GWistooshort

I think it's more people just saying that if Lennon's available, which he reportedly is, then perhaps we should go for him as an option for the wing I can't remember seeing us linked with him anywhere

No worries didn't think you were Just explaining to people why I didn't include it in case anyone thought I wasn't giving them all the transfer news

The Telegraph Premier League Transfer Talk article that came from is intended to be a compilation of all the transfer news for each Premier League club & includes speculation & rumours from other papers etc as well as from the Telegraph. The Daniel Alves mention came from the recent David Maddock Mirror article which was roundly criticised by many, including Rafa, as Alves is joining Barca, which is why I didn't bother including it.

While I'm not sure it's worth replacing Benayoun with Milner, on the whole when Rafa replaces one player with another the new player is usually better than the one they are replacing. It's also worth remembering the state of the squad when Rafa took over (Biscan, Traore, Cheyrou, Le Tallec, Diouf, Diao etc) & at least Rafa moves on players who haven't worked out (eg Morientes, Josemi, Kronkamp, Gonzalez, Paletta etc) pretty quickly, something Ged was very bad at. Also, the latest speculation is that our interest in Milner has cooled because Rafa thinks he's worth £5m & Newcastle want £9m, that's if we're even really interested in him in the 1st place

Reported to be £5m

Transfer news/speculation from this morning's papers...... Ajax have bid £5m for Yossi Benayoun & offered him an increase on his £30,000-a-week wages. Benayoun has said: 'I need to know what is going on because I thought I would be at Liverpool next season.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...s-Benayoun.html Liverpool have "stepped up their interest" in £12m Stewart Downing. Downing is a "top priority" for Rafa, "who believes he can prise him away" from Middlesborough. Gareth Southgate has said that Downing is "not for sale". http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more/2008/06...89520-20622617/ Boro are "bracing themselves" for an approach from Liverpool for Downing. While they want to keep Downing, "it would be difficult for him to resist the lure of the Champions League". Liverpool have told Portsmouth to revise the terms of the additional payments of their recent verbal offer for Peter Crouch of an initial £7m plus £2m depending on appearances, which was rejected. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4221781.ece The sale of Peter Crouch "does not look any closer to completion" because "there have been no firm indications to the player" that the reported interest of Arsenal, Spurs & Man City "is concrete, much less that a bid has been forthcoming". Reported Liverpool target David Bentley has told Blackburn's new manager Paul Ince that he still wants to leave the club at a meeting at the club's training ground on Wednesday. "Blackburn are privately resigned to selling the player if one of the four Champions League sides makes an offer" & have told Bentley that he can leave if one of the big 4 "make an acceptable offer" but "despite some preliminary interest from Liverpool that has not been followed up there is no evidence that the player is in demand." http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ave-855313.html Liverpool are expected to make a 4th offer for Gareth Barry with the clubs "expected to finalise the deal...this week". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm.../sfntra102a.xml Gary McAllister has refused to confirm whether Leeds are keen on signing Krisztian Nemeth & Astrit Ajdarevic on loan. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3742800,00.html Notts Forest have agreed a deal to take Paul Anderson on a season-long loan, with the player saying "I just felt it was the right move for me". http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...est/7475988.stm

From the official site...... REDS CLOSING ON DOSSENA DEAL Jimmy Rice 26 June 2008 Liverpool Football Club expect to complete the signing of left-back Andrea Dossena next week, chief executive Rick Parry has confirmed. A deal to bring the 26-year-old Udinese defender to Anfield is almost complete and is likely to be confirmed on the club's official website shortly. Parry said: "We are now ready to confirm the signing of Dossena. The deal should go through next week after finalising the paperwork." The full-back, who has one international cap to his name, will become the second new addition to Rafa Benitez's squad following the free transfer of Swiss defender Philipp Degen. Dossena is seen as an ideal replacement for John Arne Riise, who departed for Serie A side Roma last week. Parry continued: "John was an incredibly enthusiastic defender who was always a great pro. "He worked hard and never gave us a minute's trouble. The fans will remember that powerful shot of his that brought them to their feet on many occasions. "We had a good chat about his time here and he wants to thank the fans for the support he was given down the years. He secured Champions League and FA Cup success at Anfield and also helped us win the Worthington Cup and two European Super Cups." http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...080626-1526.htm

