Dan

Bloke (can't remember his name) who used to play for Ajax and now is on the coaching staff was on 5 live before singing Babel's praises. Nothing ground breaking but basically said: Gutted to see him go as worked closely with him for 3 years Can be devastating going forward - think he used the term "tornado" Can play anywhere up front but preferably in the middle or on the left as he has done for Ajax level headed lad - won't have a problem settling in both on and off the pitch He was a diamond that needed polishing

Says who? For one, Simao was discounted early doors by our chief scout.

The £5 a month SKy deal is a scam as well as you're tied into a 12 month contract and you pay £15 a month after the initial 3 month period.

Daily Star has Heinze saying he's flattered about our interest Times says £4M for Johnson of City...

Is it a tenner connection fee as well?

What a strange commment. It doesn't matter how much we get for a player as long as he's gone? Lets give em away then, we'll get em off the books quicker that way.

£7.5M for Bellamy is dissapointing though.

Papers saying Mancs are gonna pay £38M for him today. Jesus, I hope they do the stupid b*stards. Season ticket prices will increase thrice fold next season.

A legend? Why?

F*ck off Egg West Ham tell Liverpool: Pay £8m for Yossi Benayoun Jul 6 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo WEST HAM have slapped a staggering £8m valuation on Yossi Benayoun’s head, in a bid to snatch Craig Bellamy from Anfield on the cheap. Liverpool gave permission for the Welsh international striker to speak to The Hammers last night and he quickly agreed a remarkable £70,000 a week contract. But after the Reds rejected an initial cash bid of £7m, the Hammers tried to offer a straight swap deal for their Israeli international skipper. With Liverpool holding out for £8m for Bellamy, the cheeky Hammers instantly valued Benayoun at that figure and suggested an exchange. But Liverpool only value Benayoun at around half that price. Further talks will take place today – and Djibril Cisse’s name may now come into the equation as well. The Hammers want to add the Frenchman to their squad with Bellamy. Liverpool want a fee in the region of £9m for a player who cost an Anfield club record of £14m when he arrived from Auxerre three years ago. Marseille are also bidding to make Cisse’s loan spell in France permanent, while Portsmouth have also made an enquiry. Bellamy did not report back to Melwood yesterday with the rest of Liverpool’s international contingent. But unless West Ham can reach agreement quickly he may have to return to training with a squad he is clearly surplus to. The Reds kick off their pre-season schedule at Wrexham tomorrow (kick-off 3pm), and while players like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are unlikely to figure, Rafa Benitez will take a mix of senior stars and youngsters to the Racecourse. The only players not now back in training at Melwood are Harry Kewell, Mark Gonzalez, Javier Mascherano and Emiliano Insua, who remain on international duty for their respective countries, while Fernando Torres will not report for training until July 11. Benitez said yesterday: “All of the internationals will start training today. We will see how they are, but normally you could expect them to play next week against Crewe. “We only had five senior players back last week. We’ve had the young players, and you can see the commitment in them. “Sometimes you have to tell them to calm down because they tackle hard and fight for each ball.”

Quality. I wonder why though....

Can't see it being a permanent deal either. £40M is what the Beeb are saying. F*ck that. Looks like it will be a Mascherano type deal.

So a monthly subscription for Setanta only? Works out much more expensive than a PPV season ticket at £50. B*llocks.

