Five strikers and one defender linked

The Mirror today comes up with an utterly silly and gibberish story about Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina wanting to leave Liverpool in january.

They are, according to the paper, ready to use secret escape clauses in theire contracts to quit Anfield. The paper though has no quoted sources what so ever. So we don't belive that, do we?

Roy Hodgson has on his hand warned Manchester United that goalkeeper Pepe Reina is not for sale.

Anyway Roy Hodgson would want to pair Torres with another striker in january. But who would that be?

One alternative apparently is Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo. Liverpool are prepared to break the bank to land the Chilean goal scorer who could make a £22 million move to Anfield in January, if we are to belive Mexican publication Ultima Hora, Givemefootball.com reports.

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Cardozo will be a familiar name to the Anfield faithful after the Chilean struck three times in two matches against Rafa Benitez's Reds in last season's Europa League.

Liverpool appear to be frontrunners for his signature in a deal which would firmly establish NESV as serious backers to the Anfield cause.

Earlier reported Liverpool target Ibrahim Afellay has according to Goal.com rubbished talk of an agreement with Atletico Madrid. 


The player has been made available by PSV Eindhoven in January after he failed to agree a new contract. The Dutch side do no want the player to leave on a free transfer next summer when his deal runs out, and a fee had reportedly been agreed with Atletico. 

But this is not true. 

- We have not reached any agreement with any club whatsoever. Not even with Atletico. Some of the names in the press are correct, but I do not wish to confirm any one, his agent says.

Another earlier reported potential transfer target in the January transfer window is Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan.

It is believed that he could be made available in January to finance a move for Lyon’s Lisandro Lopez, reports Spanish newspaper Cadena Ser.

Both Spurs and Liverpool are said to be interested in signing the 31 year old Uruguayan and any move by Atletico for Lopez could see either English club pounce for the prolific goalscorer.

The same is the case for Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez, who according to The Daily Mail are going to be offloaded to finance a £40m move for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko.

The Reds missed out on a loan deal for the German international in the summer but Roy Hodgson is still believed to be keen on signing the 25 year old.

Another striker turning up on the rumour mill is Mirko Vucinic. 

The Montenegro international is reportedly keen on a Stadio Olimpico exit after clashing with manager Claudio Ranieri, and Liverpool are thought to be one of the interested parties in the player, says Givemefootball.com. 

Temperament could be a key issue in any decision to move for the player, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson would have to pay in the region of £13 million to bring him to Anfield. 

Reports in Italy suggest the player is looking to move after reactingly badly to being substituted in the 0-0 draw against Parma, and the aforementioned fee is a reduced price from La Maggica's original valuation. 

And finaly a defencive player is being linked. This time it's the Real Madrid defender Royston Drenthe, who Liverpool reportedly have made contact with Real Madrid over.

The 23-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at La Liga side Hercules, earning rave-reviews for his performances. Liverpool are thought to have been impressed by Drenthe's performances at the José Rico Pérez stadium, and Spanish paper Sport notes that Jose Mourinho would be willing to listen to offers for the former U21 international.

Roy Hodgson is still thought to be keen on bringing the player to Anfield, and it's thought that Liverpool will have to pay a fee in the region of £8 million for the player.

No big signings in January?

Today there are several reports on Liverpool not going to bring in any new big names in the January transfer window. On the other hand the rumours of transfer war chests and players keep on coming like never before.

The Evening Herald reports about Liverpool needing to get theire books in order before the club can buy players.

Hodgson will not target any trophy signings in the January transfer window as Liverpool's new owner, New England Sports Ventures, looks to put a stop to the profligate spending which it believes has hampered the club's progress in recent years, the paper reports.

NESV's takeover freed up £36m a year on revenue -- money that had previously been used to service Liverpool's £282m debts -- to be reinvested in the club.

Although its offer also made provisions for an immediate injection of funds into the playing staff, the American consortium has made it clear it expects value for money, both from fees and salaries.

- At the Boston Red Sox, we invested a lot in management and the scouting system, said NESV chairman Tom Werner, The Daily Telegraph reports.

- We believe the foundation of any good sports club has to be the experience, valuation and understanding of scouting, so we will invest in that as well, he sayd.

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Also says the same newspaper Hodgson and his scouting team in recent weeks have been following the Standard Liège captain Steven Defour. A long-term target for the Liverpool manager.

The newspaper believes that at 22, and around £12 million, Defour represents minimum risk for maximum reward.

The player has also been followed by Hodgsons good friend Alex Ferguson, but the manager according to Sportsvibe intends to challenge Manchester United in securing the signature of highly-rated Standard Liege midfielder

The Telegraph also mentions the PSV Eindhoven Winger Ibrahim Afellay, whom Liverpool have assessed on several occasions.

Already a Dutch international at 24 and heralded for several years as one of the brightest prospects in Europe, Afellay would fall within Liverpool's budget, while his wage demands would remain comparatively modest.

More expensive would be Eden Hazard, Defour's Belgian international team-mate, currently with Lille.

Earlier reported transfer goal for Hodgson, Diego Forlan is again being mentioned on the rumour mill.

According to Goal.com the Atletico Madrid striker is keen on a move to the Premiership in january. They say Liverpool and Tottenham are set to battle for the Uruguayan star.

He is apparently targeting a move to England after setting his heart on a return to the Premier League when the transfer window re-opens.

