Murphy's Transfer Deadline Day

After a wonderful eventful day, where Fernando Torres disappeared and Luis Suarez and Roy Carroll came in, I'm quite pleased. Incredibly sad to see Torres go, but no one is bigger than the club and I trust that Kenny Dalglish has found good replacements for us!

Follow transfer developments here too:

• BBC Transfer watch
• Sky Sports Transfer Clockwatch
• Follow deadline day on LFC TV
• Dedline Day on This is Anfield

Here's what happened until I had to stop:

21.55: TonyBarretTimes Looks like that's it for LFC. Suarez & Carroll in. Torres out. Adam and Young no go. Absolutely mad day. Thank God it's over.

21.50: A deal can still be done - subject to a medical in the morning. So the player in question doesn't necessarily have to be on Merseyside within the hour.(ThisIsAnfield)

21.37: @LFCGlobe: Ashley Young. #LFC's bid is £3m off what Villa are prepared to let him go for.


21.36: Adam to Liverpool is definitely OFF according to all reports. Shame.(ThisIsAnfield)

21.34: @LFCGlobe: negotiating with PL club over winger. Deal has to be done very, very quickly.

21.32: Even if Adam isn't coming in. We're still confident Liverpool will sign a midfielder. Possibly Young, or NZogbia. (ThisIsAnfield)

21.30: BrianDurand56 Reports of raised voices at Oyston/Adam meeting, Adam & rep left Bloomfield now. There may be trouble ahead. 

21.21: skysports_bryan Transfer latest - Karl Oyston tells us Charlie Adam's staying at Blackpool. Adam's just left Bloomfield Road after club talks. 

21.20: LFCBoston Looks like the Charlie Adam deal is dead. 

20.57: The Red Legions There is not much happening on Charlie Adam as Sky Sports report to have seen him at the reception in Bloomfield. 

20.52: Just over 2hrs left of the transfer window. Charlie Adam and Ian Holloway still in the reception of Bloomfield Road.(ThisIsAnfield) 

20.45: Luis Suarez has today completed his transfer from Ajax to Liverpool FC and signed a 5 and a half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016. (Official statement) 

20.34: Empireofthekop Ok Adam is still on. 

20.33: Mirror reporting Charlie Adam deal is off. But I wouldn't believe it just yet...(ThisIsAnfield) 

20.19: West Ham striker Carlton Cole on Twitter: "Just checked my Twitter! It's crazy on here. I've said I was chilling at home with my feet up and I still am!

20.14: Micah Richards deal not happening, it was unlikely City would sell to us anyway. Charlie Adam deal expected to still go ahead. No news on Warnock or Young unfortunately. (ThisIsAnfield) 

20.12: Blackpool have clinched the signing of James Beattie on loan from Rangers until the end of the season, according to Sky Sports News. (Charlie Adam replacement?) 

20.05: danroan (BBC) Well-placed Anfield source tells me Chelsea have paid the full 50m for Torres.

20.00: rorysmith_tel Charlie Adam, as much a 2010 fad as, er, Twitter, is still in the balance. Conflicting reports. #LFC #BFC #MUFC 

19.58: TonyBarretTimes LFC will recover from Torres loss. Better players have walked away and success has followed.

19.55: I was speaking to a football agent last week, and he told me that if clubs wanted to wrap up deals in time to beat the 2300 GMT deadline for transfers, they really needed to have the player undergoing a medical by 2000 GMT so as to get the assessment done and dusted in time to get the required forms off to the Premier League. Consider this your five minute warning people. (BBC) 

19.45: BBC Sport's Dan Walker on Twitter: "Tottenham came close to nicking Andy Carroll off Liverpool, but the striker wanted to join Liverpool as soon as it became clear that Newcastle would sell him."

19.42: From The Guardian: "Although the sums being talked about are ludicrous, there is a certain logic from FSG, I think. We'll probably never know the true amounts, but Carroll at £35m, Suarez at £22m, and Adam at £10m is £67m. If Liverpool really are receiving £50m for Torres, then they would have spent about £17m. That is close to the total of the original bids of £12m and £4m for Suarez and Adam respectively while getting rid of Torres' £110,000 per week wages. Might seem like a smart bit of business from their end."  We also sold Babel for £6m so net spend is only £11m. 

19.37: No updates on Young or Adam, expect developments tonight. (ThisIsAnfield)

19.34: Official statement from LFC: "Liverpool Football Club tonight confirmed they have agreed a fee with Chelsea for the sale of Fernando Torres. The player has now been given permission to speak to the London club." (ThisIsAnfield)

19.04: Andy Carroll's deal at Liverpool reported to be around £80,000 a week on a 5 year deal. He currently earns around £35,000 a week at Newcastle.(ThisIsAnfield)

18.55: Skysportsed RT @VinnOConnor: Andy Carroll has arrived at Melwood ahead of his move to Liverpool.