"This is Rafa, he said"

A bit more transfer news/speculation etc..... Steve Finnan, who is reportedly interesting Fulham, Aston Villa & West Brom, has said he is happy to fight for his place at Anfield. The article on Liverpool's official website also says in passing that Andrea Dossena is "set to...sign for Liverpool next week". http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...080626-0840.htm Spurs are "now hot favourites" to sign reported Liverpool target David Bentley, for whom they will offer Aaron Lennon plus £8m. Aston Villa have already "had a £15m bid for Bentley rejected". New Blackburn boss Paul Ince is "resigned to losing" Bentley having been unable persuade him to stay. Man City are also interested. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20621418/ Zenit St Petersburg have confirmed they have received a formal offer for Andrei Arshavin from Barcelona, whom Arshavin recently said it would be a "dream" to play for. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3738924,00.html

Transfer news from this morning's papers..... Aston Villa have decided not to buy Scott Carson "after an indifferent season’s form during last season’s loan spell". http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-bir...65233-21152453/ With Liverpool & Villa "unable to reach an agreement over Scott Carson’s asking price" any part-exchange for Gareth Barry involving Carson "now seems unlikely". Villa have turned their attentions to Paul Robinson. http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21152500/ Spurs have "joined the bidding for Peter Crouch" & are ready to offer £15m for Crouch & Yossi Benayoun. Spurs' offer includes "the full £9m asking price for Crouch" & "carries the greater appeal" for Rafa compared to Portsmouth's recent offer. However, Portsmouth still feel they are in "pole position" after "a clear signal from Crouch that Fratton Park remains his preferred destination" & are "confident" they can get him for £9m "at the most". Scott Carson is a target for Middlesbrough & Xabi Alonso is "edging closer" to a move to Juventus. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...h-Benayoun.html Arsenal are "considering a shock move for Peter Crouch" to replace striker Emmanuel Adebayor according to agent Vincenzo Morabito on Italian TV yesterday, with Mario Gomez & Roque Santa Cruz other alternatives. Liverpool "are willing to part with Crouch for around £12m", with Aston Villa also after Crouch as part of a deal for Gareth Barry. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...89520-20621440/ Man City have "emerged as serious rivals to Portsmouth" to sign Crouch, with Liverpool "prepared to lower the £15m asking price". Spurs' bid of Aaron Lennon plus £7m for reported Liverpool target David Bentley has been rejected. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/ju...ottenhamhotspur Man City have made an initial enquiry about Crouch attracted by his "recent European experience ahead of City’s UEFA Cup campaign", but are "determined not to pay over the odds" for him, which means that Liverpool "will have to lower their £15m valuation". Liverpool "are still waiting on an official bid" from City, who "still face stiff competition" from Portsmouth, whose manager Harry Redknapp "insists" Crouch "remains his number one striking target". http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverp...64375-21152502/ Valencia's Technical Secretary Juan Sanchez has confirmed receiving a number of offers for David Villa, saying yesterday that "a number of teams have come in with offers, more than are being spoken about [in the media]", although he didn't want to "mention names nor amounts of money". However, Sanchez said he doesn't expect Villa to leave Valencia, saying "I've got a feeling that in the end he'll stay – honestly" & "both [coach Unai] Emery and I think that he's going to stay" & that "we are not planning for the player to leave". Sanchez also confirmed that there is interest in David Silva, although so far "there has never been a definite offer laid on the table". http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footbal...ers-854218.html Andrei Arshavin "is reportedly bound for Barcelona". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle4214794.ece

My fault for not reading through what I'd written before posting it The article says that Villa's price tag for Barry is £20m & they are refusing to even discuss anything less than cash bids of £18m

