Liverpool Signings and General Rumours Thread

zAbbo

good stuff, and just in time eh.

HashSlinging

5 times! maybe 6

zing

Carra & StevieG both sign new 4 year deal ahead of flying out to Athens.
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liverpoolfc/0100news/tm_headline=prize-guys%26method=full%26objectid=19144512%26siteid=50061-name_page.html

joe123

can anyone tell me the name of the lad liverpool are signing? Hes the golden boot winner in brazil this year and hes captain of the u20s brazil team? Think he plays for gremio or one of those?

Waster

Lucas.

~Rebel~

Lucas Pezzini Leiva. I think there was a slight mistake by rafa, t'was the golden ball he won (player of the year) which to be honest is probably better from our point of view since he's a midfielder. Was looking to see if he perhaps won both, but the only mention of him having won the golden boot is in rafa's interview.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_de_Ouro a lot of quality names in there!

IrishMike

Juventus are planning a double raid on Liverpool.

The Independent says Juve will move for midfield pair Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko in the summer.

Xabi has seen new contract talks with Liverpool stall and is ready to ask away should manager Rafa Benitez leave him on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League final against AC Milan.

I for one would have no problem whatsoever in selling both of them
Could easily command £30 million as one paper is reporting that sisoko is
worth £15 which is a stretch to say the least imho
Think alonso had a truely awful season and with mascherano coming into
the team he seems to be a blend of both of these players rolled into one.
This new brazilian seems to be a fantastic find aswell and it could give
Gerrard his central position back.
The only downside is that you dont come across too many people with Alonsos
vision and passing range and he dictates the tempo of most games when
he is on form. Not sure if the same can be said of Mascherano

Vokes

Would be madness to sell Alonso.

With a holiday, no summer tournament and a solid pre-season behind him, Im sure Alsono will be back to his best for next season. We can't be selling our best players if we want to take it up a level and compete for the league.

Besides, we don't have Masch on a permanent deal yet.

~Rebel~

i wouldnt mind seeing sissoko leave too much, i really like him but with all the competition there now he's probably at the bottom of the pecking order.

Alonso though, even though hes had a crap year, i wouldnt like to see go. Natural top quality player. If he could regain the form he's shown in the past for pool he's the first name on the teamsheet.

RE*AC*TOR

Sissoko despite all his flaws is a valuable player to have in your team, and is certainly not a player ANY team fancies going up against.

Alonso, sure, had a mixed season, but his quality is undisputed.

Neither player will be sold this summer.

jesus_thats_gre

I woud agree that we should be looking to retain both players and I feel that neither will be sold. I am pretty sure (hopeful too) that Zenden will be got rid off to make room for Lucas. That would leave for a very strong midfield with plenty of depth while also having quite a low average age compared to that of Chelsea's and United.

What club wouldn't like to be able to choose from:

Gerard, Alonso, Mascherano, Sissoko and Lucas (on paper he shows alot of potential at least).

flanzer

This is the lad we need! Dribbles like a sea-lion! Now he's 'one for the future'

Zapp Brannigan

Ah Kerlon, way too much of a pansy for England (IMO).

Out of any of our proper midfielders (Bolo doesn't count!) I'd prefer to see Momo go. His inability to pass is very annoying. That said he's the best ball winner we have in the team, but I feel Mascherano could have him there.

Jesus Wept

flanzer wrote:

This is the lad we need! Dribbles like a sea-lion! Now he's 'one for the future'

Probably the next C. Ronaldo, trying too hard to impress, would have more output if he stopped acting the eejet.

darkskol

Saw an article in the news of the world :rolleyes: , that rafa is interested in another brazilian, Amauri a 26 year old striker who is playing for Palermo. Anybody know anything about him?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amauri_Carvalho_de_Oliveira

~Rebel~

Amauri is quality, missed a lot of this season with a long term injury, just back to fitness now i think. Fairly tall striker, great in the air, good finisher, quick feet, similer in style to berbatov. If he came in id wonder if crouch was leaving..I read a comment where Rafa said he thought he was one of the best strikers in the world with Drogba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESt6WM9boH0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4m4TxIKiVI

zAbbo

flanzer wrote:

