LFC RUMOURMILL: Torres, Alonso and Crouch linked with exit
May 26 2008
By Gossip Monger
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard
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
Y el becario del diario AS que solo sabe leer los justo y se inventa el resto:
Primera | Atlético de Madrid
Suena Riise, del Liverpool, para reforzar la defensa
El Villarreal es su rival en la puja
Dani Hidalgo | 26/05/2008
El Villarreal es su rival en la puja
-->
Según varios medios ingleses y escandinavos, John Arne Riise,
lateral noruego del Liverpool, cambiará la Premier League por la
Primera División. Tiene un fuerte disparo, es polivalente y puede jugar
de lateral y extremo zurdo. El Atleti ve en él un gran refuerzo para la
banda izquierda. Además, Benítez busca fondos para el Liverpool y
estaría dispuesto a dejarle ir por una cantidad cercana a los seis
millones de euros.
En España, el gran rival por hacerse con los servicios del noruego
es el Villarreal. Los de Pellegrini también buscan reforzar su
plantilla para la Champions. Fuera de la península, el Schalke y el
Newcastle son los otros clubes interesados. Pero al noruego no le gusta
la Bundesliga y sólo se marcharía del Liverpool si es para jugar fuera
de Inglaterra.
En declaraciones al diario noruego Nettavisen, el futbolista
reconoció el interés: "Es fantástico estar vinculado con estos clubes.
Estoy contento en Liverpool, pero la situación es muy extraña". Cuando
fue preguntado por si le interesaría irse a España, Riise desveló su
prioridad: "Lo que más me importa es poder jugar con regularidad".
El zurdo, de 27 años, se fue del Mónaco al Liverpool en 2001 y
siempre fue un pilar básico en Anfield. Sin embargo, esta temporada es
una que querrá olvidar, ya que Fabio Aurelio le quitó la titularidad.