More transfer news from the papers..... Peter Crouch "remains Portmouth's number one striking target, despite....having a £9m bid turned down" http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Portsmou...g39s.4220165.jp "Juventus officials were meeting in Turin today to discuss an increased offer for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. The Italians and Liverpool have been at stalemate over a proposed deal, with Juve’s initial offers well short of Liverpool’s asking price of £16m. But after today’s meeting of the Serie A side’s top brass, Claudio Ranieri hopes to be given the green light to meet the Reds’ demands." www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/25/juventus-chiefs-to-consider-improved-xabi-alonso-bid-100252-21148147/ Aston Villa will be told "to get real" by Liverpool over their £20m price tag for Gareth Barry as Rafa "looks to complete a deal" for Barry. But Liverpool are "still likely to find O’Neill at his stubborn best as he holds out for the top price for Barry". Peter Crouch is "a possible target" for Villa & "could yet form part of a player-plus-cash deal" for Barry. Villa don't believe their £18m valuation of Barry is unrealistic given they "do not want to sell the player in the first place". "For the first time Liverpool fear the deal could drag on far longer than intended unless a compromise is reached. As things stand, Barry may yet have to report back to Bodymoor Heath for pre-season training but he will hope to have secured a move by the time Liverpool’s Champions League qualifying campaign starts on August 12." Villa suspect Liverpool "may not have the sort of cash needed to land Barry" with "the credit crunch believed to be biting hard at Anfield" and O'Neill "is prepared to exploit that if he has to". Villa have also "enquired about Blackburn Rovers forward David Bentley", a reported Liverpool target. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21148835/ Villa are also lining up a move for Paul Robinson with no permanent transfer for Scott Carson. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-s...97319-21148907/

From today's Liverpool Echo..... Big dig starts on Liverpool FC's Stanley Park ground Jun 25 2008 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo WORK has finally begun on paving the way for the new Liverpool FC stadium. A licence issued by Liverpool council to Anfield officials prompted the start of preparatory work on the site on Monday. Construction company Laing O’Rourke moved into Stanley Park as the project was finally given the green light. Large hoardings are being erected along Anfield Road, between the ground and the park, and will soon surround the whole site. But no spades will go into the ground until September, when it’s claimed the main construction work is then scheduled to begin. However, an announcement on the major funding needed to complete the stadium is still to come from the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. The announcement of preliminary work has, nonetheless, been heralded by the Americans. Co-chairman Gillett said: “This is a significant milestone for the club and I am delighted that the design received full planning consent and that we are now on site. “The stadium design is unique and will be recognised across the world as the Liverpool FC stadium.” The owners have also claimed the stadium - initally planned at 60,000 seats - will be open for the start of the 2011-2012 season, even though they have so far only committed funding for the earliest stages of its ‘enabling’ and have only just started speaking to each other again following a long feud. Texas based Hicks said: “We recognise the importance of a new LFC stadium as part of the wider regeneration of the local area. “I am pleased that now the club has received full planning permission it can join the regeneration process with the commencement of enabling works.” Planning permission for the stadium was granted by Liverpool council in May, but approved consent was given only six days ago. Despite the go-ahead of groundwork, it remains unclear as to where the Americans will get the money from to actually build stadium, set to cost at least £300m. They borrowed most of the money to buy Liverpool in the first place - with a standing £350m loan due for refinancing next year and the club now liable to repay £30m a year on their borrowings.. If Hicks and Gillett were to borrow again to build the stadium, then given the global credit crunch, banks would expect the pair to put up a minimum one third deposit from them - around £100m. James McKenna, of fans group Spirit of Shankly, said: “We will believe it when we see it, when the new Kop is there in front of us.” http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-21148623/

Valencia aim to keep star duo No offers for Silva or Villa By Francisco Acedo Last updated: 25th June 2008 Valencia are determined to hang on to David Villa and David Silva following the Spanish duo's impressive Euro 2008 displays. Villa is currently the top scorer at the European Championship with four goals, while Silva impressed in Spain's quarter-final win over Italy. A string of Premier League clubs have been linked with a bid for Villa, with Barcelona and Real Madrid also monitoring the striker. Silva is also rumoured to be wanted in England, but Valencia president Agustin Morera plans to withstand any interest in his players. "Our intention is to avoid the departures of our big stars, even if other big clubs want to sign them," Morera told reporters. "We know there is interest from many clubs, but our stance is to reject any offers and begin the new season with all the players." Great player Valencia's technical secretary Juan Sanchez is also confident that predatory striker Villa will still be at the Mestalla when the transfer window closes. "I have the feeling that, ultimately, he is going to still be here," Sanchez told AS: "Really. "A lot has been said about him, but that is normal with such a great player and with what he is doing in the Euros." Sanchez also rejected rumours that Valencia have received an offer from Barcelona for Silva following speculation about the playmaker's future. He added: "We have heard things about him, but there has been no specific amount on the table, neither from Barcelona nor any other team." www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_3734618,00.html