18.50: LFCBoston SSN just showed Charlie Adam getting in a car headed to Liverpool. 

18.47: Skysports.com understands Liverpool also approached Manchester City for Micah Richards and were prepared to go up to £20million for the defender. City rejected the Reds' approach. 


18.45: @SkySportsRachG: Sky Sources understand Fernando Torres is waiting on the go-ahead from Liverpool to have a medical at Chelsea. 

18.35: Liverpool renew Adam interest (Sky Sports)

18.26: Sky Sports reporting that Charlie Adam is still at Bloomfield Road.

18.25: Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on Twitter: "Andy Carroll will be a great player for Liverpool and England. Fact."

18.22: @SkySportsLewis: Sky Sports News sources understand Liverpool have renewed their interest in bringing Blackpool's Charlie Adam to Anfield. 


18.15: A little bit more info has emerged on the ongoing Andy Carroll to Liverpool saga... Carroll submitted a transfer request this afternoon which Newcastle "reluctantly accepted" according to a statement on their website. Liverpool have since agreed a fee with the Magpies for Carroll, who is still en-route to Merseyside where he will discuss personal terms and take a medical. (BBC) 

18.12: Here's something worth bearing in mind if and when Liverpool and Blackpool agree a fee for Charlie Adam tonight. Rangers receive 10% of any fee and Seasiders boss Ian Holloway also gets a cut. Takes a bit of the edge off any potential windfall for Blackpool fans, but they would undoubtedly prefer Adam to stay anyway. (BBC) 

18.04: thisisanfield: No news on Ashley Young, Villa still claiming he's not for sale, but interest is there from Liverpool. Might not happen in this window but it would be in Villa's interest to do so as player only has 17 months on his contract left. Young would give us versatility and pace in attack, much needed.


18.02: GuillemBalague Yes,all done chelsea-torres-lpl pending medical. £50m.As said earlier,Torres will leave soon for London to have medical. He hasnt had one yet...

18.01: TonyBarretTimes For all the justifiable concerns about fee paid for Carroll, no one can say LFC's new owners lack ambition. They've created real excitement.

17.58: More good news for Liverpool fans? Looks that way, but Blackpool supporters might not be so happy. BBC sports news correspondent Dan Roan has just tweeted: "Charlie Adam on way to Liverpool too." More details on that when I get them...

17.55: rorysmith_tel The figure for anyone to buy Charlie Adam will not be £14m. It will be around £8m. No word from #LFC as yet, mind. Hold your horses, SSN.

17.54: @SkySportsLewis: Liverpool have announced the surprise signing of Coventry youngster Conor Thomas on loan. 

17.47: still in talks with villa for young [22 million] and warnock on loan...keep the faith....Willie Murphy

17.45: @JimBoardman: RT @ianprior: We're hearing an astonishing £14m for Charlie Adam to #lfc http://bit.ly/gGhDhU

17.41: bensmith_Times Seems a former #lfc striker may be on his way to #nufc to replace Andy Carroll ... he's very tall

17.40: Daniel Ayala's move from Liverpool to Derby County has fallen through according to the Reds' official website. (Sky Sports)

17.35: thisisanfield: Suarez - done. Carroll - done. Adam - done. Only Young left. Can we make it 4 in a day?


17.30: thisisanfield Charlie Adam on his way to Liverpool. Just like we told you earlier. 

17.26: BREAKING NEWS: LIVERPOOL ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE AGREED A FEE FOR NEWCASTLE STRIKER ANDY CARROLL (BBC)
 

17.23: TonyBarretTimes Looks like Chelsea are going to pay £50 million for Torres.

17.19: More twists in the Andy Carroll saga. Newcastle have accepted a transfer request from the striker - in spite of Liverpool's two rejected bids (Sky Sports).

17.15: bensmith_Times Andy Carroll submits formal transfer request which #nufc accept #lfc

17.14: jackwidnell: reported Carroll has accepted personal terms with LFC in principle but NUFC stalling waiting for green light to sign striker.

17.09: @TonyBarretTimes: Carroll flying to Merseyside on private jet that was sent to the North East to collect him by LFC. Deal very much on.

17.05: Ian Holloway: Blackpool are refusing to take Liverpool FC's phone calls over Charlie Adam (Liverpool Echo).

17.03: This is Anfield: Nothing new here but LFC still looking to get Adam (£10m) and Young (£15m).

17.02: @TonyBarretTimes: Led to believe NUFC are playing for time to find a replacement & aren't after higher bid.

