Hodgson's doomed, but who's coming?

Happy New Year to all readers of Murphy's Liverpool!

On the first day of the new year - and of the first day of the Janyar transfer window - it has become clear that NESV are convinced Roy Hodgson is not the man to lead the club forward in the long-term.
They are now actively considering replacing him midway through the season, should the right candidate become available.

At least that is what Rory Smith of the Telegraph has from his sources.

He also claims Tom Werner and John W. Henry, would prefer to make their first appointment a permanent one – seemingly ruling out a return for Kenny Dalglish as caretaker.

They hope to attract a young, ambitious coach to revitalise the club after two years of regression under Hodgson and his predecessor, Rafael Benitez.

According to The Telegraph the new manager needs to be Youthful, Progressive, Adaptable and Successful.

Undoubtedly NESV has a rebuilding process on their hands and apparently is going to kick-start it by attempting to lure Shaun Wright-Phillips away from Manchester City.

This seems strange however, given the NESV policy of bringing in younger talent.

Click Liverpool claims Liverpool hopes to sign the England international now the transfer market has reopened for business.

Wright-Phillips has been told that he will be allowed to leave if a suitable offer is tabled and could join Liverpool for as little as £4million - barely even half of what City paid Chelsea to re-sign him in August 2008, having sold him for £21million three years prior.

Liverpool are according to The Mirror ready to beat Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid to the £15m signing of France star Yann M'Vila.

Director of football Damien Comolli has identified the Rennes defensive midfielder as a central player in the rebuilding of the Reds.

Real Madrid have also contacted Rennes about the player who is under contract until 2014.

Elsewhere the Footballtransfertavern claims Liverpool are close to sealing a deal with Trabzonspor for reported target Teofilo Gutierrez.

The 25-year-old Colombian international striker has been linked with a move to Merseyside since the summer and now it would appear that Roy Hodgson is ready to offer £6million.

The former Junior Barranquilla forward may be a savvy piece of business for the reds, he will be relatively affordable and has had top level experience.

He was also exceptionally prolific in Colombia where hit 42 goals in just 79 appearances and impressed during his time in Turkey.

Johnson replacement in sight?

The January transfer window is just about ten days away, with the rumour mill going of it's hinges.

Even if it has been said Liverpool do not need or want to sell players, one or two might find the way out of Anfield. One player that has not been of the best this season is Christian Poulsen. He might be headed for London.

According to Goal.com West Ham manager Avram Grant want to move for the Liverpool flop if he avoids sack until January

If another player disapears in January, Hodgson apparently has his replacement in sight... 

Roy Hodgson has apparently decided to get rid of Glen Johnson after all, and has set his sights on Russian right back Alexander Anyukov to replace him, FootballTransferTavern reports.

After the Liverpool boss’ very public criticism of Johnson’s form, it was thought the England right back would be on his way out of Anfield come January, and despite club press releases to the contrary, it looks as though the relationship between player and manager is beyond repair.

The Daily Mail has reported Hodgson’s interest in Alexander Anyukov, who currently plays for Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg. The 28-year-old is a very experienced professional, including 54 caps for his country, and may bring a bit of stability to Liverpool’s back line.

Anyukov is valued by his club at around £10m, which Liverpool would hope to recoup from Glen Johnson’s transfer.


Liverpool seems to be bringing in two young players in Millwall’s youth goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin and Swedish striker Kristoffer Peterson from Savedalens IF.

But the youth recruitment don't stop there...

Liverpool are hoping to sign Inter Milan youngster Davide Santon according to Cauthoffside.

The talented teenage Italian international has been told he can leave the San Siro and a host of clubs are looking to secure his signature and given the much publicised reports of a falling out between Hodgson and England international Glen Johnson the reports of interest in another right back are no surprise.

Santon has spent the past two seasons trying valiantly to fight for his place with the Serie A giants but is now looking for a new challenge and has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea reportedly interested in the attack minded wide man who can also operate in an advanced right wing role.