According to the BBC Gossip Column Marca today says that Spurs are preparing to bid £25.2m for David Villa. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/g...ers/7472603.stm

Transfer news from this morning's papers...... Portsmouth won't increase their £9m offer for Peter Crouch, which has already been increased from £8m, but may be willing to restructure it. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1029195/Pompey-increase-9m-offer-Crouch-theyll-just-change-bit.html Portsmouth are "prepared to bid £10m" for Crouch. www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/24/portsmouth.liverpool Portsmouth offered an initial £7m for Crouch with a further £2m in add-ons governed by appearances for club & country, which they believed to be "generous" given he only has 1 year leaft on his contract. "Liverpool are believed to be holding out for £10m". www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Liverpool-snub-9m-Crouch-bid.4215342.jp Liverpool are holding out for at least £12m for Crouch. Tom Hicks has "assured" Rafa that "money will be made available for transfers this summer". & "that could see" Rafa "granted his dream of being able to bid for...David Villa and David Silva". Hicks is "hoping to persuade" Gillett that "the time has come to invest in the Anfield club in search of massive future profits". It seems that Hicks wants to at least try to raise some cash to allow Benitez to enter the transfer market because "he believes a successful Liverpool will be a more viable financial proposition". www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/06/25/liverpool-will-have-funds-to-bid-for-david-villa-and-david-silva-89520-20620153/ Rafa is "holding out for the right price for Peter Crouch" with Portsmouth considering a new £10m bid "that is closer to Liverpool’s asking price". Rafa's interest in James Milner "has cooled considerably" given Newcastle's £9m valuation. Rafa "was prepared to go to £7m including Danny Guthrie" for Milner, but "still intending to raise the cash to secure Gareth Barry’s transfer from Aston Villa and possibly David Silva from Valencia, he won’t break his policy of refusing to pay above the odds for a player with no significant Champions League or international experience". www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/25/alvaro-arbeloa-wants-cristiano-ronaldo-to-join-real-madrid-64375-21145618/ The "latest word" from Newcastle is that they are not looking to sell Milner. www.itv-football.co.uk/story/0,19239,6145_3732076,00.html Steve Finnan is being tracked by Aston Villa & West Brom. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/football/transfers/sfntra102a.xml Aston Villa have distanced themselves from claims they failed last week in a late bid to sign John Arne-Riise. Villa have also again been linked with a £15m move for David Bentley, a player thay do have "a serious interest in". www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2008/06/24/birmingham-city-connection-may-dent-aston-villa-bid-for-andrew-johnson-97319-21141549/ New Blackburn manager Paul Ince said yesterday that "if one of the top four came in [for Bentley] we'd have to sit down with the chairman and have a discussion. But if the players tell me they want to go and I say no, they will have to knuckle down and help this club go forward...it is important to keep the nucleus of the squad together and to keep your best players. Bentley and Santa Cruz are certainly two of those." Aston Villa are reported to have lodged an official bid for Bentley yesterday. www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/25/premierleague.blackburn2 Blackburn Chairman John Williams has said that if Ince doesn't want Bentley to leave, then like previous manager Mark Hughes, Ince will have his full support. Liverpool are "believed to be interested" in taking Bentley to Anfield. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3732218,00.html Bentley "is fancied by Aston Villa & Liverpool". www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/blackburn/article4207532.ece Giving an interview in English Andrei Arshavin has reiterated he would like to leave Zenit, saying "it's not a big difference between England and Spain. It's another level for me." He also said he thinks the Premier League is "the best league in the world". http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7470415.stm Arshavin has again spoken of his desire to play in Spain "I have supported Barcelona all my life," he said. "Barcelona are my dream. I never thought I would have a genuine chance to play for the club. Let's see how the situation unfolds. For now I can't say anything for sure." www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_3732606,00.html

