GWistooshort

Today's Liverpool-related transfer rumours........ Daniel Agger Several papers report that Rafa will hold talks with Agger, either to “clarify [Agger’s] future intention”, according to the Liverpool Daily Post, or so Rafa can give Agger “a dressing down” for the talks taking place without the club’s permission, according to the Daily Mail. The Daily Post says that Liverpool “acknowledge that Agger’s agent, Per Steffersen, could have visited Milan without the player’s permission” & that sources in Denmark yesterday indicated it “may ultimately amount to little more than posturing on Steffersen’s behalf”. The Daily Mail reports that Steffensen has made the following comment about his meeting with AC Milan: “It is not true we were talking about a contract for Daniel. I was there to try and build up a relationship with the club.” Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that Rafa, who is “desperate” to keep the player, has “recommended that Agger be offered a deal that satisfies his demands” & has “pleaded with the Anfield board” to make the defender “an offer he can't refuse”. The article says Hicks & Gillett “have been reluctant to even entertain Agger's wage demands of around £60,000 a week, which would more than double his salary”, leaving the player, who “is one of the less well paid members of the squad & wants equal billing with some of the bigger name stars”, “seriously considering buying himself out of the deal [his contract] in the summer, under EU law”. The Daily Telegraph says that AC Milan are also looking at Roma's French centre back Philippe Mexes, who they will target if they sell Kaka to Man City. Jermaine Pennant The Daily Mail claims Portsmouth have made a £2m bid for Pennant & “hope to open negotiations over the weekend”, while the Mirror says Real Madrid “have made a fresh move” to sign Pennant “on loan until Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in June”. However, the Mirror says Liverpool are “unlikely” to allow Pennant, who has also been offered a pre-contract with AC Milan, to go on loan “unless he agrees to a 12-month contract extension at Anfield”.

& this from the Mirror............ Liverpool must tie up Daniel Agger contract, warns Rafa Benitez By David Maddock 16/01/2009 Rafa Benitez has pleaded with the Anfield board to make Daniel Agger an offer he can't refuse. The Liverpool manager is desperate to keep the Danish centre-half at the club in the face of mounting pressure from AC Milan. Agger's agent, Per Steffersen, was pictured this week having lunch with the Italian club's sporting director Ariedo Braida at a high-profile restaurant in the city. Reports suggest Milan are prepared to offer the defender upwards of £70,000 a week, and there is even speculation in Denmark that a deal worth around £7.5m has been agreed. Liverpool's American owners have been reluctant to even entertain Agger's wage demands of around £60,000 a week, which would more than double his salary. But the defender has only 18 months left on his contract, and he is seriously considering buying himself out of the deal in the summer, under EU law. That would leave Liverpool out of pocket on a player they rate highly, and Benitez has recommended that Agger be offered a deal that satisfies his demands. Agger is one of the less well paid members of the squad, and wants equal billing with some of the bigger name stars. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21045149/

From this morning's Liverpool Daily Post.............. Rafa Benitez seeks clarification from Daniel Agger over future Jan 16 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post RAFAEL BENITEZ is likely to seek further talks with Daniel Agger to clarify the Denmark international’s future intentions. Liverpool are unhappy the centre-back’s agent was spotted in conversation with AC Milan officials this week without the Serie A side having been given consent to hold any talks. The Anfield outfit acknowledge that Agger’s agent, Per Steffersen, could have visited Milan without the player’s permission. Indeed, sources in Denmark yesterday indicated the latest development may ultimately amount to little more than posturing on Steffersen’s behalf. But with Milan reportedly preparing an £8.5million bid for the 24-year-old, Liverpool manager Benitez will want to know whether Agger is contemplating a move away from Anfield. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...-64375-22705658

According to the Daily Mail Agger's agent has said the following re his meeting with AC Milan "It is not true we were talking about a contract for Daniel. I was there to try and build up a relationship with the club." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...pool-clash.html

How true is that!

Unfortunately for City I think it'll take more than £100m.......................

