Sunday, December 12, 2010

First Suarez bid turned down

After the abysmal game at St James Park, losing 3-1 to Newcastle, Hodgson is frustrated over Liverpools Jekyll and Hyde performance.

He is probably not the only one being frustrated. He puts the blame on the players, but who is really to blame? Will he survive the season as Liverpool manager?

Now onto todays rumours, starting with a striker that may be on his way...
Liverpool have made a €15m (£12.5m) bid for Ajax striker Luis Suarez, but the Dutch side are holding out for closer to €25m (£20.9m).

According to Italian publication Tuttomercato the Reds want to pair the Uruguayan with Fernando Torres at Anfield, and have made initial enquires to bring Suarez to the club in the January transfer window.

Ajax are not currently in a position where they can reject a substantial offer for their star asset, but will attempt to hold out for a bigger fee from the Premier League side.

The likes of Juventus, Real Madrid and Tottenham have been linked with Suarez in the past, but Liverpool have now emerged as one of the main contenders for the player’s signature.

The 23-year-old struck 49 goals in an incredible season last year, and has managed 11 goals in 22 matches for the Amsterdam club this season.

African starlet Rabiu Ibrahim is now a free agent after failing to agree a new deal at Sporting Lisbon.

The 19-year-old playmaker has been monitored by the cream of Europe in previous years, with Liverpool one of the Premier League clubs thought to be interested in the player, GiveMeFootball say.

Injuries have hampered the attacking midfielder's further develpopment in Portugal though, and the player has reportedly failed to agree terms on a new contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

His signature would be seen as a gamble by most, but still only a teenager, the player has the chance to continue developing.

Liverpool recently appointed Damien Comolli as Director of Football strategy at Anfield, and any decision on a potential move could fall into his directive.

It is also unknown as the wheather Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson would be interested in the maverick African talent.

Celtic have also been close to signing the player in the past, and could challenge Liverpool or any club with interest in the player due to his current situation.

Another originaly African player, Frenchman Blaise Matuidi has been linked with a move to Arsenal for some time now, yet Arsene Wenger’s hesitance to take a chance on the player dubbed "the new Claude Makelele" has encouraged Liverpool  to emerge as rivals for the player’s signature, Footballtransfertavern reports.

The France international would seem to be just the kind of player both clubs need: a defensive midfielder who breaks up opposition play and starts counter attacks, who is also very comfortable with the ball at his feet and is an accomplished passer of the ball.

The player’s disciplinary record is also very impressive for such a tough-tackling midfielder, as he has never been given more than 5 yellow cards in any one season at Saint Etienne.

A composed, accomplished tackler, able to sit in front of defence and hit a pass to anywhere on the pitch: Arsene Wenger and Roy Hodgson would surely see Matuidi as the missing piece in their respective midfield line-ups.

But it looks increasingly likely that the Arsenal manager has left it too late to sign the midfielder, and after Wenger’s declaration that he will not be making any signings in January, Liverpool are poised to sneak in with a bid of £8m in and snatch Matuidi from under Wenger’s nose.

Finaly, if Liverpool were to sing Swedish striker Johan Elmander in January, the club will get competition from one familiar face.

Former Liverpool manager and current Inter Milan boss Rafa Benitez will reportedly look to pip his former club to the signing of the Bolton Wanderers striker.

Elmander's contract at Wanderers expires at the end of the season and he has so far turned down a one-year extension.  Although the Swedish international has taken a while to settle down at the Reebok Stadium, he has had a stunning start to the season, with eight goals and three assists for Owen Coyle's side.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson and his No.2 Sammy Lee have reportedly watched Elmander closely this season and would like to pair him with Fernando Torres .

However, according to the Sunday Mirror, former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will look to bring Elmander to the San Siro.

Samuel Eto'o is rumoured to be on the verge of leaving Inter Milan and should the Cameroon striker be removed from the wage bill, Benitez will be able to make Elmander a large offer.

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