona)

 

WHO I’D REPLACE SUAREZ WITH?

As much as we all love ‘world class’ players, they costs a lot of money and because they’re ambitious, they wouldn’t want to join a club that’s not going to be playing in the Champions League next season. The following list takes into account these things:

1.      CHRISTIAN BENTEKE

 

This Belgian has had an arguably better season than fellow countrymen Eden Hazard. Not only did he do well at Genk prior to this but he also scored a lot of goals in his debut season in the Barclays Premier League and also saved Aston Villa from relegation. The only stumbling block would be Villa’s asking price as they’d want 30-40 million for their prized asset and FSG (Liverpool’s current owners) are probably unwilling to spend all that money on just one player.

 

 

2.      DAVID VILLA

 

This guy did really well for club and country before he injured his tibia. After returning from injury, his playing time has been substantially limited and at 31, he’s willing to go somewhere else if it would mean more playing time. I don’t think at this stage in his career, he’d be thinking too much about money. I believe, he’d want more silverware and this would require more playing time so leaving Barcelona may be his only option. The only problem for Liverpool is that clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham are also interested and can also offer Champions League football, a competition perceived to be more prestigious than Europa League (not that that would matter since Liverpool won’t be in Europe at all next season).

 

 


3.      GONZALO HIGUAIN

 

I rate this player highly because he’s proven himself at the highest level for both club and country and is unlucky to find himself on his way out at Real Madrid since the whole club and not just he did miserably last season. My only concern would be Liverpool trying to fend off competition from the likes of Arsenal and Juventus, who unlike Liverpool will feature in next season’s Champions League. However, if Liverpool somehow manage to convince Higuain that his future lies with them, it may help attract other big names to the club. This is especially crucial because of the club’s absence from Europe next season and the lack of appeal of manager Brendan Rodgers.  You only need to look at the certain Mourinho to understand the latter.

 

 

4.      LOIC REMY

 

How he ended up at a club like QPR is anyone’s guess. After Marseille, many thought he’d join a ‘big’ club but were shocked when he chose QPR. Now that the club’s relegated and he’s scored enough in his debut season to suggests he can do better at a bigger club, Anfield is a possible destination. Unlike most names tipped to replace Suarez should he leave (with the exception of Benteke), Remy has the experience of playing in the Barclays Premier League so needs no time to adjust to life here. However, just like most players tipped to replace Suarez, Remy may fancy Champions League football rather than an absence of  European football altogether. With Mourinho back at Chelsea, Bale staying at Tottenham and Pellegrini managing City, it would take a miracle for Liverpool to qualify for Europe and at 26, Remy may feel it’s  Arsenal or Tottenham is a safer bet when it comes to qualifying for Europe should those clubs be interested in his services.

 

 

5.      EDINSON CAVANI

 

There’s no doubting Suarez’s quality and Cavani’s a readymade replacement, having done well in Italy. Ironically though, they’d have to negotiate with a certain former Liverpool manager for the sale of Cavani. Having made a huge loss on Andy Carroll, it’ll be interesting to see whether FSG would be willing to risk paying more than 45 million again on a player. Personally, I’d still pay a huge sum for someone like Cavani because the situation with Carroll was different. Cavani’s had success with a good club in a tough league and has done reasonably well for his country. The only concern would be the lack of Champions League football and the prospect of playing under a manager who has yet to prove himself at his level.

 

 

 

I’m no football expert but there is every chance Suarez will leave and even if he doesn’t, who’d want to keep an unhappy player? Liverpool needs to find a replacement fast and FSG may have to rethink their transfer policy. Quality doesn’t come cheap and the situation is made worse nowadays by clubs like Chelsea, PSG and Manchester City who buy players at inflated prices which then affects everyone else. It’s good to leave pricing to market forces but I think the current situation warrants some intervention by FIFA or it’ll damage the game in the long term. What’s Financial Fair Play rules for again?