Paul Anderson is keen to rejoin Swansea on loan next season www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3730908,00.html

Thanks for the kind words WillG & others Here's the news from the papers this afternoon..... The Liverpool Echo has confirmed that Liverpool have immediately rejected a £9m bid from Portsmouth for Peter Crouch, which they received last night, leaving Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp "stunned". Liverpool are "holding out for £10m, but Pompey seem unlikely to increase their offer". Despite speculation regarding the future of Yossi Benayoun, the Echo says "there is no suggestion that he is on the list of players Benitez is preparing to offload". www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/24/liverpool-reject-9m-portsmouth-bid-for-peter-crouch-100252-21141208/ The Echo also says that Rafa has today "rubbished" reports claiming he has demanded a £50m transfer fund, saying he has not spoken to any journalists & has no idea where the reports originated. Andrea Dossena will put pen to paper on a £7m transfer from Udinese "as soon as he returns from honeymoon". Rafa is also trying to reach agreement with Aston Villa over Gareth Barry’s transfer "as the next priority". www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/24/rafa-benitez-slams-50m-demand-100252-21141606/ Unconfirmed reports from Italy suggest that Villa made a late bid last week to sign John Arne-Riise, a player they have been monitoring "for some time". Riise is understood to have told them their last-gasp attempt came too late. It is "likely" Villa "would have been prepared to sign the Norway defender as part of the deal that should eventually take skipper Gareth Barry to Anfield". "Barry has taken a step back from the situation after admitting to O’Neill a fortnight ago he wanted to sign for Liverpool after 11 years at Villa" & "O’Neill is no longer dealing personally with Benitez". "Another bid was expected last week from Liverpool but never materialised." www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2008/06/24/martin-o-neill-s-failed-bid-for-john-arne-riise-97319-21140455/

I like the sound of that Pity about the source!

Transfer news from this morning's papers...... Liverpool have turned down a £9m bid from Portsmouth for Peter Crouch. The bid was £7m up front with the rest in extras. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1028887/Liverpool-snub-9m-Pompey-bid-England-striker-Crouch.html Rafa is "ready to press" Hicks & Gillett "for an answer on his transfer budget after lining up over £50m-worth of targets but fearing he will be denied the funds to bring them all to Anfield". He "wants to pursue his interest in Valencia pair David Villa and David Silva, as well as Aston Villa's England midfielder Gareth Barry, but has yet to receive any signal from co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett that their improving relationship will lead to more cash being made available". www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1028871/Rafa-waiting-verdict-50m-transfer-targets-Liverpools-American-owners.html Liverpool earned £21.1m from last season's Champions League TV & sponsorship money - a figure that does not include gate receipts or matchday revenue. www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/23/uefa.championsleaguepay Fulham have turned their attention to Middlesbrough's Luke Young, with their first choice full back Steve Finnan’s salary demands "prohibitive". www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4200450.ece Former Aston Villa captain David Platt has repeated his view that Gareth Barry should seize the chance to go to join Liverpool. Juventus "may now be prepared to offer" the £16m Liverpool are asking for Xabi Alonso. www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/aston-villa-fc/2008/06/24/platt-why-barry-should-seize-chance-to-move-to-liverpool-65233-21139356/ Liverpool are "still seemingly reluctant to come close" to Villa’s asking price of £18m for Barry with "little sign of progress" over the weekend. Scott Carson’s loan spell is now "unlikely" to be made into a permanent move. www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2008/06/23/martin-o-neill-steps-up-steve-sidwell-bid-97319-21135708/ Yossi Benayoun could become a makeweight in Barry's proposed move to Anfield. www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/24/tottenhamhotspur.premierleague Liverpool will "consider cashing in on" Benayoun if they receive any concrete offers. Benayoun has not previously been on the list of players Rafa is looking to offload "as he continues to seek the funds that will land him his targets". But with Portsmouth admitting an interest, while also expressing doubts over affording Crouch, Liverpool’s hand "could be forced", although Rafa "would prefer to retain Benayoun as a useful squad member". Man City & Middlesbrough are also reported to be interested, & with Liverpool’s attempts to raise money from other squad members "currently stalling", any hope of raising enough cash to sign both Barry & Silva could rest on what they could get for Benayoun, with a bid of £6m possibly enough. "No headway has been made in negotiations to agree a fee with Aston Villa for Scott Carson", while Liverpool have not met Villa's £18m valuation of Barry. Juventus are "expected" to make their move for Xabi Alonso. www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/24/benayoun-may-be-sold-to-raise-cash-64375-21139444/ Villa have had a £15mil bid for reported Liverpool target David Bentley rejected, having appeared in "pole position to sign" Bentley after opening discussions with his advisers. Man City, Spurs & Everton are also interested in the player. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1028877/Blackburn-reject-15m-Villa-bid-wantaway-winger-Bentley.html Guillame Balague says he "still thinks" David Villa's future "will probably be in Spain" & that Liverpool or Spurs are "not really an option...at this exact moment". www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?id=23 Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat has said that England & Spain "are the only two countries" that Andrei Arshavin "would like to play in", although the player himself was yesterday reported as saying he would turn down the offers he has from England because he wants to play in Spain. Advocaat also said "It is difficult to say which league would suit him best. We play more or less 4-3-3 and our wide players have a lot of freedom. I'm not sure other coaches will give him the freedom but you have to otherwise it's difficult to use him. He needs the freedom to do what he thinks is best for the team. I have worked with him for two years and he is a very talented player. He's just turned 27, he's very quick, he has an excellent shot on both legs and besides scoring he can also provide for other players." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7470415.stm Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has registered an interest in Arshavin & both Chelsea & Arsenal are ready to invoke the £10m release clause in his contract. Arshavin has begun taking English beginner classes to accelerate a move. Abramovich has reportedly advised new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari to end his interest in Deco, believed to be Scolari's favoured first transfer signing at Stamford Bridge, & concentrate on getting Arshavin instead. www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/06/23/ufnarshavin223.xml