Ironically Liverpool’s hopes of signing the £8m rated Inter Milan starlet may be helped if Rafa Benitez, as widely reported, is sacked as the former Anfield boss may not be so keen to sell to a club who gave him the axe.

And apparently the money from a possible Glen Johnson sale can be ending up many different places...

Again Liverpool is being linked with a move for Mancester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips - now funded by the Glen Johnson sale, The Metro reports.

Liverpool's new owners are ready to sanction a move to end Shaun Wright-Phillips’ miserable spell at Manchester City, with Glen Johnson heading to Europe to fund the transfer, they write.

Anfield boss Roy Hodgson wants more pace in his pedestrian midfield and has identified England winger Wright-Phillips as the perfect candidate for that requirement.

The Reds accept defender Glen Johnson is on his way after a breakdown in his relationship with Hodgson, with Bayern Munich joining Juventus and Inter Milan as possible destinations.

And his departure will help fund the move for former Chelsea star Wright-Phillips, who has found his first-team opportunities severely limited under Roberto Mancini.

One transfer rumour that is being dismissed today is that of Russia striker Alexander Kerzhakov, who has told Liverpool he is not the answer to their striker shortage.

Anfield scouts have watched the Zenit St Petersburg striker over the last six months, but he is keen to stay at the newly crowned Russian champions, The Daily Mail say.

- I'm not planning to go anywhere, said Kerzhakov, who was this week named player of the season in Russia.

- I feel at home here and I don't want to move anywhere.

Today's updated rumour is about Birmingham defender Scott Dann.

Now Birmingham reportedly are bracing themselves for a £10 million bid from Liverpool.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Merseysiders have been closely monitoring the 23-year-old who intends to consider his options should an offer be tabled by a serious bidder.

The chance to join the Reds could prove too good to refuse for the the defender who is a Liverpool native and supposedly once had an Anfield season ticket.

There has been growing speculation in recent months that Dann could be on his way to Liverpool after a string of imperious displays at the heart of the defence - and the former Walsall man has admitted to being humbled by the interest in his signature.

- 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.

Whether a move for Dann comes to fruition remains to be seen, but Liverpool are thought to be in the market for defensive reinforcements next month.

Gomez in swap deal?

Rafa Benitez is apparently fighting to hold on to his Inter Milan job. Now he says the club haven't had it so good for 20 years.

Roy Hodgson feels the Liverpool side he inherited from Rafael Benítez is starting to feel like his own. But the manager says he needs to bring in his own players like Harry Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur.

Maybe this one will be one of them?

Accoring to Sportingo Liverpool will use Bayern Munich's interest in full back Glen Johnson to further their pursuit of striker Mario Gomez.

The Germany international has been a revelation this season for the Bavarian giants, scoring 12 times in the Bundesliga and six times in the Champions League including a hat-trick against CFR Cluj. He has even netted for his national team as his dream campaign continues.

Liverpool were interested in signing Gomez in the summer and had looked into the possibility of taking him on loan, a suggestion that brought an angry response from Bayern director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

With the Reds still keen on acquiring another striker, they will only have been encouraged but the player's recent displays though the German club are now even less happy to lose him.

However, that could change depending on their level of interest in Johnson. Bayern are in the market for full backs and seem to have decided that Merseyside will be the focus of their attention with Everton's Leighton Baines also being considered.

Johnson has had a falling out with Reds boss Roy Hodgson which could hasten his departure from Anfield and Liverpool will allow him to move to the Allianz Arena as long as Gomez is included in the deal.

Liverpool are again being linked with a "SHOCK" move for former striker Peter Crouch.

The 29-year-old left the Reds for Portsmouth for a reported fee of £11 million in 2008 after three eventful years at Anfield.

But now it appears Liverpool are considering bringing the Spurs star back to Merseyside as they search desperately for striking reinforcements.