This is the lad we need! Dribbles like a sea-lion! Now he's 'one for the future'

Pfft, I've done that in Pro Evo

jesus_thats_gre

zabbo wrote:

Pfft, I've done that in Pro Evo

Shame you looked like a retard doing it

Chardee MacDennis

zenden could be fit:

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_2140774,00.html

Hicks expects Rafa to be a busy man from thursday on:

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_2140854,00.html

event

http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200607/story/0,,2085147,00.html

hmm

sorta compares liverpool to a breakfast cereal, at least in his eyes
also, the profits will go to the loan repayments

mike65

Rafa promising clear-out regardless of reult tomorrow.

http://www.itv.com/news/f578df01c15e31893d195ed0e8d88f41.html

Not sure about the timing myself.

Mike.

shatners basoon

Play/warm bench well or you're axed!!!

mike65

Gone

Dudek
Carson
Zenden
Fowler
Gonzales (loan?)

Likely

Bellamy
Paletta (loan)

Possibles

Hyypia
Sissoko or Alonso
Crouch
Luis Garcia

Mike.

copacetic

mike65 wrote:

Gone

Dudek
Carson
Zenden
Fowler
Gonzales (loan?)

Likely

Bellamy
Paletta (loan)

Possibles

Hyypia
Sissoko or Alonso
Crouch
Luis Garcia

Mike.

not sure it's worth selling garcia since he has been injured all season and is unlikely to fetch much, would hope we keep each of sissoko, alonso and crouch too. I still think Crouch has massive potential and if bellamy and fowler go why would we get rid of another forward? If we are only buying the best, we can only really hope for one big buy up front?

raven136

All the papers today are talking about a massive clearout,six maybe seven players gone.Could we expect the same amount in?
Rafa was talking about signing "experienced players with charachter"thats exactly what we ned for a premiership challenge.

Winning the champions league would add yet more funds and prestige to the club.

Out
zenden
hypia
dudek
carson
bellamy
gonzalez
pennant?

In
simao
both milito brothers
lucas
villa?
torres?

Zapp Brannigan

Dunno copacetic, from the interviews I've seen (Hicks, Rafa etc.) it seems like there'll be some serious funds for Rafa to play with. It seems like Rafa will be able to get the players he wants as long as he can justify the buy. Regardless of tomorrow's result it should be an exciting summer, but then again if he makes alot of changes we could see another slow start to the season, exactly what we don't need.

raven136

joe lovejoy said on sunday Rafa had about 50 m(sterling) to spend and a win on wednesday would massively increase that

Vokes

I love speculating about this kind've stuff

GKs
Reina
Padelli
Carson
Dudek

CBs
Hyypia
Agger
Carragher
Palleta
Hobbs from reserves
Another utility CB

FBs
Arbeloa
Finnan
Riise
Aurelio
Insua

CMs
Sissoko
Gerrard
Mascherano
Alonso
Lucas

Wingers
Zenden
Kewell
Garcia
Gonzales (on loan perhaps)
Pennant
Leto
Another left winger (Gamst Pederson, maybe?)

FWs
Fowler
Cisse
Crouch
Bellamy
Kuyt
Voronin
Pacy Striker (Bent? .....Eto'o )

So, thats 9 players I reckon are gonna get the chop. Major surgery will be done (again) on the wings and up front - we already have Leto and Vornonin coming in, so i expect another CF and LW added to that.

Central midfield and Full-backs are perfectly fine, I reckon.

copacetic

Slurms wrote:

Dunno copacetic, from the interviews I've seen (Hicks, Rafa etc.) it seems like there'll be some serious funds for Rafa to play with. It seems like Rafa will be able to get the players he wants as long as he can justify the buy. Regardless of tomorrow's result it should be an exciting summer, but then again if he makes alot of changes we could see another slow start to the season, exactly what we don't need.

well hopefully but mentioning eto, villa etc, players of that level are going to set us back 60 million minimum for centre back, winger and centre forward. could be as much as 100-120 million even. Great if we can afford it. But the numbers don't add up if we clear out 11 players, even clearing out 7 or 8 could be a bit many...

