Luis Suarez deal imminent?

There is still no solution to the Ryan Babel situation. At the moment he is in talks with Hoffenheim, having passed the medical test.
But according to Fox Sports Babel favors a switch to Ajax.

However there are more clubs that would like to sign the dutchman. His agent has revealed that the Liverpool forward has six offers on the table from various clubs, including Hoffenheim.

According to Live4Liverpool there 'was a total of three German offers and three English clubs also wanted him'.

Luis Suarez is on the verge of moving to Liverpool, according to reports.

The Daily Mail claims that 'Reds owner John Henry met with the Ajax striker's agent in London on Tuesday night as talks accelerated over the proposed deal.

'Henry dined with agent Pere Guardiola - the brother of Barcelona boss Pep - as Liverpool move in on their No 1 January target.'

The deal is being described as 'imminent', with the Mail announcing 'Uruguay striker Suarez fancies a move to Merseyside as there are plenty of Spanish speakers in the Reds dressing room.'

The Dutch giants want around £27million for the player but he is expected to leave for a much lower figure.

And today's most positive surprise was the message from Liverpool chairman Tom Werner, insisting the club's owners are prepared to splash the cash if the right player becomes available in the transfer window.

Valuations of Suarez stretch from £18m to £25m and it remains to be seen whether Anfield's new owners are prepared to go that far.

But, asked if Liverpool still had the money to secure marquee signings like the £22m spent on Torres in 2007, Werner replied: 'Yes. Look at our history. We will be driven by value but we certainly have the resources to have some targets'.

Anderlecht president Herman van Holsbeeck has confirmed that Liverpool have enquired about their striker Romelu Lukaku, along with Chelsea and Tottenham.

- Our price will be around €30million [£25.2m]. We received one offer from an English club three days before the end of the August transfer period. It was €10m [£8.4m] immediately and €10m in one year. We would not accept the offer because we wanted to keep the player. I think he will go to the Premier League. For him the team is in England. We know that Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool are interested in him and that they follow the player, he said according to Live4Liverpool.

- There is some interest from Real Madrid but we know they are interested in every good young player. What for us is the right club? The Premier League clubs from the UK are the biggest clubs in the world with a lot of money.

Lukaku confirmed this week a move to Chelsea or another Premier League club would be his preferred destination:

A new name enters the transfer stage... According to GiveMeFootball Liverpool are facing stiff competition from Chelsea in the race to sign Chilean international Alexis Sanchez.

The Udinese star has been monitored by a string of top European clubs in recent seasons, with Liverpool one of those keen to bring the player to the Barclays Premier League.

Real Madrid, Lyon and Manchester United are also thought to be interested in signing the player, but Chelsea now appear to be leading the race for the 22-year-old, according to the Metro.
Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo has revealed that the Blues are in talks with the club over a move for the player, who has previously been dubbed 'the new Ronaldo'.

Sanchez has the ability to play on either flank, and the former River Plate loanee shot to prominence after braking into the Chilean national team as a teenager.

It's unknown if new Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has taken an interest in the player, but the Merseysiders are keen to add attacking flair to their outfit in the current transfer window.

Finaly, a more familiar face on radar - Keisuke Honda.

Sport.co.uk can confirm that meetings have been scheduled with a number of top European clubs next week at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar with representatives from the Premier League trio of Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa expected in the Gulf state.

Liverpool are considered to the favourites to land Honda with Kenny Dalglish and Director of football Strategy Damien Comolli keen on the frontman, while Arsenal scouts and Aston Villa representatives are also present in Qatar with both club manager’s fans of the forward, although Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier could baulk at the price-tag of the forward.

AC Milan have also been tracking Honda since the World Cup last summer.

World Cup star newcomer on the Liverpool transfer radar

Today's rumour mill consists mainly of old rumours growing stronger or weaker. But there is also one new name coming through to the radar...

Apparently Liverpool are leading the race for Werder Bremen’s World Cup star Per Mertesacker.

The 26 year-old centre-back, is now on the Kop radar after director of football Damien Comolli made a ­personal check on him before Christmas. Bremen are ­prepared to sell the 26-year-old following their exit from the Champions League – but have told any interested clubs that the bidding will start at £10m, The Mirror claims.

Comolli watched ­Mertesacker in action as ­Werder suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Kaiserslautern on December 18 in their final Bundesliga game before the German winter break.