It had initially been reported by the Daily Star that Liverpool were keeping tabs on the England international and now, according to caughtoffside.com, Spurs would be willing to entertain offers of £10-12 million for the ex-Southampton forward.

The Liverpool boss has frequently admitted his intention to bring more potent attacking options to Anfield when the transfer window opens in order to ease the burden on Torres and Reds captain Steven Gerrard.

Hodgson will reportedly have upwards of £20 million to spend next month on new recruits as he and NESV aim to transform fortunes at Liverpool.

Arsenal and Liverpool are weighing up bids for Southampton teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – but have been told it will take “Theo Walcott money” to get him.

Goal.com UK understands that the Barclays Premier League big-hitters are seriously considering an offer for the England Under-18 attacking midfielder, who is the son of former England international Mark Chamberlain.

But Southampton are ready to dig in their heels and demand a £10m fee for a player who club insiders rate as better than Walcott at the same age.

- A lot of the big clubs are watching Alex but it will take serious money to get him, a Southampton source told Goal.com UK.

- The coaching staff rate him higher than Walcott at the same age and the club have sorted out their financial issues so are not under any great pressure to sell him for a knockdown fee. It will take Walcott money to get him.

A player that keeps coming back on the transfer radar is Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Now, according to caughtoffside.com, Liverpool are ready to table an offer of £5 million for the former Chelsea speedster.

Wright-Phillips joined the Londoners for £21 million from City in 2005 before moving back in the opposite direction three years later after struggling to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.

However, the England international has failed to feature regularly at City under boss Roberto Mancini and the Eastlands side are reportedly ready to entertain offers for the out-of-favour attacker.

This has put Liverpool on red alert as they look to draft more potent attacking options to Anfield in January in order to ease the goalscoring burden on Fernando Torres.

Hodgson will reportedly have upwards of £20 million to spend on new recruits when the transfer window opens as new Liverpool owners NESV look to back their manager in the transfer market.

French winger linked

There's been a lot of talk about Pepe Reina and his future at Anfield. But today it was confirmed that Jose is fully committed to his long-term contract at the club and has not told manager Roy Hodgson he wishes to leave.

Elsewhere there is exciting speculations of players that may leave, and that may come in...

Spanish sports journalist Guillem Balague in his Blog with The Times writes that Sevilla wants Christian Poulsen, while Damien Comolli wants to bring Antoine Griezmann to Liverpool.

The new Seville manager, Gregorio Manzano, has now had a little over a month to assess his squad. - He's going to prioritize the purchase of at least two central midfielders. An experienced player that he can put straight into the team, and a young player that he can develop, Balague writes.

- As a result, Liverpool's Christian Poulsen has been placed high on the list of transfer wish list. The Dane had a very successful stay at the Spanish club before he was sold to Juventus in 2008.

- The 19-year-old French midfielder Antoine Griezmann seems to be a potential target for Liverpool, after Damien Comolli, the club's new Director of Football Strategy, hinted purchasing Griezmann in a meeting with senior players at Anfield, according to Balague.

Griezmann plays for Real Sociedad and has established himself in the club's first team after he made his debut for the Spanish club last year. The rapid 19-year-old can play both left wing and the role of withdrawn striker. He is described as being technically very good, while he has a nose for goals.

Today - again Liverpool is linked with the former Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The 29-year-old speedster is being tipped to make a January exit from current club Manchester City, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is thought to be one of the parties interested in a move for the player, GiveMeFootball reports.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright, was quoted as saying he wants the former Chelsea player to get first-team football.

- I'd love him to get out of there on loan at least. We're talking about someone who is still in the England squad, so Fabio Capello obviously rates him, said Wright. Hodgson is also thought to hold the player in high regard, and could see the player as an additional attacking presence alongside Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt.

The Reds boss is thought to have been given a transfer budget in the region of £35 million, the GiveMeFootball writes.

