GWistooshort

From Sky Sports.............. Big guns chase Dutch gem Gunners and Reds in hunt for Castaigones By Gerrit van Leeuwen Last updated: 28th May 2009 Arsenal and Liverpool have joined the hunt for Luc Castaigones - rated as one of the finest young prospects in Europe. The 16-year-old starred in the recent Uefa Under-17 Championship when he finished as top scorer. A clutch of sides are showing a big interest in the Dutch youngster, but he is already tied down to a long-term deal at his club Feyenoord. But his agent has confirmed that interest is mounting and a deal could be set-up whereby he would be loaned back to Feyenoord. "The interest is known and clubs are willing to go really far," Arie Treffers told De Telegraaf. "We have sent everyone to Feyenoord. Luc and his parents prefer to stay at Feyenoord for now. "A construction where a big team would sign him and directly loan him out to Feyenoord could be an option." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5352139,00.html

From Sky Sports.............. No move for Martinez Bilbao yet to receive a bid for midfielder By Francisco Acedo Last updated: 28th May 2009 Athletic Bilbao insist they have received no approach from Liverpool for Javi Martinez. The midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield of late, with Rafa Benitez reported to be ready to return to Spain in search of new recruits. The Reds are believed to have had scouts run the rule over 20-year-old Martinez on a number of recent outings, and have been suitably impressed by what they have seen. A big-money move has been widely touted, but Bilbao claim no such offer has been forthcoming. "We know there is interest from some clubs in Javi Martinez, and that Liverpool have sent scouts to matches, but the club has received no bids," a spokesman for the Basque club told skysports.com. "We have no intention of selling him, but it is normal that we will study any offers that are made." Martinez, meanwhile, has admitted that he would welcome the prospect of a switch to Anfield. "The rumours are not affecting me. I am very calm," he said. "If an offer is received, then I will speak with the club. "Liverpool are a great club with a great history and any player would like to be in their squad." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5352243,00.html

From Sky Sports.............. Croatian keen on Reds move Winger could not turn down Liverpool switch Last updated: 28th May 2009 Hereenveen winger Danijel Pranjic has admitted he would not be able to turn down a move to Liverpool. Reds boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with the Croatian international as he looks to bolster his squad for next season. Pranjic has enjoyed a fine season with Heerenveen, scoring 16 goals and helping them win the Dutch Cup for the first time in their history. The 27-year-old admits he would favour a move to Spain above England but concedes he could not ignore Liverpool if they came calling this summer. "For me it is really, really incredible if I imagine I can play for Liverpool," Pranjic told Sky Sports News. "It is a dream for every player, it is the biggest club in England. "I am very fast, I can run a lot and I think that is what you need in England. "If I can choose between England or maybe Spain, I would choose Spain because I like that kind of football, that kind of life. "I like good weather and in England it is always raining and that is what I don't like about England. "But if Liverpool come for me of course I cannot say no." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5352979,00.html

Gourcuff has signed a four-year deal with Bordeaux http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11800_5352882,00.html

Shrewsbury Town's Liverpool-born assistant manager John McMahon heads a shortlist of possible replacements for Ablett and Benitez is hoping to make an appointment to the post at the earliest possible opportunity. The Reds boss has been unhappy with the standard of young players being produced by Liverpool ever since his arrival at Anfield in the summer of 2004. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-23732609/

From the official site.......... RAFA: SAMI'S DEPARTURE COULD BE CHANCE Jimmy Rice 28 May 2009 Rafa Benitez has revealed how Sami Hyypia's departure this summer could open the first-team door for one of the club's young defenders. England youth international Martin Kelly and Spanish U21 Mikel San Jose are among a clutch of budding centre-backs waiting in the wings. While Benitez is refusing to rule out adding to his defensive ranks this summer, the boss is set to include several youngsters in his pre-season plans. "We will see the young players in pre-season and we can work on different scenarios," Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv. "We will see all of them and after decide. They are young players with a great future here. "We will see - it depends on them and also it depends on whether we can find someone in the market who can be good for us at the right price." http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...090528-0854.htm

Opens 1 July Deals can be done before then, but the player can only move to his new team when the window is open