If we get a core signing of 3 players of highest quality then imo we should still keep the likes of hyppia, alonso + sissoko, crouch + kuyt. Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater kind of thing..

Dont be at yourself

From the new-fangled Yahoo-Eurosport:

Agger to Barca or Real?

I can't see us selling.

Chardee MacDennis

GKs
Reina
Padelli
Carson
Dudek

CBs
Hyypia
Agger
Carragher
Palleta
Hobbs
Distin

FBs
Arbeloa
Finnan
Riise
Aurelio
Insua

CMs
Sissoko
Gerrard
Mascherano
Alonso
Lucas

Wingers
Zenden
Kewell
Garcia
Gonzales (If he does leave MGP in)
Pennant
Leto
Simao

FWs
Fowler
Crouch
Bellamy
Kuyt
Cisse
Voronin
Eto'o
Derbyshire

Wouldnt be surprised with that really...

Vokes

Actually, I'd love to see Quaresma come play for us. I'd seen him play against Brazil earlier this year and he was able to play both wings with ease. Very impressive.

~Rebel~

Id be delighted if we got either Quaresma or Simao, both players who can play on either wing and take a game by the scruff of the neck and make something happen.

Cal_Me_Al have we been linked with Distin? He'd be a great acquisition, quality cenber back and for free!

Up front we've been linked with so many its hard to decide who i'd actually want. So far linked with;
Eto'o
Villa
Torres
Amauri
Tevez
Milito
Bent
Alfonso Alves
Derbyshire (though thats prob one for the future)
among others!

zAbbo

Are we going down the Chelsea route of ditching youth players?

What about the some of the younger players who played with the twice FA Youth Cup winning teams.

Surely the likes of Paul Anderson and Mike Roque should get some exposure, let's not forget it's the youth players who have served the team so well over the years.

That said, Rafa seems to be pointing at experienced players, I'd imagine he means those with PL experience, which is gonna cost.

mada999

Pompey To Land Distin And Muntari

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22052007/4/pompey-land-distin-muntari.html

swalsh

Does anybody think it possible that Cisse will be back in the red shirt next season? Getting some important goals for Marseille and looks pretty good.
Could be a good time to get some decent money for him to add to the kitty

Vokes

Wow, totally forgot about Cisse.

Hopefully, MArseille are still willing to pay the oft-rumoured £7mil for him.

swalsh

Well they (Marseille) confirmed their champions league place over the weekend and Cisse was a central figure in their success. Could be a possiblity that he could be back?? Liked him alot but maybe its just better to cash in hopefully, that said he'll probably break one of his legs, or maybe both this time!!

Chardee MacDennis

SofaKing wrote:

Wow, totally forgot about Cisse.

Hopefully, MArseille are still willing to pay the oft-rumoured £7mil for him.

they're not. he will return on june 1st. benfica would be up for a deal involving Cisse for Simao apparently, rumour has it he would go but would prefer to stay in the prem.

thebaz

good luck tomorrow -- i know a lot of blues will be shouting for Milan -- but i'll be shouting for the smaller team

zing

Don't forget to add Pongolle & Le Tallec to the list of players who'll be leaving in the summer. We're led to believe Pongolle's move is all agreed and is awaiting the xfer window to open before being formalised. Don't know whether Sochaux will make Le Tallec's move permanent but either way I don't think he's got any chance of still being with LFC next season.

~Rebel~

Pongolle is already gone. Theres a loophole with loan deals with an option to buy where the player can be bought outside of the transfer window, for example Howard now being totally owned by Everton even though that deal took place in February.