Tony Barrett on Agger from today's Liverpool Echo............. "While Agger has been busy doing rehabilitation work at Melwood his agent has been spotted holding talks with representatives of AC Milan in Italy. Per Steffersen was pictured having a lunch meeting with Milan’s sporting director Ariedo Braida and agent Rino Foschi at Giannino, a restaurant which is regularly used by officials of the Serie A club and which consistently attracts the attentions of paparazzi photographers. With Agger having entered the final 18-months of his current Liverpool deal and no sign on progress being made on contract talks there will inevitably be concern that his agent has held a meeting with one of Liverpool’s European rivals. Agger has consistently made it clear that he sees his future only at Anfield and sources in Denmark have indicated to the ECHO that the latest development is likely to amount to little more than posturing on Steffersen’s behalf. But Benitez is well aware that Agger would become a hot property should Liverpool fail to agree a deal with the stylish defender and is keen to get him tied to a new long term contract as soon as possible" http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-22699309/2/

From the Liverpool Daily Post this morning............ “Liverpool could take action over what may be construed as an illegal approach, but are more likely to be worried by the events”. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-22697022/

You haven't had much luck with your usernames, have you? If Agger does leave, whatever you do please don't put Fernando in your username

Media reports are that a fee of £32m (minus the loan fee already paid) was agreed at the start of the loan, but that Man U now don't want to pay that much or possibly are no longer interested in keeping Tevez - Benzema has been mentioned recently as a possible target

I think a lot of non-Reds still base their opinion of Skrtel on his performance in his first match (v H&W where he had a bit of a shocker)

Mark Hughes saying these reports are incorrect http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle5521621.ece

Reports coming in that Man City have withdrawn their offer & are "now pursuing another striker which it is very close to signing", someone "also based in Serie A, but not in the Kaka league". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...d-for-Kaka.html

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger looks set to swap Anfield for the San Siro By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 1:06 AM on 15th January 2009 Daniel Agger looks to be on his way out of Anfield after his agent began negotiations with AC Milan yesterday. After Agger failed to reach agreement with Liverpool over a new contract, his future took a dramatic turn when his representative Per Steffensen met San Siro sporting director Ariedo Braida and Italian agent Rino Foschi for lunch in Milan. Central defender Agger, a £5.5million signing from Brondby, is unhappy that he does not play more regularly and is also in a stalemate over his demand for wages of around £60,000 a week. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...d-San-Siro.html

Fresh doubts over Daniel Agger's Anfield future Jan 15 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post FRESH doubts have emerged over Daniel Agger’s Liverpool future after his agent met with AC Milan representatives. The Serie A side have been persistently linked with a move for the Denmark international during the transfer window, with talks having stalled over a new contract at Anfield. Milan are desperate to inject fresh blood into an ageing defence and are believed to be preparing an £8.5million bid for Agger. And the news the player’s agent, Per Steffensen, has been spotted in discussions with officials from the Italian giants will alarm Liverpool. Steffensen met in a city centre restaurant, Giannino, with Milan’s general sporting director Ariedo Braida and the agent Rino Foschi. Liverpool could take action over what may be construed as an illegal approach, but are more likely to be worried by the events. Rafael Benitez has previously stated he does not want the 24-year-old to leave, having declared an intention to keep his squad intact with the Anfield outfit leading the Premier League and through to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Agger, who was signed for £5.8m from Brondby three years ago, was sidelined for almost a year after breaking a metatarsal in September 2007, and struggled to regain his first-team place immediately after a return to fitness. It was during that time the centre-back, who has less than 18 months remaining on his current deal, hinted he could buy out the remainder of his contract at the end of the season under the landmark Webster agreement. Liverpool subsequently opened negotiations over a new deal, but Agger has since revealed his concern that talks have been held up despite the player expressing a desire to remain at Anfield. Agger was not part of the 18-man squad for last Saturday’s goalless draw at Stoke City, although his absence was because of a slight calf problem. The Denmark international will be hoping to regain his place for Monday’s Merseyside derby at home to Everton after seeing Martin Skrtel make his first start in three months at the weekend. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-22697022/