16.54: "BBC Sport understands that the delay with the Fernando Torres deal is down to a hitch in negotiations about the mechanics of his Stamford Bridge contract, concerning image rights etc."

16.52: A twist in the Andy Carroll saga - and it's a biggie - despite reports earlier that Newcastle had accepted a Liverpool bid for the 22-year-old striker (see 1513), it seems they actually rejected the Reds' second offer too. Just SIX HOURS of the transfer window left for the two clubs to work that one out - and how much does it rely on Fernando Torres completing his move to Chelsea too. We will find out, soon enough... (BBC)

16.52: Blackpool sign Charlie Adam replacement
Kenny Dalglish has made Charlie Adam one of his top two targets to bring to Anfield this month, and it looks like he is going to succeed on both fronts. The news is that Andy Carroll has been secured, and now he can turn his attention to Blackpool’s Adam...

16.38: Ah. I'm told there is no truth in the 'Charlie Adam to Man Utd' rumours. Apparently, Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is refusing to answer calls from Liverpool about the Scotland midfielder... maybe that United story started when Kenny Dalglish phoned up pretending to be Sir Alex Ferguson instead?

Is this Liverpool's Torres replacements?

It seems inevitable, if Chelsea do table £50m, or possibly a smaller amount with Nicolas Anelka included, Fernando Torres will go to the London club.

But who will Liverpool get to replace him, in a last gasp attempt to strengthen the squad?

A player that has been om the radar for some time is FC Utrechts Ricky van Wolfswinkel, and a report claims Liverpool will use some of the cash from the potential sale of Torres to finance a move for the long-term target.

The FC Utrecht hitman has 11 goals in the Eredivisie this term, outstripping the seven scored by Liverpool's latest recruit Luis Suarez. Standing 6' 1", van Wolfswinkel would provide a different threat to that of the Uruguayan. 

With cash in their pocket and little time to negotiate, Liverpool will have to pay around the £14m mark to make the deal go through before 11pm on Monday.

Another name that is mentioned this weekend, is Senegal international Mamadou Niang, who admits he is flattered by links with Liverpool, amid strong speculation the Reds are preparing to swoop for the Fenerbahce attacker. 

The 31-year-old Senegal international has been in fine form for Fener this season, scoring nine league goals in 15 matches, and various reports in Africa suggest Kenny Dalglish has made him a transfer target, Sky Sports Report.

Niang, formerly of Troyes, Strasbourg and Marseille, says it would be a privilege to play for Liverpool but claims he is still bound to his current club.

Niang, who can play as either a striker, support striker or winger, moved to Fenerbahce for €8million (£6.9m) in August from Marseille.

Dalglish convinces Torres to stay?

The Fernando Torres saga continues, with new speculations coming all the time. He did not show up to this mornings first training session with the squad at Melwood, but is said to be joining his team mates later today, now being in talks with club officials.

Kenny Dalglish said that 'My next managerial challenge on the pitch comes against Stoke City at Anfield on Wednesday night'.

If we read 'between the lines', he has a big challenge also off the pitch.

Now former Liverpool midfielder Terry McDermott has told talkSPORT he believes Kenny Dalglish can convince Torres to stay at Anfield.

The Huddersfield Town assistant manager is confident the Reds boss can talk round the Spanish striker who had a written transfer request turned down on Friday.

But, he also concedes that if Torres’s mind can’t be changed he should be sold to Chelsea and not kept at the club against his will.

- With Kenny’s powers of persuasion I think we might find he might stay. I can understand where Torres is coming from but when you’ve got Kenny Dalglish [talking] in your ear, saying ‘we don’t want you to go’, it’s a bit tempting for him to stay, McDermott said.

- I hope he does, certainly until the summer and then take it from there. But I think if Kenny wasn’t there he’d definitely be going.”

However, McDermott also feels if Dalglish is unsuccessful and Torres still wants to leave, the club should let him, as his presence in the dressing room will be disruptive if he is kept against his will.

New twist in Torres saga

This weekend will be ravaged by the speculations surrounding Fernando Torres and his unsure future on Merseyside.

The latest report say that Liverpool are negotiating with Chelsea over a £50m bid but want Nicolas Anelka included in the deal, instead of earlier reported Daniel Sturridge.

Contrary to Liverpool's public stance that Torres is not for sale, the club is willing to negotiate with the Londoners. 

They fear the negative consequences of keeping a player who has publicly revealed his desire to move on, Goal.com reports.

Torres submitted a written transfer request on Friday night which was rejected by Liverpool. But that has not deterred Chelsea from making a second offer for the Spaniard of £40m in cash plus Daniel Sturridge, the England Under-21 striker.