Here's the Quaresma link from the Times The intense pressure that comes with being Liverpool’s record signing may have claimed plenty of victims, but Fernando Torres seemed only too happy to raise expectations yesterday, the Spain striker boldly announcing that he could be the man finally to end the club’s long wait for the league title. Having signed a six-year contract worth £90,000 a week hours after flying in from Madrid, Torres was presented amid much fanfare at Anfield and spoke of his desire to follow in the footsteps of such legendary figures as Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler. The Times can reveal the full story behind the £20.2 million transfer that eclipses Liverpool’s previous record outlay of £14.2 million for Djibril Cissé, whose No 9 shirt Torres inherits, although the deal is only likely to be the first of several eye-catching signings by Rafael Benítez as the manager seeks to end the club’s 17-year wait for the championship. Benítez is also in the hunt for a new winger, possibly two, and the indications from Portugal last night were that Ricardo Quaresma, of FC Porto, could fit the bill. Liverpool are said to have had a £13.5 million bid for the 23-year-old Portugal winger turned playmaker rejected, although a slightly improved offer could be enough to persuade the Portuguese club to sell. Alessandro Mancini, of AS Roma, and Yossi Benayoun, the West Ham United midfield player, are also thought to be targets, while the manager is also hoping to force through a deal for Gabriel Heinze, the Argentina defender, even though Manchester United appear reluctant to sell him to their fiercest rivals. Yesterday was all about Torres, though, and the 23-year-old forward is adamant that he can succeed where others such as Cissé, Stan Collymore and Fernando Morientes have failed. “I’m convinced it’s the right decision and hopefully this will be the year where things happen quickly and we win trophies and things turn out well personally for me,” Torres, whose sale sparked demonstrations by angry supporters in Madrid, said. “I’m aware that the expectations are really high and that people are very keen to see me score lots of goals, but I’m just as keen to fulfil all their hopes and desires and I’m confident that I will have the necessary ammunition. I’m playing in a top side and that gives me the confidence to be positive about the challenge. “I don’t have any fear of this responsibility and it’s not something that worries me unduly. I know that with hard work you can overcome the pressure and reach your targets reasonably well. “The fact that they have given me the legendary No 9 shirt that has been worn by so many great players shows they have confidence in me and that brings great responsibility.” Torres had been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United and was the subject of a firm inquiry from Old Trafford last summer, but he insists that Liverpool was the only club for which he was prepared to leave Madrid. “It was a great opportunity. It’s true I have had offers in the past, but this is the very first time I’ve asked Atlético to listen to any of those offers,” he said. “This is the first time I have been tempted to leave. “Liverpool are a massive club and they could literally approach anyone in the world of football, so to approach me was very special.”

Torres and Kuyt = beauty and the beast

Ballague on SSN saying fee around £20M. Don't know if Garcia was on top of that. Either way its a very good deal. Also set he made a huge effort to come here. Great news.

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo today refused to confirm the transfer of Fernando Torres to Liverpool as a done deal. Speculation has been rife that the Spain striker is poised to complete a £27m switch to Anfield. Cerezo, who was at the unveiling of new signing Luis Garcia, was asked how the Atletico team would react to Torres’ departure. “If and when that happens, we will see,” he said. Garcia believes if Torres does leave for Merseyside, the frontman would not have any problems adapting to the Premier League. “I haven’t spoken to Torres,” said Garcia. “But wherever he ends up playing, I believe he will give his best. “I think the great players adapt well to any team and any league, Torres is one of them.” Nothing like clutching at straws

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas believes Florent Malouda's expected move to Chelsea may not yet happen. The winger has expressed his desire to join the Blues and claims he has already spoken to boss Jose Mourinho. Malouda was absent on Monday for the Lyon squad's first day of pre-season training but with Chelsea yet to meet Lyon's believed valuation of around £17million for the France international, Aulas fears the deal may not be finalised. "I said to Flo that I wasn't sure the deal was going to materialise and that it was necessary he went to Tignes [Lyon's training base]," said Aulas. "I am not sure Chelsea have the desire or the means to call out to Florent Malouda. "[Chelsea chief executive] Peter Kenyon said to Flo he was leaving for Moscow to meet the club's owner [Roman Abramovich]. Sometimes, things happen quickly. "But I don't feel these people really want to tie up this deal." Chelsea may have to up their pace on finalising a deal or risk missing out on landing Malouda's services as Real Madrid have also entered the race to sign the player and have made contact with the French champions. "Madrid have also asked about him and we have other clubs who are interested in signing him too," Aulas told L'Equipe. "If he leaves then it will be under the conditions that we have already declared. Of course we are not ruling out that he will leave us." Malouda, who has also been linked with Liverpool, is set to join the rest of his Lyon team-mates for training this week. Meanwhile, Aulas has played down the arrest of Sylvain Wiltord on Monday. Wiltord was taken from Lyon's training ground by police officers for questioning regarding a speeding offence, but Aulas does not think the incident is serious. Aulas said: "I don't think it is serious. He hasn't responded to a summons following a speeding offence. "It is especially annoying in relation to the image of the club. "It is a private problem, but it is now affecting OL and OL's sponsors."

To be fair the abuse started long before he decided to leave.

Prentice says Mancs won't let him now anyway http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html

Thats the general feeling i get from my many Manc tw*t mates

Oh aye. Is he ready for the step up yet though? If we're honest though Arbeloa playing at RB is down to the limitations of the squad last year. I'm sure Rafa would prefer to have a capable left footed LB to play in the Nou Camp.

Arbeloa is a RB. I'd prefer a left footer to be honest for the left side - gives us more balance. He's bought Aurelio as a LB who else are you on about? Paletta has been mooted as going to Spain as well today so more cover will be needed in that department. Bottom line, Heinze imo is a better defender than Riise and just as good as an ageing Hyypia at CB so it would be a worthwhile investment.

He clearly is against any decent right winger