Today's Liverpool-related transfer rumours........ Daniel Agger The Daily Mail, the Guardian, the Liverpool Daily Post & the Times all report that Agger’s agent Per Steffensen met AC Milan officials in the Italian city yesterday raising fresh doubts about the player’s long-term future at Anfield. According to the Guardian “Liverpool's suspicion [is] that Steffensen is seeking to engineer a move for Agger before the end of the month or, more likely, at the end of the season”. The Daily Post says “Liverpool could take action over what may be construed as an illegal approach, but are more likely to be worried by the events”. The Guardian reports that “negotiations between Steffensen & Liverpool…have been fraught for several months”, with claims Agger “is unhappy that he does not play more regularly” (Mail) & that he wants increased wages of around £60,000 (Mail) - £70,000 (Guardian) a week, although the Times reports that Liverpool have offered him about £70,000 a week. According to the Times “AC Milan were last night set to make a new £7.5m bid” for Agger, while the Daily Post says they “are believed to be preparing an £8.5m bid”, with the Times saying that they “are confident of completing the deal this week” & “remain certain that the deal can be done”. Emile Heskey Quoting Wigan chief executive Brenda Spencer the BBC reports that Heskey “has told Wigan he will see out his contract & stay with the club until the summer”. The Daily Mail claim Heskey “is destined for Liverpool in the summer”. Paul Hanlon The Guardian says Liverpool will send scouts to watch St Johnstone's 18-year-old left-back Paul Hanlon in the next 10 days.

Man City try to buy Kaka for £100m while Real Madrid try to buy Pennant The world truly has been turned on its head

They weren't mine, but from the Liverpool Daily Post which does a transfer rumour round-up about once a week or so I'll post them here when the Daily Post does them

Today's Liverpool-related transfer rumours........ Sami Hyypia/Daniel Agger According to the Daily Mail Liverpool are ready to offer Hyypia another 12-month contract “in the wake of growing concerns over Daniel Agger's Anfield future”, after talks about a new contract have stalled over Agger’s request that his wages be doubled to around £60,000 a week & with AC Milan who “will be rebuffed in efforts to sign Agger this month”, willing “to sit tight & meet the Denmark centre back's pay demands in the summer”. Gareth Bale The Guardian Rumour Mill claims that Liverpool are interested in Spur’s Gareth Bale. Hérita Ilunga The Mirror & the Times both claim Liverpool are interested in Hérita Ilunga, the Toulouse left back who is currently on a season-long loan at West Ham, with the Times reporting that Aston Villa are also monitoring him. The Times states that West Ham have 1st option on Ilunga for a fee of about £1.9m, but the Mirror says “Liverpool have made enquiries over the terms of his contract & whether they could sign him from under West Ham's noses”, although it believes the fee is £3m. Andrea Dossena The Mirror says Rafa “has not been impressed” by Dossena, who “could return to Italy during the transfer window”. Adam Hammill Sky Sports says it “understands” that Liverpool are planning to loan out Hammill again during this transfer window because Rafa wants him to gain more first-team experience so that he will “be ready to challenge for a place in his [Liverpool’s] first-team next season”. According to Sky Sports, “sides from the Championship, SPL and some European teams” are “believed to have made enquiries about Hammill's availability”.