A round-up of today's transfer speculation from the mainstream media concerning us or players we have recently been linked with Ryan Babel The Daily Mail says Spain or Italy seem to be Babel's likeliest destinations, with Liverpool's valuation of at least £8m pricing him out of a return to Holland, although "sources close to him" suggest he might still want to prove himself in England & the article claims Spurs could be tempted. The Daily Telegraph says Liverpool want £11m for Babel & may offer him to Aston Villa in exchange for Gareth Barry, who despite Villa's offer of a new contract "is known to want Champions League football". Xabi Alonso Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claims Juventus are set to renew their interest in Alonso, according to the Daily Mail. Javi Martinez The Daily Mirror claims that Rafa wants Athletic Bilbao midfielder Martinez "as a long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso". Apparently Bilbao want around £10m for Martinez, but Liverpool want to thrash out "a cut-price deal". Martinez himself said "Any player would want to be part of such a good squad". Antonio Valencia Sky Sports reports that Wigan winger Valencia, who has been linked with Liverpool in previous articles, says he is happy at Wigan & the rumours linking him with other clubs "is just speculation". Transfer window shuts: 5pm 31 August 2009

Departures of Ablett, McAuley, & under-16 & under-14s coaches Shannon & Lever confirmed by Liverpool Daily Post http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...92534-23730822/

If that's his interview from the day before, he said "It's clear that if we wish to secure his [Tevez's] rights and enter into a personal contract with him that we need to pay a certain sum. That is £25.5m. It's a decision we are now assessing. Our honest opinion in the current economic climate is that it is a bit toppy but that's not to say we won't pay that. Other clubs may be prepared to pay that, or more, so we have to understand that we operate in a certain marketplace." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...nchester-united They were reportedly previously arguing for a reduction in the £25.5m fee, but appear to have accepted now that they have to pay the full amount. But I don't think it's a given that Tevez is staying - Man Utd have accepted that's what they have to pay if they want to keep him, which they think is too much, & they are currently deciding if they want to keep him Not sure it will get dragged out til 30 June - Gill, whom as you said seems pretty straight forward, said "He [Tevez] is out of contract on the 30th of June and he will want to understand where he is playing next season well in advance of going on holiday and having a well-deserved break. It is in everyone's interests to be resolved and I think it will be pretty quickly." Tevez has also to agree personal terms & I don't think that's a certainty by any means if the reports that he "is known to be disillusioned" with Utd & "humiliated by the disclosure that the club no longer values him as highly as two years ago". http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...nchester-united I imagine it is only the £25.5m final fee that will come out of their summer budget as the other £9.5m for the 2 loan seasons will have been paid already.

Definitely no need to apologise

Mine, Andriy's or Zak's?

Hope you are training hard over the summer so you're ready in time for pre-season

Bent £16.5m Modric £15.5m Bent's reportedly for sale despite being their top scorer this season with 17 goals in 28 starts, probably at a serious discount on what they paid for him Can't see them selling Modric unless they got a £20m+ offer & only then cos Redknapp's been told he has to sell before he can buy & he says they are still a few players short of where he wants to be

"Torres’ strike against Spurs on Sunday was his 50th for Liverpool as he became the sixth fastest player in Anfield history to reach that landmark. He is not about to rest on his laurels though, having already targeted the bringing up of a century of goals in even quicker time. Looking ahead to next season, Liverpool’s record signing is hoping that a clean bill of health will give him an even better chance of achieving his individual and team targets. But first is the Confederations Cup. “Now I want to keep scoring. I have my first 50 and this makes me really happy but now I want the next 50. “The main thing for me now is to forget the injuries and then if I can play every game in the next season it will be even better for me.” http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-23723842/2/

Fernando's been named the Liverpool Echo Sports Personality of the Year "Torres’ strike against Spurs on Sunday was his 50th for Liverpool as he became the sixth fastest player in Anfield history to reach that landmark. He is not about to rest on his laurels though, having already targeted the bringing up of a century of goals in even quicker time. Looking ahead to next season, Liverpool’s record signing is hoping that a clean bill of health will give him an even better chance of achieving his individual and team targets. But first is the Confederations Cup. He added: “It is not easy to score 50 goals, especially when you are just in your second season at a club so I am very proud that I have done this. “But it is thanks to my team mates I have done this because they create my chances and support me every week. “Now I want to keep scoring. I have my first 50 and this makes me really happy but now I want the next 50." http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-23723842/2/

