Showing posts with label Sebastian Larsson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sebastian Larsson. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Bayern Munich striker bid confirmed

 On the day that it emerged that former Liverpool owner Tom Hicks will go to court in a bid to lift orders preventing him from launching damages claim over Liverpool FC sale, both fresh and familiar faces are on the transfer radar.
Liverpool had a January offer for Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez rejected, it has emerged.

BBC Sport reports that Chelsea also made a move for the German, but Bayern resisted the temptation to sell Gomez, with the Blues then switching their attention Fernando Torres.

Gomez, 25, moved to Munich from Stuttgart in 2009 for a Bundesliga record fee - reportedly in the region of €35 million - but struggled to make a significant impact during his first season at the Allianz Arena.

This led to speculation that he could leave Bavaria after just one year, and speculation was rife in the summer that Liverpool had tried to secure his services on a season-long loan deal.

Indeed, the player soon confirmed that Liverpool had made contact with Bayern over a proposed deal.

Liverpool will make a surprise approach for AC Milan’s Kevin-Prince Boateng.

The former Portsmouth player transferred to San Siro last summer in a complicated co-ownership deal with Genoa after impressing for Ghana in the 2010 World Cup finals, helping the Black Stars to the quarter finals in South Africa.

He has proved popular at Milan with coach Massimiliano Allegri selecting him regularly until he was sidelined with a thigh injury sustained on a mid-season tour of Dubai.

The Reds have monitored his progress and believe he has matured from the erratic player that could be either sublime or ridiculous while at Pompey, Sportingo claims.

Virtuoso displays were often coupled with selfish performances or acts of petulance and his last act on English soil was to miss a crucial penalty in the 2010 FA Cup final against Chelsea when the scores were 0-0 just minutes before Didier Drogba scored the winner for the Londoners.

Still only 23, Boateng has a bright future and one that Liverpool want to be part of but whether Milan would be willing to sell is another matter entirely.

Liverpool are ready to further bolster their attacking options by landing Napoli hitman Ezequiel Lavezzi in the summer.

Director of sporting strategy Damien Comolli has identified Lavezzi as the next striker on the club’s wish list, TalkSport claims.

The Argentina international has formed a lethal partnership with Edinson Cavani this season with the pair hitting 23 goals in 24 games between them in Serie A. But, according to reports in Italy, Liverpool are now lining up a big-money bid for the 25-year-old who is valued at around £20m by Napoli.

Liverpool are reportedly ready to reignite their interest in Spanish youngster Sergio Canales.

The 19-year-old joined Real Madrid last summer – spurning the chance to move to Merseyside, according to Goal.com – but has struggled to make an impact on Jose Mourinho’s side.

Spanish publication, Onda Cero, has since claimed that Real were willing to let the attacking midfielder leave the Bernabeu and, now, caughtoffside.com reports that Liverpool have registered their interest.

Despite his lack of first team action – and the reported interest from Liverpool – Canales is more than happy to remain in Madrid and fight for his place, commenting that he continues to enjoy the experience with Los Blancos.

"It's complicated when you don't play all the time, but this is Real Madrid," he said.

"I am very happy with how the fans greeted me. The crowd seemed to feel much affection for me, which is important to me.

Liverpool also will look to lure Birmingham winger Sebastian Larsson in the summer, according to reports by Mirror Football, CleenSheetsAllRound claims.

The Sweden international was rumoured with a move to Manchester City in the January transfer window and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a move away from St Andrews is practically a certainty.

“It has been a strange January for me, I’m not going to lie,” he said to The Mirror. “I’m going to be honest – at one stage it didn’t seem at one point that the club knew what they wanted to do to me.

“I’m not criticising them, I’m just telling the story how it was. It’s not an ideal situation for me but the window is closed now and I have said all along that I’m happy where I am.”

Larsson is expected to quit St Andrews when the window reopens, with Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United all set to make him offers.

Kenny Dalglish apparently wants the 25-year-old midfielder at Anfield, and the Scot would be confident of beating Aston Villa, Blackburn and Newcastle in the race for his signature.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Highly rated manager linked

German is hottest nanager prospect. Bid made for Dutch winger? Swedish international linked.

These days the vast majority of Liverpool supporters will be waiting in suspense; who will eventually take over as manager after Roy Hodgson? When will there be a press coference? 

Speculations are mounting, with loads of names being mentioned. But right now there is one hot candidate on the radar...
Ralf Ragnick is linked with the Anfield manager job.
Up until now former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard  has looked the most likely successor to Hodgson. And reports has said the Dutchman is thought to be receptive to the idea of taking the helm at Anfield.

But now it seems the hottest prospect for the position is German coach Ralf Rangnick, with several reports linking him to the job.

Didier Deschamps unlikely to be tempted?
According to The Daily Post Marseille boss Didier Deschamps, who turned down an approach from Liverpool in the summer, is believed to be their first choice. But the former France international is unlikely to be tempted to Anfield mid season with L’OM still in contention for the French League title and the Champions League.

However, the highly-rated Rangnick is available having quit German side Hoffenheim on Saturday in protest at Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo being sold to Bayern Munich against his wishes.

According to the German media, the 52-year-old former Schalke coach has caught the eye of Liverpool after leading Hoffenheim to back-to-back promotions to reach the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history.

His attack-minded brand of football is likely to appeal to Liverpool fans, but a lack of top-flight silverware and a poor record in Europe are likely to count against him.

Other targets mentioned are Andre Villa-Boas, the Porto manager, and Borussia boss Jurgen Klopp. But they are unlikely to be available until the summer, the paper claims.

More interesting reading: Ralf Rangnick – Next Liverpool Manager? (Tomkins Times)

Eljero Elia.
The most promising rumour when it comes to player signings right now is Dutch winger Eljero Elia from Bundesliga side Hamburg.

According to The Daily Mail Hamburg daily newspaper Morgenpost has suggested today that Liverpool have made a bid in the region of £13million for a player who has previously been compared with current Anfield man Ryan Babel.

According to German press he already has agreed personal terms with Liverpool. Elia has made 10 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring twice. He was a member of Holland's World Cup squad, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute in the final for Dirk Kuyt.

The 23-year-old wide man has fallen out of favour with his current employers after failing to hit the heights of his debut campaign in Germany following a 2009 move from Steve McClaren's FC Twente.

His slump in form has led to reports he would make the switch to Wolfsburg, currently managed by McClaren, in a bid rekindle the form that earned him rave reviews in Holland.

Sebastian Larsson.
A fresh name on the Liverpool stransfer radar is former Arsenal player Sebastian Larsson.

The Sweden international has shone for Birmingham this season, but they have so far failed to agree on a new deal and his current contract is due to expire in the summer.

The former Arsenal man is now free to talk to foreign clubs and could move on a Bosman free transfer in the summer. Atletico have now joined the battle for his signature with Valencia already showing an interest.

However, skysports.com understands a host of Premier League clubs are set to join the chase, including Liverpool, are all thought to be keen on taking him on a free transfer at the end of the season.