The Times had a go at this yesterday & predicted Man U would get 49 points from their remaining 19 games, we would get 41 points from our remaining 17 games & Chelsea would get 37 points from their remaining 17 games meaning Man U would finish 1st with 90 points, we would finish 2nd with 87 points & Chelsea 3rd with 79 points See their working out at http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/pdfs/sport...edseasyride.pdf

Some papers are reporting £100m while others are reporting €100m (£91m) The discrepancy in the reported wages offered seem to be whether the figures quoted are before tax (£500,000/week) or after tax (approx £250,000/week or £15m/year) The deal's looking likely according to the Independent............. £100m: City in record bid for Milan's Kaka Eastlands club on brink of completing astonishing deal for Brazilian superstar By Ian Herbert and Jason Burt Wednesday, 14 January 2009 Manchester City have launched football's most astonishing transfer bid – a world record £100m cash offer to Milan for Kaka, which City were highly confident last night would succeed in bringing the Brazilian to Eastlands. A source close to the negotiations told The Independent last night that the deal was "99 per cent done" following a meeting in which City's executive chairman Garry Cook and two representatives of Sheikh Mansour al-Nahyan tabled a bid plus an offer of £15m a season wages to entice the player. Though Milan have provided no official sense of whether Kaka is leaving, a report on the website of Mediaset, the media company owned by Milan proprietor Silvio Berlusconi, reported that the offer "would be difficult for Milan to turn down." The carefully worded statement is understood to have been seen and approved by Berlusconi and City. The incredible sums on offer are, it seems, likely to swing the deal. Berlusconi has recently insisted that Kaka is not for sale at any price and a brief, untimed statement by him on Mediaset's website said that he "hopes" Kaka will stay. But this statement suggested otherwise. "This time they [Manchester City] are here for real," it said. "They want Kaka at whatever cost. City moved to open the transfer bid. [City] have always wanted Kaka as their main target to relaunch an all-star squad which is capable of competing with their cousins [Manchester] United, the world champions." Also present at the meeting were Ernesto Bronzetti, Milan's commercial director, who has responsibility for transfers, and Kia Joorabchian. Joorabchian, who has been working independently of Manchester City in the deal through his company Sport Invest, has been urging this offer for weeks. The businessman, who was instrumental in bringing Robinho to Eastlands has, as The Independent revealed last month, urged Cook to embark on the policy of attempting bringing a single mega-star to City, rather than to head down the route which Chelsea followed – of attracting many lower bracket players like Hernan Crespo, Juan Sebastian Veron and others. Joorabchian has told City that a player of Kaka's calibre now will help open the door to others such as Gianluigi Buffon, David Villa and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer. Kaka was always the top target identified by Joorabchian, who confirmed to The Independent last night that the figures quoted by Mediaset were accurate. Though City's new Arab owners have always been behind the plan, also advocated by the influential agent Pini Zahavi, there were initial suggestions that Mark Hughes was less than enthusiastic and it has been a concern to Joorabchian that Cook and City's managing director, Paul Aldridge, may prefer to head down Hughes' route of hiring proven Premier League players for the difficult months ahead. "They are going for a big player," a source, who has been involved in the discussions, said in December. "If they really want to be a big club and move to a new level they need to get a big player in and that would mean one of Kaka, Messi, Ronaldo or Tevez, because of his availability. Unless a player like that can be signed then it will be a struggle and the sooner it is done the better, which means trying to do so in January. Then others will follow." Many in Italy still consider it inconceivable that Kaka will leave Milan for a labouring City side. But there is a school of thought that Berlusconi has sanctioned David Beckham's arrival to give fans the sense that there is a new superstar to take the place of the outgoing one. Kaka has publicly expressed a desire to play in the Premier League and is known to have had discussions with Robinho about a move to City. The £32m man's presence would be a huge part of the draw for Kaka and, as things currently stand, his signing in the summer is looking a more vital part of City's development plans than ever. If the Kaka offer does fail, City's bid for a megastar would appear to be labouring. John Terry is very much in that bracket, though the prospect of him leaving Stamford Bridge is remote in the extreme. Villa is equally reluctant to leave Valencia. That is why City are so delighted about the way yesterday's meeting went. One view in Italy has it that Kaka will be persuaded that his future might lie elsewhere because he is no longer the most beloved player at San Siro. That position is filled by Pato these days. A move of such proportions would dwarf the £48m that Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001 – and delight Sheih Mansour. Rumour has been rife around Eastlands that the Sheikh has been looking for a "present" to himself and the club, capable of raising its profile as Robinho's arrival did in September. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ka-1334461.html