From Sky Sports............... Swans out of McCarthy chase Martinez admits £4million price tag is beyond club's reach Last updated: 27th May 2009 Swansea City boss Roberto Martinez admits it would be 'impossible' for the club to sign Hamilton Academical wonderkid James McCarthy. Championship side Swansea are among the clubs to have shown an interest in the teenage midfielder after an impressive season in the SPL. Celtic and Portsmouth are reported to have seen bids turned down for McCarthy, while there has been speculation that the Swans are willing to pay £4million. However, Martinez concedes the club are not in a position to compete for the signing of McCarthy at the figures being quoted. "It would be fantastic if we could pay £4m for a player and I hope one day we will be able to put bids like that in," Martinez told the South Wales Evening Post. "But right now James McCarthy would be an impossible task for us financially." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_5350384,00.html

Brazil That's the only one I can answer

No option to withdraw Fernando or any of our other players that are called up as it's a FIFA tournament It's in South Africa from 14-28 June Spain are in a group with Iraq, New Zealand & South Africa & play their 3 group matches in 6 days (14, 17 & 20 June) I think it's fairly safe to say they will finish in the top 2 in their group so will progress in the tournament Semi-finals on 24 & 25 June Final & 3rd/4th place play-off on 28 June The other teams in the competition are Brazil, Egypt, Italy & the USA http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/index.html In the UK all matches will be shown live on BBC3 for those who can get it

You could also add Voronin to the sales - the Daily Post reckons Hertha Berlin had the option to buy him at £4m I think the fee for Tevez is unlikely to be less than the £25.5m that Man Utd confirmed yesterday that they have to pay for him I think Johnson will probably cost more than £8m given he signed a new contract just a few months ago, but Portsmouth are reported to be having some financial difficulties & looking to sell

Afraid not - he was nearly 21 when he joined us To qualify he needs to have been registered with us for 3 entire seasons or 36 months between the ages of 15-21

It's that time of year again................ A round-up of today's transfer speculation from the mainstream media concerning us or players we have recently been linked with Ryan Babel According to the Liverpool Daily Post Rafa has told Babel’s agent that "he can leave Liverpool". Ajax are thought to be "eager to re-sign Babel", although they "could be put off by the asking price", likely to be "around £8m", "& the player’s wages", while Arsenal, Aston Villa & Spurs "have all been linked with a summer move for Babel". He "is also certain to attract interest from Italy & Spain, with Benitez open to the possibility of using the 22-year-old as a makeweight to facilitate a possible big-money transfer". Xabi Alonso A number of papers, including The Independent, state that in his newly released autobiography, Carlo Ancelotti reports he has told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich he should sign Xabi Alonso to give his team "more quality in the middle of the pitch", which they need. Andrea Dossena The Daily Telegraph says reports in Italy claim Dossena is a target for Napoli & Sampdoria, but that sources close to the player, who is believed to be willing to remain in England to fight for his place, say he is happy at Anfield. Sebastian Leto The Liverpool Daily Post reports that Liverpool are "likely" to sell Leto if he is refused a work permit once again this summer, although Rafa says he "does not want him to go". David Wheater The Daily Telegraph claims Rafa "is hoping to revive his interest in Middlesbrough defender David Wheater", whom he "tried to sign...last summer & enquired about [again]...in January", following Boro's relegation. "With funds at Anfield at a premium" Liverpool would be "unwilling to pay" the £9m Birmingham were quoted last week for Wheater, who would be signed as a back-up. Carlos Tevez The Guardian says Man Utd appear to be losing their battle to persuade Kia Joorabchian to lower the £25.5m price for Tevez to below £20m, although they will try again in a meeting with Joorabchian pencilled in for next week. Tevez "is known to be disillusioned" & "humiliated by the disclosure that the club no longer values him as highly as two years ago". "Real Madrid have already offered Joorabchian a £40m package for Tevez" & "a number of English clubs, led by Manchester City, have also expressed a firm interest", although Liverpool are not specifically mentioned in this article. Brede Hangeland The BBC reports that Fulham defender Hangeland, who has been linked with Liverpool in previous articles, says "there is nothing to suggest" he won't be playing for Fulham next season after being asked about speculation linking him to other clubs.