Read more: Why Liverpool Can Demand £50m for Fernando Torres

With Torres, 26, pushing both clubs to negotiate over a move before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, Liverpool have asked for Frenchman Anelka, not Sturridge, to be included in the deal to meet their £50m valuation.

Anelka is considered a proven goalscorer who can slot into the Liverpool side immediately and a more suitable partner for Luis Suarez, who is on Merseyside to complete a £22.8m switch from Ajax.

Anelka spent a loan spell at Anfield in the 2001-02 season and could be open to a return as Torres' arrival would cast doubt over the 31-year-old's future at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is determined to complete a deal for the World Cup winner, who he also tried to sign last summer but was rebuffed by the Merseyside club.

Latest Torres rumours + Final Adam offer

It's quite odd that Liverpool FC have landed in this situation with FernandoTorres. 

Earlier he has stated his love for the club, saying things like 'I would not like to play for another English or Spanish club. This feeling is very important to me.'

In August Torres publicly committed himself to Liverpool Football Club. He said: 'My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

However, a report said Chelsea wanted to make Torres their best paid player ever, if he made the move to London. And the Sky Sports betting had slashed the odds on Torres going to Chelsea before Monday to 1/5.

Liverpool then confirmed that Torres Friday evening submitted a transfer request. But the request was rejected.

'Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool. Fernando is under a long-term contract and the Club expects him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement, the Club statement said.

According to Liverpool FC |fan page| - News and Speculations, there is a minimum fee release clause written into Torres' contract. But there is a clause to the clause stating that we dont have to accept bids from home rivals. The club have sent representatives to Spain to negotiate a transfer for Torres with Barca. BUT, if Chelsea where to offer 65m, then the club are prepared to accept.

Tony Evans, The Times’ Football Editor, has told talkSPORT that he believes Fernando Torres will move to Chelsea in this transfer window.

Later a rumour started doing the rounds on the net, saying Torres is set to withdraw his transfer request and commit to LFC. Apparently Steven Gerrard and  Kenny Dalglish last night was talking to him, and he is now 60-40 in favour of staying and signing new deal.



When it comes to the other main transfer taret for Liverpool in this window - Charlie Adam, Blackpool have been branded 'cheapskates' for turning down Liverpool's latest offer for him down, by the player's father, Click Liverpool reports.

The father claims that the improved bid tabled by the Reds this week, believed to be in the region of £6million, is more than an acceptable offer for the Scotland international.

Adam handed in a transfer request to the Seasiders in a bid to help force his move to Anfield through but their chairman Karl Oyston and manager Ian Holloway are standing firm, prompting his father to launch a stinging attack on the Barclays Premier League newcomers.

- I don’t even think this is about money. It’s because Charlie took them to a tribunal over the bonus they owed him. This is their pay-back. They are saying ‘you won’t make anything out of this, we have got you under contract’, he's saying.

- Liverpool’s offer is 13 times what Blackpool paid for Charles. And they are turning it down? They have been more than compensated for him already.

- Mr Oyston has got to realise it is somebody’s life and future that he is dealing with here. I think it is petty. This should be a time for common sense to prevail.

Today it became clear that also Gerard Houllier will launch a bid for Adam in the summer, according to The Daily Mail.

The latest on the Adam saga is that Liverpool are ready to make one final offer for the Scotsman.

Another player that looked destined to leave, is Milan Jovanovic.

But now he is set to stay at Liverpool after turning down a transfer to Wolfsburg, the Metro reports.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Danish stopper has been attracting plenty of plaudits for his performances in the Championship this season and, according to the Daily Mail, he has caught the eye of Liverpool.

Former Manchester City 'keeper, Schmeichel, began to fulfil his potential with Notts County last season and did enough to earn himself a transfer to Leeds in the summer. And now he could be set to move back to the Barclays Premier League if Liverpool step up their reported interest, GiveMeFootball reports.

However, the idea of Liverpool splashing out £6 million on a no.2 goalie appears to be remote - even for one with the potential of 24-year-old Schmeichel.

Another name that might be on for the summer is Roma striker Mirko Vucinic.
Liverpool are reportedly frontrunners to sign him in the summer.

According to talkSPORT, the Reds are 'strong favourites' for the 27-year-old, although Roma remain unwilling to sell during the January transfer window - but they have received bids for his services.

When asked about the reported interest of Liverpool, Vucinic's agent Alessandro Lucci said:

- The club have stated he is not for sale. Although we have received some bids the club will not be considering any offers. At the end of the season we will make a decision on his future.

Valued at €25 million by transfermarkt.co.uk, Vucinic is one the most highly-regarded forwards in Europe and it would be a major coup if Liverpool could land him in the summer.

Anelka + Cash for Torres?