Liverpool will face competition when it comes to another reported transfer target. Niko Kranjcar is reportedly on the radar of German giants Bayern Munich.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal looks set to rival Liverpool for his signature, and is expected to make a bid for the 26-year-old Croatian in the January transfer window, GiveMeFootball reports.

Van Gaal is reportedly prepared to offer £11 million for the Tottenham man and will be encouraged by his recent comments about wanting to play regular football, they report.

City winger linked

Conflicting reports keeps on coming on what kind of transfer budget Roy Hodgson will be given for the January window.

On one hand there is The Daily Mail reporting that Hodgson must develop young players rather than splashing the cash on new faces. Other sources on the other hand says he will be given anything between £25m and £40m to update the Liverpool squad.

Anyway, with former Everton defender Alan Harper in a key role in the club's scouting department Liverpool is at the moment keeping a watchful eye over several players from both home and abroad.

Today The Daily Mirror is reporting that Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is a January Hodgson target.

The manager is said to be tracking the 29 year old and he could be available for £5m, according to the paper.

Wright-Phillips is available as he is in the last year of his contract and will be allowed to leave in January if he doesn’t sign a new deal.

Contract talks are said to have stalled with the England international as Wright-Phillips is not prepared to stay as a reserve as manager Roberto Mancini has dropped him to a bench since his arrival last year.

The Mirror believes that Wright-Phillips figures highly on the list of Roy Hodgson’s transfer targets and the City winger is prepared to leave Eastlands for the second time in search of first team football. 

A new name on the Liverpool transfer mary-go-round is Italian forward Antonio Cassano.

The former Roma forward appeared to have finally got his career back on track at Sampdoria before insulting president Ricardo Garrone in what was termed "gravely offensive and disrespectful behaviour", Sportsvibe reports.

Cassano was immediately suspended with rumours persisting that the Italian forward will have his contract terminated and could become a free agent. That has alerted a number of managers with Hodgson in particular keen to bring in reinforcements.

Liverpool do not have the resources to spend millions in the transfer window, the site claims, and Cassano could be a cheap and talented alternative.

A name tha re-appears is Oscar Cordozo.

The Benfica striker is a major target for Liverpool and the club are preparing a January move for the Paraguay international, according to Ultima Hora, TribalFootball reports.
 
Cardozo has shone since arriving in Lisbon from Newell's Old Boys three years ago, and has scored 81 goals in 135 games for the Aguias.

The centre-forward's physical frame would apparently make him a good foil for Reds ace Fernando Torres.

Silly Season #26

Lynving fra London på vei? Barry-agent røper seg? Torres delaktig i EM-seier - se målet!

Det er ikke lett å vite hva som skjer om dagen. I det ene øyeblikket linkes Liverpool til den ene vingen etter den andre, før det neste dag benektes at de er interessante. Men noe jeg føler meg ganske sikker på er at Benitez ønsker seg minst én ny ving i dette transfervinduet, ikke minst fordi Kewell ble funnet for dårlig for ny kontrakt.

Og den siste spilleren til å bli linket er den lille og kreative vingen Shaun Wright-Phillips hos Chelsea. Det er ikke første gangen den raske sønnen til den gamle Arsenal-legenden Ian Wright settes i forbindelse med Anfield, men nå påstår Fans FC at han står på toppen av ønskelista til Rafa Benitez.

Den engelske landslagsspilleren har fått relativt lite spilletid etter at han kom til Chelsea fra Manchester City for £21m, og Portsmouth skal allerede ha vært ute med et bud på £10m.

Benitez skal imidlertid være villig til å legge £15m på bordet, men det vil antagelig overraske mange om rubelrikingene i London lar den talentfulle spilleren gå til en tittelkonkurrent.

Hva tror du?

Sagaen om Gareth Barry fortsetter og denne gangen er det Barrys agent som har snakket med BBC. På kanalen Five Live sier agenten at hans klient har planer om å spille i Champions League kommende sesong.