Emile was £11m http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/heskey/

The Daily Telegraph 27 May 2009 European clubs face uneven prize-money playing field By Paul Kelso The gap between the Champions League elite and their domestic rivals across Europe will widen next season as Uefa aims to secure a massive €300 million (£263.5m) increase in annual revenue. Manchester United prepare to defend their title against Barcelona on Wednesday night in a competition that again saw three English clubs reach the semi-finals, the prospect of even greater returns will further fuel concerns that the Champions League is distorting national competition. Telegraph Sport understands that Uefa's internal forecasts predict a 35 per cent increase in Champions League commercial and broadcast income for 2009-12, taking gross income to more than €1.1bn, an increase of around €300m on the €820m or so generated in each of the last three seasons. Currently Uefa distributes almost €600m to the 32 clubs competing in the Champions League group stage, but that figure could rise to more than €800m from next season, heightening fears that the financial gap between the European elite and their domestic competitors is too wide. If Uefa hits its targets the increased revenue will have a profound effect. Should Manchester United win in Rome on Wednesday night they will bank a cheque for around €45m along with a fourth European Cup, cementing their place as both the richest and most successful club in England. Next season progress to the quarter-finals might be good enough to match that figure, and outright victory could take their earnings close to €60m. That is almost as much as the Premier League's bottom club West Bromwich Albion took from Premier League TV revenue this season, illustrating the huge disparities now operating in domestic leagues. The situation is even more acute outside England, where domestic revenue is shared less evenly, though English clubs are favoured by Uefa's distribution method, which rewards clubs from Europe's most lucrative TV markets most highly. Around half of the total money distributed to Champions League clubs – approximately €300m this season and as much as €400m next year – is awarded on the basis of results. The other half is dependent on the national share of the broadcast market. Last season England's 'big four' shared 21 per cent of the television market pool, just over €58m. Were that ratio repeated next season, and their success in three of four clubs reaching the semi-finals be repeated, they could split as much as €100m. Culture secretary Andy Burnham and FA chairman Lord Triesman have both voiced concerns this season that financial disparity is affecting the competitive balance of English football, and such dramatic increases in Champions League revenue will amplify the issue. Regular Champions League football has helped United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal render the upper-reaches of the Premier League predictable, with only Everton breaching their dominance since England's Champions League representation rose to four. The concern among their domestic competitors is that European success becomes self-perpetuating, providing additional income sufficient to fend off challengers in all but exceptional circumstances. The distorting impact of the Champions League is also an uncomfortable truth for Uefa president Michel Platini, who has made his distaste for the financial disparities of the modern game, and the excesses of some English clubs, a theme of his presidency. He has criticised the debt burden carried by United, Liverpool and Chelsea following overseas takeovers, but his organisation's flagship club competition provides a regular shot in the arm for the same clubs. Platini's response has been to increase "solidarity payments" to those clubs that do not qualify for the Champions League. From next season almost €100m will be shared by national associations and professional clubs, but its impact will not guarantee a more level playing field. Domestic champions who do not reach the group stage of the Champions League will receive a direct payment, ensuring that they have an edge over their rivals even without qualifying. Platini is also in talks with the European Clubs Association in an attempt to persuade them to distribute the elite revenue more evenly. It is a laudable aim but no-one is holding their breath. The reality is that the power lies with the clubs whose teams generate the huge public interest in the competition, and games like Wednesday night's will do nothing to shift that balance. Prize Money This season Uefa will distribute almost €600m to the 32 Champions League clubs. Approximately half is distributed on merit and the other half on the basis of national TV market-share. Merit payments 07/08 total: €308m Starting fee: €3m Match bonus: €400,000 per game Group stage performance bonus €600,000 per win, €300,000 per draw. Knock-out round bonuses: Last 16 €2.2m; quarter-finals €2.5m; semi-finals €3m; runner-up €4m; winner €7m. TV pool shared by competing clubs (2007/08 total €277m): England 21%, Italy 21, Germany 13, Spain 13, France 11, Scotland 2. English clubs 2007-08 Champions League earnings (€): Man Utd (winner) 43m, Chelsea 36m, Liverpool 26m, Arsenal 23m. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...ying-field.html

Like the reference to Liverpool in this quote from Abramovich recounted by Ancelotti in the book........ "Abramovich wanted to know everything about me, my way of working, my philosophy," writes Ancelotti, referring to an early meeting with the Russian last year at a hotel near Geneva. "He was and still is looking for a team with a precise identity. 'Like Manchester United, Liverpool, Milan, certainly not like my Chelsea." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/ma...i-chelsea-milan