He recommended Liverpool should make a move for the Germany international.

But Liverpool are also keen to balance their books by ­shipping out a central ­defender to make way for the highly-rated German. They will look to cash in on Daniel Agger before they make a move for Mertesacker.

Agger is being touted around ­Europe after being told he can leave Anfield following his fall from grace under manager Roy Hodgson. (Daily Mirror)

More: 10 things you need to know about Per Mertesacker

The Mirror also reports that Liverpool are ready to bankroll bids for Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross and Aston Villa’s Ashley Young.

Comolli has lined up a bid for Young, fighting Manchester United in the £15million race, while he and Hodgson watched centre-half Shawcross in action last week. But United could also mess up that deal – they have the first option on Shawcross, a former reserve at Old Trafford.

The Anfield regime are looking to invest in the best young British players. Top target is England Under-21 striker Daniel Sturridge, who has told Chelsea he wants to go to Liverpool on loan after making just two league starts in two seasons at Stamford Bridge.

Young’s camp know that Liverpool want him even if Hodgson goes so that deal could go through despite any possible managerial upheaval in the next few weeks.

One rumour that is being renewed is that Roy Hodgson is keen on signing Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

The Danish international has been linked with a host of clubs as reports suggest that he may look for a move due to a lack of first team opportunities at the Emirates, claims Caughtoffside.

The powerfully built 22 year old received his first Premier League of the season a few days ago and he went on to score a goal in the game at Wigan. The likes of Lazio and Fulham have both reportedly made enquiries about signing the big striker and Arsene Wenger may well consider offers for Bendtner given that he is low down in the Arsenal pecking order.

Valued at around £8m Nicklas Bendtner is in his fourth season in the first team picture and is no nearer to getting regular first team football and may well be tempted by a move to Merseyside.

Another familiar name that again apparently is relevant on the radar is highly rated and versatile midfielder Keisuke Honda.

It is believed that the Japanese star had agreed a verbal agreement with the club during the latter stages of December and will finalise a move to Anfield within the January transfer window, KopSource claims.

Despite Honda being one of CSKA Moscow’s most consistent players this season, reports suggest that the 24-year-old has not taken to life in Russia after a £6M move to the club last January.

And Damien Comolli looks set to pounce upon the players situation after being impressed with the Blue Samuri’s performances and abilities.

The fee reported, believed to be around £15m, would be a snip for a player of his calibre; not to mention the revenue that would be made from shirt sales in the very lucrative Far East market. It has been said that Honda is the number one most recognisable footballer – pushing Brand Beckham into number two.

Liverpool would have to sell between 300,000 (£13.5M) and 400,000 (£18M) LFC Jerseys in Japan for Honda’s transfer fee to pay itself. And with Japan having a population of 127 million, the figures look very achievable.

Liverpool and Birmingham City are keeping tabs on Watford's teenage striker Marvin Sordell, The People Report.

The 19-year-old has came through the ranks at Vicarage Road, scoring nine goals this season - including against Portsmouth yesterday - and has caught the eye of top-flight clubs including Brum and Liverpool.

Sordell was sent out on loan to Tranmere last season to gain first-team experience and made flying to start to this campaign after being given a chance by Hornets boss Malky Mackay.

Swedish striker back on the radar

Speculations keeps coming on Roy Hodgsons manager future. According to FootballTransferTavern|he has got three games to save his job and turn Liverpools season around.

It seems Frank Rijkaard is the man ready to replace Hodgson.

During the summer transfer window Swedish striker Ola Toivonen was linked with a transfer to Liverpool. Now it seems the PSV player is back in the frame.

The PSV Eindhoven player scored twice as the Dutch club ran out 2-1 winners against Sampdoria in the Europa League.

His recent performances will have no doubt caught the eye of Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson as he looks to bring another striker to Anfield to take the goalscoring burden away from Fernando Torres.
- We have discussed his name, that's true, Hodgson earlier has told Sky Sports. - Like all teams, we are looking at a lot of players.
- I do know the player and think he is a good player, but can't give you any further indication.

- That doesn't mean we are going to rush in and buy him tomorrow. But he is a player who has come up, we have watched him and we know about him.

Now Liverpool are understood to be considering stepping up their interest in the £10 million-rated Sweden international in January in a bid to reinforce the striking ranks at Anfield, GiveMeFootball reports.