Even though an official Liverpool FC statement today says 'Torres is not for sale', and a club spokesman said 'Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando which has been turned down. The player is not for sale', the rumours about Fernando Torres possibly going to Chelsea won't go away.

First Spanish football writer Guillem Balague said 'Torres wants Liverpool to keep negotiating with Chelsea.There's NO buyout clause. Four days to go before a POSSIBLE exit of the striker'.

Duncan 'Dunk' Oldham of KopTalk tonight said on Facebook: Source of mine 'worried' about Torres talk. Chelsea confident, Liverpool worried. This is not someone up the ladder though but still in a good position to pass on the mood. At this time, I can honestly say I have no idea what's going on. Talk of Anelka + cash *if* something goes down. Told Kenny doesn't want him to leave at any price. Players don't think he will jump.

LFC fan Brian Durand tweeted: Tony Evans, Times is on Talksport now. Torres leaving very very soon. Via Tony Barrett. Torres told LFC by phone he wants to leave.

A die hard LFC supporter said: 'Just seen Torres outside Melwood, he says he is committed to the club...That's all he said. he signed an autograph and shook my hand'.

Finaly, The Chelsea Blog tonight is saying 'The latest word from The Times is that Fernando Torres has handed in a transfer request to Liverpool FC in light of the continued interest from Chelsea. CFC have met this news with an offer of £40m plus Daniel Sturridge'.

Interesting reading from Michael Owen: Chelsea won’t lure committed Torres away from Anfield.

Benitez back to Anfield?

Today's most predictable transfer rumour is the one that comes every time we are nearing a transfer window.

Barcelona are reportedly plotting a €100 million splurge to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool forward Fernando Torres. 

Also Cologne and Hamburg are apparently chasing Liverpool attacker Milan Jovanovic, which has been put on the transfer list for January at with a £3m price tag.

It has otherwise been a quiet day when it comes to rumors about people coming in, but a few has surfaced.

The first one about an old, but oh so familiar name... 

Reports in Spain today claim that Liverpool's new owners are considering offering Rafa Benitez an escape route from the San Siro back to Anfield, according to KopTalk.

Benitez is unhappy that he has been unable to strengthen his squad and he's indicated that he will leave the club if Inter do not deliver on promises that were made in the summer.

Speaking afer Inter were crowned World Champions, Benitez said:  

- There are three possibilities. One, 100 percent support for the coach and buy four or five players to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.

- Two, carry on like this without a project, without planning and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season getting to May this way.

- The third is to speak to my agent, reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple. 

These are comments that did not fall well with Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, who has criticised the comments made by Rafa, BBC reports.

Koptalk say it has been claimed that John Henry and Tom Werner have drawn up a list of possible replacements and that Benitez is on that list. However, KOPTALK sources exclusively revealed some time ago that André Villas-Boas, the FC Porto manager, was the leading candidate at that time. Other have since latched on to that claim.

Truth be told, as things stand, we can't see a Liverpool return for Benitez but what is positive is that the owners are thinking from themselves and not just listening to members of the former regime who were responsible for axing Benitez and replacing him with Roy Hodgson, the KopTalk site claims.

KopTalk understand that Roy Hodgson will be given the bullet at the end of the season if not before.
 

Today's most twittered and reported Liverpool transfer rumour is that Liverpool are believed to be interested in making a loan move for Chelsea's young striker Daniel Sturridge.

The manager of the Merseyside club, Roy Hodgson, has for some time maintained that he needs to bolster his strike force, so as to give Fernando Torres some breathing space.

And now The People claims that the Reds are looking to take the 21-year-old former Manchester City starlet on loan, with a view to a £5 million permanent transfer during the summer.

Sturridge has not made a single league start at the west London club this term, and it is thought  he could be receptive to a move away from Stamford Bridge to reignite his career.

The same paper repeat that Liverpool are interested in Spurs winger David Bentley. 

But if the interest is to materialise in a January bid there will be competition for the player.

The People today report that Birmingham are willing to outbid Liverpool to land the player that is desperate for an escape route from White Hart Lane after making only two Premier League appearances this term.

And now Tottenham accept they will have to take a hit as they attempt to offload him.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson wants to boost his Anfield squad but the club’s spending capacity is limited, and the Reds cannot offer anything higher than £6m for the winger.

That news will bring hope to Birmingham boss Alex McLeish if he can move early and line up a bid of about £8m.

The Llorente rumour heats up

On this day, in the aftermath of the Napoli 3-1 win, Jamie Carragher says Gerrard is Liverpools best player ever. On the other hand Roy Hodgson says Liverpool cannot keep relying on Gerrard brilliance.

Today also Tom Werner was appointed new chairman of the club, saying he is positive about the ide of a 39th game in Premier League abroad.