Fernando reckons he & Keane can play together & will start most matches together............ Torres - I can play with Keane Spanish ace believes partnership will come good for Reds By Elliot Ball Last updated: 13th January 2009 Fernando Torres has refuted claims that he and Robbie Keane cannot forge an effective partnership for Liverpool. The Spanish striker, who has declared himself ready to help the Reds cause after a season troubled by repeated hamstring injuries, insisted there was no reason why he and Keane could not form a formidable partnership. "Yes, sure we can play together - but the boss (Rafa Benitez) decides, he's the manager and he's a fantastic manager," Torres said, after finishing third in FIFA's World Player of the Year award. "Sometimes not all the players can play together in the same team. But I have played with Robbie a lot of times and we've scored goals when we've played together. "I think we are going to play together, depending on the game." Torres confessed he is desperate to make an impact in the second half of the season after a frustrating first half of the campaign. Ready He added: "I feel much better, and I hope to come back to play in the first XI as soon as possible. Then I can forget the injuries and start to play again for Liverpool who are in a very good position this year. "I don't know if I can play 90 minutes yet but for sure I can be in the squad, but of course I want to be in the first XI. "I didn't do pre-season properly after the Euros, the season started too soon and you are trying to keep the best physical stamina but it's difficult when you have to play three games a week. Now I want to stay a perfect 100 per cent, and not get injured again." The 24-year-old denied that Liverpool's apparent sticky patch has allowed Manchester United to catch back up, with the European Championship winner instead eying the two clashes against Everton to reaffirm their dominance. Confidence Torres said: "I don't think so, and we now have two derbies which are big games for the city and for Liverpool. "If we can win the derby in the league we can stay in first position and then afterwards if we win again in the FA Cup it gives us a lot confidence. I think two consecutive derbies is not a bad moment for Liverpool. "We are top of the table and we have to enjoy that." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,116...?20090113164412

Barry said last month that if Villa qualify for the Champions League he wouldn't want to leave: "That would be a massive achievement for this club," Barry told Sky Sports News when asked about the possibility of Villa breaking the monopoly of Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. "If I am playing Champions League football, there is no need to look elsewhere. "That would have to be a definite. I don't want to be eating my own words." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_4626152,00.html

Real Madrid's appeal has failed............... Real rebuffed in appeal bid Liga giants can only register one January signing in Europe Last updated: 13th January 2009 Real Madrid's attempts to register both Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra for the knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League have failed. The Liga giants launched an appeal after being told they can register only one of their new signings as both had played in European competition for their respective clubs Ajax and Portsmouth. Uefa's appeals body said on Tuesday the Spanish club's request "to be able to register two players who have already competed in Uefa competition this season" had been rejected. Regulations state Champions League clubs can register up to three new players for the knockout rounds by 1st February, but only one who has already played this season in Europe elsewhere. Juande Ramos' side, who tackle Premier League leaders Liverpool in the last 16 of the competition, are reportedly mulling over the possibility of taking the case all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in order to register the pair. http://www.ynwa.tv/forum/index.php?act=Pos...mp;qpid=2292887

Pennant agent denies move 13 January 2009 Jermaine Pennant's agent has laughed off suggestions the Liverpool winger could be on the way to the KC Stadium in the transfer window. Tigers manager Phil Brown has already expressed an interest in the former Arsenal wideman, for whom the Reds paid £6.7m two-and-a-half years ago. But speaking to the Mail, Pennant's representative Sky Andrew said his client was not interested in playing for any other top-flight club. He said: "Jermaine is still talking to Liverpool. "He does not want to play for another club in the Premier League and wants to stay with Liverpool." A proposed move to Real Madrid earlier in the transfer window reportedly floundered on the 25-year-old's wage demands. But it looks unlikely that Pennant has a future with the Anfield side who currently lead the Premier League table by four points from Chelsea. http://www.sporthull.co.uk/football/hull_c...le.php?ID=10426