Liverpool have not yet made a move for reported Liverpool target Keisuke Honda, according to the player's agent.

Reports in Russia suggested that the two clubs had already begun negotiations over a possible transfer, with the Reds prepared to pay up to £8million.

But the 24-year-old's representative Kees Ploegsma insists there have been no offers for his client so far.

- To date, there is no offer for Keisuke from Liverpool, Kees Ploegsma says according to Sky Sports.

- There is nothing, these are just rumours. The situation is quiet. To date, there is no offer for Keisuke from Liverpool, nor from other teams.

- The player has a contract with CSKA Moscow [until 2013] and is now on vacation.

According to a report from France Football, Liverpool will move for Stade Rennais winger Sylvain Marveaux in the coming weeks as the talented 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer and will be available on a free transfer.

Rennes have repeatedly tried to extend the contract of the Vannes-born player, though he has persistently turned down their advances.

Having been approached by Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille last summer, it appears that Marveaux’s future is in England as new Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli has instigated the move for the former France Under-21 international.

Last season was something of a breakthrough campaign for the attacker, who scored an impressive 10 goals in 35 appearances. Previously his career had been rather blighted by injury, and even now he won’t play until 2011 because of a hamstring problem.

Liverpool have been recently linked with highly rated FC Copenhagen left-back Oscar Wendt and have admitted to scouting the defender.

Reds scout Jakob Friis-Hansen explained to swedish paper Expressen:

- We are keeping a good eye on Oscar. He does a great job, but he must play at a high level every week, the scout said.

- In Denmark there are just a few high-quality games.

He’s hardly Liverpool’s secret though. Several clubs such as Tottenham, Roma and Juventus have previously been keen on the player but a contract renewal in 2009 put an end to any potential move for the left-back.

German outfit Werder Bremen are now on red alert having discovered Liverpool’s possible intent and have renewed their interest. Bremen signed former Manchester United left-back Mikael Silvestre to fill the role last year, but Bermen manager Thomas Schaaf is far from satisfied with the former French International’s performances.

Wendt is very much the modern full-back and could fit comfortably into both teams. He a very strong defender but he also has the ability to get forward and support attacking play.

The Swede has been linked to a host of clubs, and probably more than we know about. Liverpool will have to write a decent cheque to land this one. Despite a valuation of £2.5million to £4million, it’s likely Roy will get his man at around £6million come January.

Reported Liverpool target Mirko Vucinic seems to be closer to a departure from Roma, according to TribalFootball.

Mirko Vucinic's minders are not firm in their commitment to AS Roma.

Rather than rule out a move away, the striker's agent, Eugene Ascari, now says the decision will be up to Roma management.

Vucinic confessed earlier this season an ambition to play in England.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all had the Montenegro star watched in the last 12 months.

Liverpool in negotiations with Honda?

We are rapidly approaching half way this season, and with a miserable start rumors about who possibly will replace Roy Hodgson will not go away.

The name that keeps coming back is Frank Rijkaard who is, according to FootyLatest almost certain to be the next Liverpool manager

Money has flooded in to some bookies in recent days and now William Hill go massive odds on that Rijkaard will be named as the next manager at Anfield.

Elsewhere there is a player that seems almost certain to be headed for Anfield in January...

Liverpool's interest in Japanese star Keisuke Honda is apparently leading to action, as the team is reportedly commencing negotiations with the CSKA attacker.

Honda, who is valued at £12m, can play in any attacking role -- midfield, on the wing, or as a second striker -- and is one of the world's best set-piece takers.

His performances in the World Cup were so impressive that Arsene Wenger called him a "genius" and "the best player in the competition." Still, it is Liverpool - not Arsenal - that appear to be favorites to land him, while AC Milan is in the mix as well, according to GiveMeFootball.

Sankei Sports has reported that CSKA management is willing to part with Honda for the right price.

- We will not lock our players in. If the bid is fair, we respect the players' will, they have said.

Honda has long been assumed to be on the move to a bigger club.

Another familiar face is appearing on the radar; Liverpool are now being linked with a shock January move for former striker Djibril Cisse.

The French international forward is reportedly on the verge of a Panthanaikos exit, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is one of a number of Premier League managers thought to be considering a move for the player, Metro reports.

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is also thought to be interested in the player, and could use his French connections in a bid to bring the player to Villa Park.