Liverpool and Spurs have been made aware of the €17 million-rated striker's availability and NESV will back the manager with funds to strengthen the squad and the former Fulham boss has made signing a striker to partner Fernando Torres his priority.

Spurs made a summer enquiry for Forlan but were put off by the €27m asking price. 

Another new name appearing today is the St Etienne defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi. 

The French player was linked with Arsenal and a host of other clubs last winter and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in Matuidi. It appears that English clubs would have an advantage in any attempt to sign the France international.

- The league that would suit me best is the Premier League. This is due to tactical, cultural and physical reasons, and the atmosphere in the stadiums, the player says according to Sky Sports.

Todays most surprising link is to the West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt. 

The 25-year-old Northern Ireland international has produced a string of eye-catching displays at the Hawthorns, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be keen on bringing the player to Anfield, Givemefootball reports.

The have taken the story from The Belfast Telegraph, who says the player is an £8m target for Liverpool.

- West Brom will be reluctant to let Brunt go but Roy will have money to spend and he’s been impressed by Brunt and the influence he’s had on games this season, a Liverpool source told the paper.

And the most shocking link right now is to Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar.

Pienaar has been unable to agree terms on a new deal, and the Metro reports that new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is keen to bring the player to Anfield, according to Givemefootball.

David Moyes could be forced to sell or risk losing the player on a free transfer in the summer, although he has said he'd rather have the player for six more months than sell on the cheap.

Young and Forlan in january?

After the good performance in the Blackburn game its back to the old rumour mill!

According to The People Roy Hodgson is ready to splash out of his £30m transfer kitty in the january transfer window on Ashley Young.

Tottenham apparently has an interest for the Aston Villa winger. But Liverpool are set to challenge Harry Redknapp for the players signature if he decides to leave Aston Villa.

The winger is stalling on a new contract and Roy Hodgson will be buoyed by the situation as he attempts to add five to his squad in January.

The Reds boss will be given about £30million to spend, the paper reports - and wants two of his signings to be British.

He feels it is vital to add the homegrown ingredient to his crop of under-achievers, and will not be put off by Young’s £14m price tag.

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The same paper has a less credible story about Hodgson losing his patience with Fernando Torres.

According to The People Hodgson wants to replace him with £15m rated Diego Forlan. 

The Anfield club are ready to sell Torres, the paper reports - with Chelsea and Manchester City both keen to snap him up. Hodgson is apparently concerned about the fitness and attitude of his star striker and there is a widespread feeling at the club that the player wants out and his departure is almost inevitable.

And Hodgson has identified former Manchester United flop Forlan, of Atletico Madrid, as his leading target in the transfer window.

The Uruguayan, who was joint highest scorer at the World Cup, admits he is keen for a move back to the Premier League after six years of prolific goalscoring in La Liga.

Tottenham and Everton are also interested in the player but Liverpool now have the transfer kitty to lure the 31-year-old.

Personally I would not have minded bringing Forlan to Anfield, but not at the price of selling Torres. Given a spacious kitty in the january window there's nothing to suggest that we should not afford to have both strikers in our squad.

What do you think?

Pennant til Spania?

Pennant med kontrakt i Spania? Siste bud på Silva? Downing hovedmål? Forlan aktuell? Santa Cruz linkes.

Det er ikke kommet noen offisiell bekreftelse på det, men nettstedet sport.co.uk hevder Jermaine Pennant har fått sin overgang til Spania. Det skal være Valencia som har hentet vingen, med fortid i blant annet Arsenal og Leeds, på en free transfer.

Pennant, som for tiden er på lån til Portsmouth, har ingen framtid på Anfield. Blant annet på grunn av sitt utsvevende privatliv. Og Benitez skal ha behov for å kutte i lønnsutgiftene for å ha råd til innkjøp av nye krefter i sommer.

Og av innkjøp virker det stadig mer sannsynlig at sommerens kanskje største transfermål for Rafa Benitez i hvert fall har vært Valencias David Silva. Men i følge the Daily Mail nekter Liverpool å by mer enn £15m for vingen.

Avisa skriver Benitez ikke vil trekkes inn i noen budkrig. Og hevder også at Benitez & co trodde en avtale var på plass, før den spanske klubben lekket historien om overgangen til pressen for å forsøke presse opp prisen.

Denne utviklingen skal ha presset Benitez til å flytte fokuset andre steder og til å gjøre Stewart Downing til sitt hovedmål.

Forøvrig melder den ikke veldig pålitelige tabloiden the Daily Star at Benitez kan være på sporet av en tidligere Manchester United-spiss.

Diego Forlan gjorde det ikke spesielt godt da han var hos de røde djevlene. Men etter å ha gått til Atletico Madrid i 2007 har han scoret i bøtter og spann og er denne sesongen bare bak Samue Eto'o på toppscorerlista.

Også Barcelona skal ha ham på radaren og i følge Goal.com skal det vurderes å sende Lucas Leiva den andre veien som en del av handelen.

Til slutt i dag vil jeg ta med at nettstedet EyeFootball mener Liverpool er en av favorittene til å hente Blackburns Roque Santa Cruz i sommer.

Manchester City har lenge vært den ledende klubben når det har dreid seg om rykter rundt spissen fra Paraguay, men han skal like tanken om å komme til en klubb med spansk manager.

Men, tror vi på det?