The hottest prospect in the transfer market right now, being linked with Liverpool, is Athletic Bilbao star Fernando Llorente. Reports say that he is expected to replace Fernando Torres, if he leaves in January.

Speculation is rife that Torres will quit Anfield in the middle of another disappointing campaign, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Barcelona all linked with him, Talksport writes.

Liverpool won't allow Torres to leave without having a replacement lined up, and his international understudy is the man at the top of their list.

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The 6ft 5in striker, who has scored seven times in 12 appearances for Spain, is nicknamed ‘the Lion King’ in Spain and has a growing reputation both in La Liga and around Europe.

But if the Reds are to pull off a deal for the 25-year-old, new owners New England Sports Ventures may have to meet the €36million buy-out clause in his Bilbao contract.

Another story that has been developing the last few days is that of the young Belgian international Eden Hazard.

He has been admired by Arsene Wenger for many years, but now it seems that Liverpool have joined Arsenal in a bid to take him to Anfield in January.

France Football reports that the 19 year-old was originally thought to be bound for the Emirates, but Liverpool’s new Director of Football, Damien Comolli, has also made contact with Lille as he has been tasked with finding a talented playmaker to assist Fernando Torres at Liverpool, LiverpoolFCNews.net reports.

According to GiveMeFootball.com the attacking midfielder, who often plays in the wing positions, is being courted by Manchester United, Arsenal and Lyon.

Serie A outfit Inter Milan were also thought to be keeping tabs on the player, but former Reds boss Rafa Benitez has dismissed the claims of a potential 2011 bid.

Dubbed 'the little Messi' by Lille boss Claude Puel, 19-year-old Hazard has made 80 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit already. He also has Europa League experience, as well as international recognition with 16 caps thus far for Belgium.

Lille are struggling financially and it is reported that they would accept any reasonable offer over 13m euros for their young star, but it now remains to be seen whether Arsenal or Liverpool want him the lost.

When it comes to the interest in Dutchman Ibrahim Afellay it seems Liverpool is not the only interested club.

The Dutchman’s contract with PSV Eindhoven expires at the end of the season and he has made it clear he does not wish to sign a new deal.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson reportedly traveled to the Netherlands to watch the 24-year-old with a view to signing him while Arsene Wenger also wants to lure Afellay to Arsenal.

However, reports in Spain are now suggesting Jose Mourinho will launch a January bid to bring then highly rated youngster to Spain, GiveMeFootball reports.

But the player himself has already admitted he would love to play in the Premier League, handing the initiative back to Arsenal and Liverpool.

Bolton - Liverpool 2-3

Lørdag fikk Liverpool sesongen tilbake på skinner igjen mot Bolton.

Lørdag skulle Liverpool forsøke å rette opp inntrykket etter to tap på de tre første kampene av sesongen. Og med debut for Sotirios Kyrgiakos så det defensivt solid ut i starten av kampen. Samtidig startet Albert Riera på venstre kant isteden for Yossi Benayoun.

I den første delen av kampen er det imidlertid alt for lite godt offensivt spill av Liverpool. Bortelaget skaper alt for lite på Reebok Stadium det første kvarteret. Men får ha ballen stadig mer jo lengre vi kommer ut i første omgang.

Bolton er tydeligvis mer opptatt av å ikke slippe inn mål enn å score på motstanderen. Etter 20 minutter har Liverpool hatt ballen hele 60 prosent av tiden.

Men det er likevel hjemmelaget som får det første målet - på dødball etter 32 minutter. Alt for mange Bolton-spillere får stå VELDIG alene foran Liverpoolmålet. Hva skjer med forsvarsspillet?

Det skapes imidlertid flere gode angrep og Fernando Torres er nære på et par ganger, og legges blant annet ned i Boltons 16-meter etter 39 minutter.

Men minuttet etter, fra en ball som slås ut fra 16-meteren, får Glen Johnson plass til å sikte og hamrer ballen bak en fjetret Jaaskelainen.

Når dommeren blåser av etter 47 minutter går lagene til pause med hvert sitt mål. Et greit resultat så langt, etter spill og sjanser. Men i den siste halvdelen av omgangen er det definitivt Liverpool som har skapt mest.

Andre omgang sparkes igang uten noen frandringer på noen av lagene. Men allerede etter et drøyt minutt kommer hjemmelaget lett gjennom forsvaret og får satt ballen i mål bak Reina!

Igjen må Liverpool igang med en snuoperasjon!

Liverpool jobber som sårede løver framover på banen. Etter 54 minutter blir Lucas Leiva tatt bakfra på vei framover. Shaun Davies får sitt andre gule kort for dagen og må forlate banen.

