GWistooshort

From the official site... RAFA: TORRES IS NOT FOR SALE Liverpoolfc.tv 27 May 2008 Rafa Benitez today gave short shrift to suggestions Fernando Torres could be allowed to leave the club. The Anfield boss claimed there was no offer which would persuade the club to part company with its record signing and top scorer. Benitez said: "The situation is very simple – we do not want to sell Fernando Torres. "If a player does a good job for his team, like Fernando has for us, then it is sometimes easy for people to speculate that he might be wanted by other clubs. "I am not aware of any offer being made by Chelsea but even if there was my answer would be the same – he is not for sale. "We are trying to add to the spine of our team and that means keeping players like Fernando, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher." Earlier this morning, a club spokesman added: "The idea that Liverpool Football Club would consider selling Fernando Torres is absolute nonsense. Everyone at the club is fully focused on improving the squad ahead of the new season." Link

Here's the Mirror's article linking us with Bristol City's Liam Fontaine.... Daily Mirror 27/05/2008 Exclusive: Liverpool target £1m Bristol City defender Rafa Benitez is pondering a shock £1million move for highly-rated Bristol City defender Liam Fontaine. The 22-year-old centreback, who can also play leftback, was in the side beaten by Hull at the weekend in the Championship Play-Off Final. But Fontaine could yet end up in the Premier League with Liverpool as Benitez has had glowing reports on the former Fulham, Yeovil and Kilmarnock star. City boss Gary Johnson could struggle to hold on to the player, with the club having to resign themselves to another season in the Championship. Versatile Fontaine - who has played 94 times for the Robins and scored two goals - has even played in midfield in the past. But it is believed that Anfield chief Benitez views the player purely as a defender. Link

Latest on Ramsey.... BBC website Tuesday, 27 May 2008 Ramsey plays down transfer talk Cardiff's teenage sensation Aaron Ramsey says he is not interested in speculation linking him with a big-money move to a top-flight club. Ramsey, 17, has been linked with a move to Premier League and European champions Manchester United as well as Liverpool and Arsenal. But he told BBC Sport Wales: "I don't take much notice to be honest, I just ignore it. "I will do what I want to at the end of the day, but I am happy at Cardiff." Ramsey's former Cardiff team-mate Chris Gunter, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window, says he thinks the youngster will shine in the Premier League. He said: "I think if he does go to a big club and gets the ability to train with some of the players and play maybe, then that would be fantastic. "If he came back on loan to somewhere like Cardiff and he's playing every week, he is going to improve, so I don't think he's in a difficult situation. "I honestly believe if he went somewhere, he might not need to come back on loan because I think he is good enough to play." Link (including a video interview with Ramsey)

From the Liverpool Daily Post website today.... LFC RUMOURMILL: Torres, Alonso and Crouch linked with exit May 26 2008 By Gossip Monger THE KOP'S new hero, Fernando Torres, will become a summer target for managerless Chelsea, The Daily Mail has claimed today. According to the paper, whoever takes over from the recently-sacked Avram Grant will be told in no uncertain terms, to try and sign Torres. The Daily Mail reports that Roman Abramovich has given Peter Kenyon permission to bid the same amount of money as the Russian offered Arsenal for their striker Thierry Henry when he first took ownership of the west London club. It is understood that, despite the sacking of Avram Grant, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will continue to pursue the players identified by the Israeli as top priority. Torres is one of those individuals. An insider is quoted as saying: "There is a desire among certain people at Liverpool to sell at the right price. "It's just a case of whether they have the nerve to incur the wrath of the Liverpool fans." The Mail goes on to claim that £50million will be offered for Torres, who is being targetted alongside Kaka. GOSSIP RATING: No stars - why would Rafael Benitez want to sell his star striker to one of his closest rivals? RESPECTED American "soccer blog" The Other Football has listed a host of clubs it has heard are after the services of John Arne Risse. It says Newcastle United and Schalke were already linked with the Norwegian, but now a few Spanish teams might want him too. Riise is said to be on the want list for both Atletico Madrid and Villareal. GOSSIP RATING: 4 stars - Riise would love to stay at Anfield but knows the manager is trying to sign players to replace him. Looks like he might have plenty of options. SEVERAL blogs have picked up on quotes from Blackburn winger David Bentley to refresh rumours that he could be on his way to Anfield. In The News of the World, he was quotes as saing he may have to leave Ewood Park in order to take his England career to the next level. The former Arsenal youngster has been strongly linked with Liverpool after an impressive season for Rovers and insists there is more to come from him as soon as he fully breaks through on the international stage. And Bentley has also told David Beckham that he wants his shirt with the LA Galaxy veteran nearing the end of his career. "I play week in and out in the Premier League," Bentley told the News of the World. "I'm told my name is being touted around by the bigger teams. "I've played for England and I live a great life. But I've done nothing yet. I've won nothing. I haven't competed in an international competition for England, let alone, say, a UEFA Champions League final." Bentley then appeared to suggest his ambitions might not be fulfilled if he stays on at Blackburn. He added: "People may respect what I have done with Blackburn and I'm thankful for that. But, believe me, there is a lot more to come. "I want to be judged alongside the best in the big games that really matter for both club and country. "Success not money drives me on. I'm still waiting for my international career to take off. That means, I suppose, replacing David Beckham on the right wing." GOSSIP RATING: Two stars - a player who would fit the bill at Anfield, but other options are also under consideration as Rafael Benitez weighs up his spending power in this summer's transfer market THE PEOPLE has taken the Bentley story a stage further, claiming that Liverpool will offer £15 million for Bentley - and £10 million for Wigan’s Luis Antonio Valencia. The paper also claims Peter Crouch has agreed personal terms with Portsmouth and Liverpool will accept a deal rising to £12million GOSSIP RATING: Three stars - Benitez will be looking to boost his transfer war-chest and Crouch is one of those to be sacrificed with Pompey's Harry Redknapp a known admirer. ITALIAN media is reporting that Juventus are prepared to pay £14million for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. The reports come days after Alosono was reported as saying he was happy to stay at Liverpool. But Juventus, apparently, play to make a point of offering him more regular first-team chances. GOSSIP RATING: Three stars - Liverpool want £16m for the Spaniard, but the gap is closing Link