Fulham manager Mark Hughes is the other interested party, with the Cottagers viewing the player as a second option should they fail to land Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City.

However, reports from France and the continent claim that Liverpool could make a substantial offer for the 29-year-old striker in the opening month of 2011.

A move would see Cisse return to Anfield, where he signed in 2004 and won a Champions League medal the following season. His two-season stint on Merseyside was interrupted by a leg break though, and the mercurial striker could have unfinished business with Liverpool.

An earlier reported Liverpool transfer target is out of favour Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra.

The Real Madrid midfielder is heavily linked with a Santago Bernabeu exit in the opening month of 2011, and Spurs are thought to have joined Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson in the race to sign the player, GiveMeFootball writes.

Diarra has Premier League experience through his time at Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth. Sold to Madrid for a fee in the region of £20 million, Diarra appears out-of-the frame under Jose Mourinho.

Resigned to a substitutes role with Los Blancos, Liverpool have highlighted the player as someone who could strengthen the Reds' squad at Anfield following a difficult start to the season.

Also Sportsvibe now reports that Redknapp has highlighted the player to his board at Tottenham Hotspur, with the club keen to strengthen as they challenge on several fronts this season.

Liverpool are after Hamburg winger Jonathan Pitroipa, according to The People.

The Burkina Faso international is allegedly being closely monitored by the Merseysiders and Reds scouts have been watching the 24-year-old with a view to launching a January bid.

Roy Hodgson was alerted to the talents of the Pitroipa when he impressed against his Fulham side in last season's Europa League, and the Liverpool boss has since thought to have kept a keen eye on his progress.

The former SC Freiburg attacker could be available to Liverpool for around £5 million and would fit with Hodgson's pledge to add more potency to his Anfield frontline.

Yet another new name: Birmingham defender Scott Dann is a possible transfer target for both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur according to reports from Sky Sports.

The 23-year-old has been earning rave reviews since moving from Coventry to Birmingham City and has been tipped for an England call-up in recent weeks after a number of eye-catching performances at the heart of the Blues defence.

A number of clubs are believed to be tracking the former England Under-21 international who has formed an impressive partnership with tough tackling defender Roger Johnson.

Liverpool are reportedly ready to make a move for Dann in January after finding out that Jamie Carragher has been ruled out of action for three months with a dislocated shoulder.

The Reds defence has struggled to keep clean sheets this season with Daniel Agger currently ruled out for the foreseeable future and Glen Johnson also having missed a number of games through injury.

- Obviously the speculation linking me with some top clubs in the Premier League is flattering, Dann told skysports.com.

- Ultimately it is my ambition to play at the highest level with a major club like it is for any player, but for the time being I am happy playing at Birmingham and I am focused on doing my best for the club, he says.

Hazard interest confirmed

Today Liverpool FC have announced plans to launch International Football Academies across the world.

But even if Liverpool wants to develop new talent in the long term the transfer rumour mill of potential purchases in January still is running hot.

Lately Eden Hazard has been appearing on the Liverpool transfer radar a lot of times. Also, before Liverpool's new owners, and Damien Comolli came in, his name constantly came up.  

The strategy of buying young promising players to the offensive midfielder fit nicely into, as he is only 19 years old, but already an established U17 international for Belgium.
 
Liverpool Echo claims that Hazard is a Liverpool transfer target. Roy Hodgson and scout Laurent Viaud had their eyes on the player, when he helped send Lillle to the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday.  
 
Hazard would have a price tag of £18m, but the reds will according to the Echo have hopes of his signature promising first team action.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has been put on alert after Joan Capdevila reached contract stalemate with Villarreal, The Daily Mirror reports.

The paper remarks that the Spain international is looking for a two-year contract extension, but the Primera Division outfit are hesitant to hand the 32-year-old a deal that lasts over 12 months.

Capdevila's contract expires next summer, and with the Yellow Submarines seemingly unwilling to meet his demands, it is thought that the World Cup winner could be in line to make a Bosman transfer to the Premier League.

Ther former Atletico Madrid and Deportivo full-back, who has missed just five matches in four years from the Madrigal club, is allegedly close friends with the Reds' goalkeeper and international colleague Pepe Reina, and it has been suggested that the defender could be tempted by an offer to head to Anfield for free.