I følge agenten har Barry gitt O'Neill beskjed om dette. Og trolig har Aston Villa-manageren innsett at spilleren er tapt, men ønsker å få mest mulig igjen for ham.

Birmingham-klubben skal allerede ha avslått to bud på spilleren - det siste på £12m. Villa vil ha minst £15m for Gareth Barry.

OPPDATERT: I følge tidligere rykter har Martin O'Neill og Aston Villa vært interessert i å sikre seg en ny høyreback - og lagt sine øyne på Steve Finnan.

Nå melder bloggen FootballCorner at Liverpool skal tilby Villa £12m + Finnan. Noe som i såfall, om man regner med at prisen for Finnan er £2m betyr at Villa får det de ber om.

Hva tror du?

Dagens røde helt i fotball-EM er utvilsomt Fernando Torres som var sterkt delaktig da Spania slo Russland 4-1. Merkelig nok ble Torres tatt av etter få minutter i 2. omgang, trolig for å spare ham til senere kamper. Her ser du målet der Torres assisterer David Villa!

Kuyt til Hammers?

Kuyt i bytte med spiss fra West Ham? Tidligere Chelsea-spiss på vei til Anfield? Og mange andre deilige rykter og spekulasjoner...

Dirk Kuyt har denne sesongen ikke oppfylt forventningene foran motstandernes mål. Han har kun scoret tre mål i ligaen så langt, mens han har klart fire fulltreffere i Champions League.

Nå melder nettstedet Kop-TV at Rafa Benitez begynner å se seg om etter nye alternativer foran mål og har et ønsket om å gjøre en bytteavtale med West Ham. Mannen som skal ha fanget Benitez' oppmerksomhet er Hammers' Dean Ashton.

West Ham har imidlertid gitt Ashton en prisvurdering som ligger på hele £17m - noe som kan bli vel dyrt. Men nettstedet hevder Rafa har flere spillere han gjerne kvitter seg med for å får råd. Blant annet skal John Arne Riise, som Newcastle også skal være interessert i, være en interessant mann for Alan Curbishleys West Ham.

Ashton er opprinnelig et produkt av Dari Gradis Crewe Alexandra, en av naboklubbene til Liverpool og fungerte en periode som farmerklubb. I 2005 kom han til West Ham etter to år i Norwich. Totalt i karrieren har han scoret 98 mål på 255 kamper.

En annen spiss som kanskje kunne gjøre noe med måltørken til Liverpool - dersom vi ser bort fra Torres og Gerrard - er en spiss jeg alltid har likt. I følge nettstedet FansFC kommer det rapporter om at den tidligere Chelsea-spissen Eidur Gudjohnsen har kommet i søkelyset til Rafa Benitez.

Barcelonaspilleren har ikke klart å spille seg til fast på plass på laget - og det er kanskje ikke så rart med den konkurransen han har fått den siste tiden. Derfor tar han visstnok gjerne sjansen på å igjen imponere i Premier League, om han skulle få et tilbud.

Og ellers på ryktebørsen i dag skal Newcastles nye sjef Kevin Keegan være ute etter å sikre seg vår stolte stopperkjempe Sami Hyypia for £1m, melder Talkingsoccer, som også melder at Newcastle gjerne blar opp £6,5m for John Arne Riise. Manchester United skal være interessert i tjenestene til Javier Mascherano, dersom Liverpool ikke vil ha ham permanent, melder Sportingo. Og i følge samme kilde skal flere britiske medier melde at Steven Gerrard drar til Barcelona for £50m til sommeren - når Rafa Benitez får sparken - med Ronaldinho på vei til Merseyside. Noe som selvsagt KUN ER TULL! Og i følge TribalFootball melder the Telegraph at Liverpool ønsker å hente Shaun Wright-Phillips fra Chelsea med Xabi Alonso som lokkemiddel til å gå andre veien.