From this morning's Daily Telegraph.... Coach urges Gareth Barry to join Liverpool By Telegraph staff and agencies Last Updated: 9:14am BST 26/05/2008 Gareth Barry has been urged to quit Aston Villa and join Liverpool by the coach who first discovered him more than 15 years ago. Les Rogers unearthed Hastings-born Barry at Brighton's Centre of Excellence in the early 1990s before the midfielder made the switch to Villa. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez remains keen to sign the 27-year-old despite having an initial £10million bid rejected and being involved in a war of words with his Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill. O'Neill is desperate to hold onto his captain and build a team capable of breaking into the top four. But Rogers believes the chance to join the Reds is too big an opportunity for Barry to turn down. He said: "Martin O'Neill has been a brilliant manager for Gareth and Villa have really looked after him. He would miss playing at Aston Villa. advertisement"But the opportunity to move to a top four club is too great. I think Gareth should go. How often will this opportunity come around? "He's been loyal to Villa and has had previous opportunities to leave but now he will be torn. Gareth has done a tremendous job with Villa but the chance to go to Liverpool is too big an opportunity not to take. "If Gareth didn't go, it would end up being a 'what if' scenario. He might end up having a drop in form and regret his decision to stay. "He wants to hold onto his England place, which I know he values a lot, and now that he is back in the international team I think it's the right time for him to move. "I think he will go and he should go." Barry is unlikely to make any decision on his future until after England's friendly internationals with the United States on Wednesday and Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday. Link

The Guardian this morning (Linky) reckons we'll get Dossena for closer to £6m rather than the £8m asking price, while the Liverpool Daily Post (Linky) says LFC "are confident" of signing him for £5-6m

Liverpool slap £16m price tag on Alonso May 22 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post JUVENTUS will have to bid at least £16million to tempt Liverpool into considering parting with Xabi Alonso. The Serie A side have made no secret of their desire to sign the Spanish midfielder, who is in his country's squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 finals. Juventus director Jean-Claude Blanc was in Liverpool on Tuesday for a meeting with Anfield officials to discuss a number of transfer options, with Alonso top of the Italians’wanted list. Liverpool are not looking to sell Alonso and would only contemplate doing business with Juventus for a mammoth £16m. And while no bid has yet been made by the Serie A outfit, coach Claudio Ranieri is determined to pair the 26-year-old with his former team-mate Momo Sissoko who joined Juventus for £8.2m in January at the heart of midfield for next season. Alonso has consistently claimed to be happy with life at Anfield and last week insisted he has no plans to end his four-year spell at the club this summer. But with Benitez closing on the capture of Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry, the Spaniard would face further competition for his place at Anfield next season with Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano already vying for roles in central midfield. Of the Liverpool manager, Alonso said recently: “He has never said that he wants me to leave. If he thought that way I would prefer him to be honest and say Xabi, we are thinking about other players and you are not going to play that much’. Then I would look for a different option. But he still thinks I can play an important role.” Juventus have also enquired about the availability of striker Peter Crouch, although suggestions of an interest in John Arne Riise are wide of the mark. Crouch, who has a year remaining on his contract but has so far refused to sign a new deal, is one of several players expected to leave Anfield during the transfer window. Portsmouth and Manchester City are among several interested parties, undeterred by Benitez slapping a £15m price tag on the player. Steve Finnan is another who will be allowed to depart, with Fulham having registered an interest in taking the former Republic of Ireland international back to Craven Cottage. Finnan was signed by Gerard Houllier from the Londoners in July 2003 and became a regular at right-back under Benitez, playing in all six major finals under the Spaniard. However, the 32-year-old’s appearances were limited in the closing months of the season while Liverpool have confirmed the imminent arrival of Switzerland international right-back Philipp Degen. Italy international left-back Andrea Dossena is another likely signing, with reports in Italy claiming Udinese sporting director Pietro Leonardi has already held talks with Anfield officials. Linky