Le Tallec i dont know what the story is at all, think he's been a having a decent season but I couldn't see him coming back. A shame, so much promise! Saw him playing U21 2 years ago in turners cross and he was a class apart.

I actually like Cisse too, he's a character, but i very much doubt he'll be playing for us again. His long range blasters are all well and good but he still hasn't shown he can do the nice neat little finishes we need at the moment. I was one of the biggest advocates of giving him time on here, but he let me down Though i will still be wearing my Cisse 9 red and gold 5* champions league jersey for the match tomorrow!

Its a little annoying to see links with Derbyshire, he's a quality young player but obviously would be being bought for the future. He's shining after being given a chance in the first team and rather then buy him i think we'd be better off following Blackburns example and giving our own starlet Lindfield a go first. Himself and Anderson really really need to get a chance pretty soon, both got a chance in pre-season last year and both were great. Lindfield scored the only goal of the game on his senior debut but hasn't even been on the bench for a competitive match yet i dont think. Would just like to try giving our own up and comer a game over buying in someone elses.

woodyg

NekkidBibleMan wrote:

From the new-fangled Yahoo-Eurosport:

Agger to Barca or Real?

I can't see us selling.

The silly Season kicks off with a gem there!
I can see between 4-5 players leaving in the Summer with 3-4 players coming in.
Players going will most likely be Fowler, Dudek, Hypia, Carson, Gonzalez(loan), Zenden and maybe Sissoko.

As for players in well 2 confirmed in Voronin and Lucas and after that it's anybody's guess really.
Raffa has cash to spend but the type of player and who else would want the same player will dictate the price and the success off the chase.
It's all well and good having the cash for some one like Eto/Villa/Torres but when word get's out that a player off that class is up for sale BANG price war breaks out and even with our cash if a chelsea/milan/madrid decide they want a piece of the action we will be left behind.

IMHO i'd like to see use get Huntalaer couple of clips here off his ability http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Huntelaar%20ajax&search=Search
I seen him up close for the National team and was very impressed he looked a class above and reminded me what Utd saw in Van Nisteleroy. He wouldn't be cheap but wouldn't break the bank either €20 million would easily get him. Which would leave plenty of cash for left midfield and centre back if Hypia goes.

Ah crap looks like Huntelaar is all ready off to Juventus http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jan5c.html
dam them
http://juventustalk.blogspot.com/

Chardee MacDennis

Alou Diarra wants to move back to the prem, do we have a buy back clause on him? Pompey are sniffing around...

Also woody there are 3 confirmed signings - Sebastian Leto, the arge left winger.

Vokes

woodyg wrote:

As for players in well 2 confirmed in Voronin and Lucas and after that it's anybody's guess really.

Don't forget we have an Argentinian left winger - Leto - confirmed as well.

Stky10

SofaKing wrote:

Don't forget we have an Argentinian left winger - Leto - confirmed as well.

Less left winger, more left sided midfielder (check bottom of)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6558831.stm

woodyg

Stky10 wrote:

Less left winger, more left sided midfielder (check bottom of)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6558831.stm

I'd forgotten about him was a while ago that deal was done. So that's defo Zenden and Gonzalez gone then.

I would love us to steal Huntalaar from under Juve's nose cause i recon this boy is the new Van Basten! The quality and quantity of goals is quit breath takeing and his specialality is the acrobatic. He's quick he's good in the air he can use both feet he scores goals from all angles.

leninbenjamin

Stky10 wrote:

Less left winger, more left sided midfielder (check bottom of)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6558831.stm

found this on on the youtube (apologies if posted before). he doesn't look fantastic, but quite strong and tall and well able to compete physically. might be more suited to the prem than most other south American wingers. got a good eye for the cross field ball too.

herbieflowers

that miss after the goalmouth pinball around the 40sec mark was god awful! Hilarious stuff!

darkskol

OK im still feeling gutted right now about tonight but at least I can still think back to the victory at the Nou camp and the home game to chelsea. So when will we see Rafa beginning this clearout, the sooner the better so I can take my mind of tonights game!