Official site says "The striker then recovered and spent the 2006/2007 season on loan at Marseille. The move was then made permanent in the summer of 2007." www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/cisse/index.htm

"Behind the scene at player's photoshoot" article put up on the official site today & the opening sentence is..... "Brucie's back," declares Pepe Reina as he saunters out of the dressing room. www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N160304080623-1406.htm

From today's Liverpool Echo..... "Reports that the Reds are considering a £15m swoop for Hamburg winger Rafael van der Vaart, meanwhile, are wide of the mark. Completing Gareth Barry’s transfer from Aston Villa remains Rafa Benitez’s priority, with any future purchases dependent on the sales of Xabi Alonso and Peter Crouch. Juventus are still short of Liverpool’s valuation of their £16m rated Spanish playmaker, while there has been no contact from Portsmouth – formal or informal – regarding Crouch." www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/23/liverpool-fc-owners-100m-credit-crunch-100252-21135727/

According to the Liverpool Daily Post this morning Juventus are set to make their first official move for Xabi Alonso this week with Rafa "hopeful" that his £16m valuation will be matched "as he continues his quest to maximise his assets to build more transfer funds". www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/06/23/juve-set-to-make-bid-for-xabi-alonso-64375-21135400/

Transfer news from this morning's papers..... Last week Newcastle made an unofficial approach to Andrei Arshavin’s advisers. Barcelona have already registered their interest in Arshavin & Arsène Wenger hinted yesterday that he had been watching the player with interest. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/euro_2008/article4193270.ece Russia's sports minister has said Arshavin wants to play abroad & "maybe for Barcelona. The club is in his heart from a young boy, this is his dream to play there". www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/23/russia.holland Arshavin himself has said that "perhaps the time has come" to move abroad & although he has confirmed that he has "offers from England & Germany" he says that what he "really wants" is to play in Spain, although so far he hasn't had any offers from Spain. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3726049,00.html Pablo Aimar's agent has said "Newcastle have asked about Aimar's situation - that is certain", although there has not yet been any formal offer. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3724034,00.html