From Sky Sports website... Reds close on Dossena deal Liverpool winning race for Italian defender By Nadia Carminati 21st May 2008 Udinese defender Andrea Dossena is close to agreeing a move to Liverpool, according to reports in Italy. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is on the lookout for a left-back to bolster his squad as it is expected John Arne Riise is set to leave Anfield this summer. Tottenham are also chasing £9million-rated Dossena's signature and it is understood that the North London club had a bid rejected in the January transfer window. However, it is rumoured that Udinese sporting director Pietro Leonardi recently flew to England to discuss a possible transfer with Liverpool. The Reds, though, would face a battle to land 26-year-old Dossena as Serie A giants Juventus are also seeking close-season reinforcements. Dossena, who has made one appearance for Italy, has played 63 games for Udinese since joining from Treviso in 2006 and he has scored two goals in that time. Linky

From the Press Association within the last hour... Alonso linked with Italian move Xabi Alonso could be on the brink of a £12million move to Italians giants Juventus. High-level Liverpool sources have declined to comment on reports that there has been contact between the two clubs. It has been reported in the Italian media that Juventus director Jean-Claude Blanc was in Liverpool on Tuesday for a meeting with Anfield boss Rafael Benitez. Although Alonso, who is in Spain's squad for the Euro 2008 finals next month, has recently claimed he still sees his future at Anfield, a move to Italy would certainly interest him. It is no secret that Benitez has been told he must sell as well as buy this summer as be re-builds his squad. And Alonso found his senior appearances restricted last season following the £18.6million arrival of Javier Mascherano and with young Brazilian midfielder Lucas also making an impact. With Benitez still trying to tie up the move of England international midfielder Gareth Barry to Anfield for £10million, the departure of Alonso would not be a surprise. Alonso was one of Benitez's first signings when he took over as manager four years ago, arriving for £10.5million from Real Sociedad. The 26-year-old has played 163 games for the club and scored 14 goals but featured little towards the end of the season. The possible departure of Alonso will disappoint Liverpool fans, the Basque-born star being a key player over recent seasons and scorer of one of the goals in the 2005 Champions League final win in Istanbul. Linky

Also from Sky Sports website... Starlet flattered by Reds link Frenchman plans to stay for time being 20th May 2008 Grenoble youngster Sofiane Feghouli has admitted he is flattered to be linked with a move to Liverpool. The 18-year-old is regarded as one of the best young players in France after helping Grenoble win promotion to Ligue 1 this season. Scouts from a host of clubs have watched Feghouli in action this season and Grenoble are bracing themselves for a fight to keep hold of their prize asset. Ajax are also thought to be interested in Feghouli, but the teenager believes he is too young to move abroad. "The interest of those great clubs is flattering. But my priority is to go on to improve in France, above all at Grenoble," Feghouli told L'Equipe. "I try to keep level-headed. For the moment, the best is to stay here. Only an offer from a big Ligue 1 club could make me think about (leaving)." Linky

From Sky Sports website... Hamsik rejects Reds rumours Slovakian starlet happy in Italy By Vasek Kadlec 20th May 2008 Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik has rubbished reports linking him with a move to Liverpool. The 20-year-old Slovakian international is believed to have caught the eye of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and it was rumoured that he was set to fly to England to sign a contract on Sunday. However, Hamsik - who has also attracted interest from UEFA Champions League finalists Manchester United and Chelsea - insists the speculation is unfounded and that he is happy in Italy. When asked about the Liverpool reports Hamsik told Pravda: "Really? That is absolute nonsense. I don't know anything about travelling to Liverpool on Sunday. "It is still valid that I would prefer to stay at Napoli. At the moment I am not thinking about any other possibility." Linky

These quotes from Villa were on the Sky Sports website last month... "I watch the Premier League a lot and the team I'm most attracted to is definitely Arsenal." "Their brilliant one and two-touch football and the whole style of rapid counter-attack which dominates the top level of the Premier League now is the one which suits my game best of all. "I think I'm made to succeed in England but of course it's one thing saying it and quite another getting there and then doing it. "The Valencia president (Agustin Morera) always told me he wouldn't sell me until summer 2008. If an offer comes in I'm hungry to test myself in England." Understanding Should a move to Emirates Stadium not materialise, Villa admitted that he would be equally happy to join up with his international team-mate Fernando Torres at Liverpool. "It's great playing alongside Fernando," he said. "We understand each other totally and we get on brilliantly off the park." Linky

Don't know who he supports/supported, but according to a recent Guardian article (linky) his current favourite player is Stevie G altho he used to admire Roy Keane when he was younger