Bortelaget har nå beleiret hjemmelagets 16-meter og produserer angrep på angrep. Det ender til slutt med at Torres etter 56 minutter får stå helt alene på 11 meter og putte ballen lekkert forbi Jaaskelanien!

Liverpool fortsetter det harde arbeidet med å snu kampen til seier og jobber frenetisk framover på banen.

Etter 62 minutter blir Riera tatt av til fordel for benayoun.

De neste minuttene er det Liverpool som har ballen. Hjemmelaget får ikke låne læret i det hele tatt. Det produseres mange halvsjanser.

Og med det overtaket Liverpool har i spil ofres Javier Mascherano fra midtbanen for å få plass til Andriy Voronin i angrepet etter 73 minutter.

Etter 81 minutter får endelig Steven Gerrard hull på byllen, etter mye kritikk for en svak start på sesongen. Han hamrer ballen på halv volley fra 16 meter inn bak Jaaskelainen!

To minutter før full tid får Dirk Kuyt hvile og gir plass til Andrea Dossena.

Og når kampen blåses av etter fire minutter tillegg kan Liverpool være mer fornøyd med prestasjonene i andre omgang enn i første. Laget kjempet hardt for å snu kampen og vant til slutt fortjent.

VIDEO: Se en oppsummering av høydepunktene.

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Les kampreferat på Liverpool.no, VGlive og BBC!

Laget som startet: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera, Torres

Benken: Gulacsi, Kelly, Skrtel, Dossena, Plessis, Benayoun, Voronin

Liverpool - Aston Villa 1-3

Mandag kveld var Aston Villa gjester på Anfield, i en kamp som ble deprimerende for hjemmelaget.

På forhånd hadde Benitez snakket om at Liverpool igjen ville etablere sin hjemmebane som Fortress Anfield.

Førsteomgangen starter veldig fint, med mye godt offensivt spill fra Liverpool, og flere gode sjanser. Men utover i omgangen blir det færre avslutninger og dårligere dynamikk i angrepet.

Kampens første mål kommer etter at Lucas Leiva er uheldig. Han forsøker å heade ballen bort når han står i muren for et Villa-frispark etter 34 minutter, men ballen går heller inn bak Reina.

Og kampen får en svært uventet vending i det siste minutt av første omgang, da en Villa-spiller klarer å heade ballen forbi Reina, etter en corner. Dette var deprimerende!

Liverpool åpnet heseblesende i andre omgang i retning The Kop, og hadde en kjempesjanse helt i starten. Og hjemmelaget fortsetter med en rekke fete muligheter de neste minuttene, blant annet har Dirk Kuyt en heading i stolpen.

Liverpool kjemper som galleislaver for å forsøke å hente inn igjen ledelsen til bortelaget, og etter 72 minutter får endelig Fernando Torres putta hjemmelagets første for kvelden.

Bare minuttet etterpå feller Steven Gerrard Reo-Cocker i egen 16-meter og lager straffespark! Ballen blir plassert bak Reina av Ashley Young og bortelaget har svart etter reduseringen.

Liverpool angriper og angriper resten av kampen, men Brad Friedel er i det virkelig umulige hjørnet og ingenting går hjemmelagets vei.

Fasiten etter de tre første kampene av Premier League er dermed for Liverpool én seier og to tap.

Deprimerende.

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Les kamprapporter hos Liverpool.no, VGlive og BBC!

Laget som startet: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Benayoun, Gerrard, Torres

Benken: Cavalieri, Dossena, Ayala, Kelly, Riera, Babel, Voronin.

Villa linkes igjen

Nok en gang blir David Villa koblet til en overgang fra Valencia til Liverpool.

Sommeren 2009 har vært sterkt preget av at Xabi Alonso ønsker å dra fra Merseyside for å spille for Real Madrid. Og denne helga har det kommet historier om at han har levert inn en egen transfer-søknad til Rafa Benitez, og at andre klubber også skal være interessert. Det skal ha blitt satt en 48-timers frist for Real til å komme opp med et tilfredsstillende beløp, slik at avtalen kan bli sluttført. Trolig vil det komme en avgjørelse mandag.

Samtidig spekuleres det vilt i hvilke spillere Benitez vil bringe inn om Alonso forsvinner. Etter at Alvaro Arbeloa ble solgt til Madrid, og flere andre mindre sentrale spillere også er blitt solgt, begynner det å bli klart at forsterkninger må komme inn. Tidligere har jeg skrevet om Alberto Aquilani, som igjen linkes til Liverpool.

Men i dag skriver The daily Telegraph at Liverpool igjen skal være interessert i å parre Fernando Torres med David Villa i angrepet. Dette til tross for at Villa for bare noen dager siden gikk ut og sa han trolig blir i Valencia - slik blant andre FourFourTwo skrev.