Capdevila was also linked with a move to Serie A giants Juventus during the summer window, but opeted to remain in La Liga.

Karim Benzema reportedly wants out of Real Madrird and Jamie Redknapp is urging Anfield owners to purchase the 22-year-old Frenchman.

Benzema wowed the English crowd last week when he scored for France against England at Wembley last week. Such a performance has prompted Redknapp to urge the Reds to go after the young striker.

- Liverpool need a striker and they should look no further than Karim Benzema, the former Liverpool midfielder wrote in the Daily Mail.

- He played this game like it was his personal audition. He's started only one league game for Real Madrid this season and we could all see last night that he is better than that. Benzema enjoyed his night and put on a bit of a show.

- The new Anfield owners have their first challenge: sign him, he added.

Benzema joined Real for around €30m, but could reportedly be available to Liverpool at closer to €12m.

Elsewhere, Liverpool look set to make an offer for Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross after Tony Pulis declared his interest in Mauricio Victorino, according to the Metro.

The Uruguayan international is keen on a move to the Premier League but it leaves the door open for Shawcross to move on.

The former Manchester United defender has been linked with a move to Anfield for some time now but Tottenham and his former employers could throw a spanner in the works.

Liverpool, though, have moved into pole position even though a centre back is not one of Roy Hodgson’s priorities right now.

But the Liverpool boss will be hoping he can sign the 23-year-old for a knockdown price in January and will be hoping Pulis brings Victorino to the Britannia Stadium.

Sir Alex Ferguson could make a move to re-sign his former academy starlet, though, and a moved to Old Trafford could be too hard to resist for Shawcross.

Liverpool have also reportedly joined the race to sign Japanese international playmaker Keisuke Honda.

The versatile CSKA Moscow player, who is comfortable in wing or striking positions, is thought to be considering a Russian Premier League exit with Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson one of the managers thought to be keen.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was heavily linked with the player in the summer after a series of complimentary comments during the World Cup, but Liverpool have now joined the chase for the player.

Player agent Kees Ploegsma told Sport.co.uk:

- When a big club comes in he will want to leave but at the moment that has not happened.



- A lot of managers will be watching him after he played so well at the World Cup - now they can watch him more for CSKA and hopefully they will decide to try and do something in January.

CSKA are reportedly considering cashing in on the player, and Liverpool are set to challenge AC Milan and the Gunners for the player's signature.

Two fresh and one updated rumour

As Pepe Reina is rumoured to consider his club future in the summer, there is no shortage of rumours about players possibly on their way to anfield...

Alexandre Lacazette.

Liverpool is reportedly interested in Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette. 

According to GiveMeFootball Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool are all chasing the young French players signature.

Lacazette has impressed the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Cup over the Summer, and Tottenham are also reported to be interested in the young striker according to the French media.

Liverpool are the latest team to be put into the battle to attract Lacazette. The French media claim that Damien Commoli, Liverpool's new Director of Football strategy is believed to have ordered the Anfield scouts to keep a vigilant eye on the Frenchman.

Keisuke Honda.

An earlier linked player - Japanese attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda could be on his way to Anfield in January.


The CSKA Moscow player has been linked to a host of top European sides after a highly impressive World Cup but has stayed with CSKA Moscow for the start of this season.

Roy Hodgson is however planning to continue his overhaul of Liverpool’s playing staff, he is set to try and beat Arsenal and AC Milan to Honda’s signing, TalkSport reports.

According to sources in Russia Honda will be available for around £9 million, despite having three years left to run on the contract he signed with CSKA this time last year after signing from Dutch side VVV Venlo.

Javier Pastore.

Liverpool will have comepetition from Manchester United for the signature of Palermo’s Argentine Wonderkid Javier Pastore, FootballTransferTavern reports.

A host of top European clubs were linked with the attacking midfielder in 2009, but the lure of playing for Walter Zenga’s side proved too much at such a young age.

Although mostly introduced from the bench to start with. The youngster described as the new Zidane soon flourished with the arrival of Delio Rossi as Palermo’s head coach.

Only one season into his contract it seems he has done enough to convice the Premiership giants that he would be ready to cut his teeth alongside their biggest stars.

Unfortunately it looks like Palermo will do everything in their power to fend off approaches for their prized asset but with player power at an all time high will, Pastore himself have the last say in whether he lands in at Old Trafford or Anfield in the January or summer transfer windows.