Men nå drar altså Telegraph igjen den gamle koblingen, og skriver at Liverpool skal føle seg trygge på å kunne hente ham, til tross for at han tidligere i sommer skal ha avslått tilbud fra både Barcelona og Real Madrid.

Jeg får vann i munnen når jeg tenker på at dette eventuelt kan bli noe av. Men tror vi noe på dette nå?

Hva mener du?

Noe VIRKELIG stort på gang...?

Nye investorer på vei inn? Ferskt bud på David Villa?

Litt for mange tilfeldigheter som peker i den samme retningen? Eller er det bare jeg som overtolker visse signaler? Den siste tiden har det gått rykter om nye investorer, til en ikke navngitt Premier League-klubb. Og de fleste tror dette er Portsmouth.

Men følg med: Den relativt ferske Liverpool-bloggen TheRoadEnd skriver i dag at George Gillett og Tom Hicks har engasjert firmaet Franklin Andrews Kramer & Edelstein - et firma som skal være kjent for å komme inn i siste del av prosessen når store firmaer skal selges, for å maksimere prisen.

Bloggen hevder firmaet fra i dag av har representanter i midtøsten for å møte flere interesserte parter.

Det har de siste årene gått mange rykter om salg av klubben, men dette topper trolig det meste. Her hevdes det nemlig at salget trolig vil være klart i løpet av helga, og at større summer vil bli gjort tilgjengelig til spillerkjøp.

Da er det også nokså oppsiktsvekkende at det omtrent akkurat samtidig kommer en rapport gjennom nettstedet FootyLatest, som hevder den spanske avisa Marca skriver at Liverpool er i ferd med å komme med et kjempebud på David Villa, fordi man har "managed to find the funds to make a massive bid".

Samtidig sier imidlertid Fernando Torres at han tror landslagskompisen blir i Spania. Både Barcelona og Real Madrid er selvsagt også interessert, mens Torres ikke tror Liverpool har midlene som skal til.

Eller er det i ferd med å endre seg? Er det for godt til å være sant? Er det noen som forsøker å lure oss? Hva tror du?

Johson nesten klar?

Er Glen Johnson-handelen så godt som i boks? Skal David Villa komme til Merseyside? Saviola linkes igjen, m.fl.

Det ser altså, ut fra alle rapportene i media, at Glen Johnson kan bli Rafa Benitez' første spillerkjøp i sommer. I følge aviser og nettsteder som Liverpool Echo, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Morning Star og ITV skal Portsmouth ha akseptert et bud på fra £17m til £18,5m, alt ettersom hvilke rapporter man stoler på.

Liverpool Echo skriver at summen vil være langt lavere enn antydet i andre medier, som The Guardian som sier summen er £18,5m. Antagelig fordi Pompey fortsatt skylder Liverpool en større sum etter kjøpet av Peter Crouch. The Daily Mail skriver at Liverpool har til gode £7m fra Portsmouth etter den handelen.

Både Manchester City og spillerens tidligere klubb Chelsea skal ha vært interessert, men Johnson hadde Liverpool som førstevalg.

Det antydes flere steder at denne handelen kan føre til at Alvaro Arbeloa blir solgt til Real Madrid. Men er det lurt? Burde vi ikke beholde en anvendelig spiller som Arbeloa?

Hva mener du?

Samtidig er det blitt klart at Real Madrid ikke vil hente David Villa, slik mange har trodd. Og den spanske klubben har også gitt opp å hente midtbanemotor Xabi Alonso. I lyset av at Real har gitt opp Villa er det interessant at Fernando Torres nå går ut og oppfordrer Liverpool til å hente hans landslagskompis til Merseyside.

- Det er Rafa Benitez som kjøper spillere, og jeg er sikker på at de vil forsterke oss. Men om det var opp til meg ville jeg hentet David Villa. Men det er ikke sikkert det er mulig, sier Torres i følge The Daily Star.

Er det et hint om hva som muligens kan komme? Hva tror du?

Etter flere storkjøp for Real Madrid er det stor sjanse for at flere av stjernene på Santiago Bernabeu er på vei ut. I følge NRK skal hele 12 spillere være satt på transferlista, blant dem Rafael van der Vaart, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Wesley Sneijder, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben og Javier Saviola.

Og ifølge Premiership Latest kan Saviola være nestemann på vei til Liverpool. Nettstedet mener å vite at Liverpool er rede til å by £5m for spilleren.

Eller er Liverpool den mystiske tredje klubben som har kommet med bud på Wigans Antonio Valencia?

Eller kanskje det stemmer, slik The New Football Pools skriver, at Liverpool er i ferd med å komme med et nytt bud på den tyske Borussia Dortmund-vingen Jakub Blaszczykowski?