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Filed under: Transfer Gossip
Brazilian youngster Keirrison has quashed rumours of a move to Europe in the close future. The 20 year old striker has stated his desire to remain in Brazil.
“I intend to fulfil my contract. I am calm about this – it is Coritiba who is nervous.
“I may go to Palmeiras, but nothing is for certain. We are going to wait until my contract has expired and then negotiate calmly.”
Liverpool could also face third-party ownership problems with the player currently owned by management company Traffic.
And a spokesman for Coritiba has moved quickly to rule of the possibility of Keirrison leaving the club during the January transfer window.
He said: “Coritiba will not release Keirrison in January. We know that the player has received offers from a great club, but we are counting on him for next season.”
Barcelona, Valencia and Real Madrid have also been linked with the striker.
Portsmouth have strongly denied reports by The People that full-back Glenn Johnson is on the brink of a move to Anfield.
“We have had no approaches for any of our players and that includes Glenn,” Storrie said.
“I know that his agent has taken this story up with the newspaper and is pushing for an apology.”
“Glenn is livid, everyone is, it’s an outrageous story.”
“To say we have had a bid for him is a lie, it’s just silly season.”
Danish defender Daniel Agger has stated his desire to remain at Anfield after speculation of a possible departure.
Agger told the Daily Post: “I hope so. I don’t know what the hold-up is. I let the club do the talking and I will try and do mine on the pitch.”
“I am trying to improve. I feel it is getting better and better in every game. I am feeling more comfortable and trying to improve in every game.”
“Of course I want to stay if it is possible.”
Liverpool FC have made a formal statement regarding captain Steven Gerrard: “Steven has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool for the last 10 years and the club will give him all the support he needs at this time.”
The Times is reporting that Jermaine Pennant is set for a move to Wigan Athletic after ending negotiations with Real Madrid.
The new Real boss, Juande Ramos, has turned his attention to a £14m move for Wigan’s Antonio Valencia – who Pennant will replace at the JJB Stadium in January if these moves go through.
Pennant has been accused of wasting an opportunity to make a dream move down to not being satisfied with the wage packet on offer from the Spanish champions. But the winger has reportedly cancelled the move down to a lack of belief that he would get much playing time under Ramos.
He is said to be in no rush to leave Liverpool, which is another indication that he is sticking around for the pay packet at Anfield.
Former Red Danny Guthrie has praised captain Steven Gerrard and said that it was his presence that ultimately led to him leaving for St James Park last Summer.
Guthrie said: “Steven Gerrard is the top man. He came through the youth system the same way I did.”
“Liverpool are very strong in midfield and it’s difficult to get a game for a young lad so I made the decision tomoveonand play games. When Newcastle came in I saw that as a great opportunity. It kills me not to play.”
“Even though Liverpool wasmy club I couldn’t stay there playing 10 games a season and still playing in the reserves at 21. From my youth team not one single player is still there now. That is how difficult it is to make it at Liverpool.”
“I have no regrets. I learned a lot from Steven Gerrard. I wasonly18 when I went with the first team so it was a massive step up. They’ve got top-class players all over the team and I learned my trade there.”
Filed under: Transfer Gossip
The Daily Mail are reporting that Italian giants AC Milan are putting the finishing touches to their planned bid for Danish defender Daniel Agger.
The Dane’s contract has 18 months to run, but no news is forthcoming on an extension and his agent Per Steffensen says his client’s future remains in doubt.
Alessandro Nesta’s season-ending injury has hastened action from the Serie A club.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes the experience of his squad will see them collect a third straight Premiership title to draw level will Liverpool’s eighteen championships. United are now on seventeen titles – just one behind The Reds haul of eighteen.
After his side went to Japan for the money-spinning World Club Cup, Ferguson has returned home to play catch-up and they are now ten points behind Liverpool with three games in hand – at home against Fulham, Wigan and Middlesbrough.
“We’d rather be top, there’s no question about that,” said Fergie. “But with our experience of being involved in these races, you’d expect that not to be an issue.”
“The second half of the season is the most important. When you lose a game it really means something, in particular when you get to March and April.”
“My experience tells me that the teams at the top generally drop points.”
“Sometimes you don’t expect to drop points, but it happens so you need the experience to see that through.”
United face a heavy schedule over the next months with games in hand to be played and a Carling Cup semi-final against managerless Derby County.
United face Fulham on January 14th and Wigan on February 17th – games in hand they must win to keep the pressure on the leaders.
“We’ve got the squad so, hopefully, we can cope,” said Fergie. “At the moment there’s a trend of the sides at the top dropping more points.”
“It happened last season, teams getting results you didn’t expect. Manchester City beat us twice and we also lost at Bolton. It tells you that in this league you can lose anywhere, because it’s so competitive.”
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been arrested this morning following an alleged assault.
Police were called around 2:30am this morning to The Lounge Inn in Southport after a disturbance. Six men were arrested in a nearby street shortly after.
A 34 year old man was taken to hospital with facial injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.
Four men aged 33, 31, 29 and 19, all from Huyton, a 28-year-old from Formby and an 18-year-old from Litherland were arrested and remain in police custody.
A police spokesman said: “Merseyside Police is investigating an assault that took place in the early hours of Monday December 29 on Bold Street in Southport.
“At around 2.30am this morning officers attended a disturbance at a licensed premises on Bold Street.
“Six men were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault, on Lord Street.”
Liverpool Football Club will not be commenting on the matter.
John Aldridge has told the Echo that he hopes to see Michael Owen return to Anfield in January:
“There’s been a lot of speculation about Michael Owen’s future recently and I must admit I would love to see him back at Anfield.”
“There’s no doubt we need another striker and I think he would be ideal for us.”
“He’s had a frustrating few years with injury setbacks but we’ve seen recently that he is getting back to his old self.”
“Owen has been around for years but he’s only just turned 29 and still has a great deal more to offer.”
“The Reds have done remarkably well to cope without Fernando Torres for so long this season but we are lacking goals.”
“We’ve missed Peter Crouch and if we had kept hold of him I believe our points tally at this stage of the season would have been better.”
“When you look at Manchester United’s trio of Tevez, Rooney and Berbatov, they’ve got better striking options than us.”
“There aren’t enough match-winners in our squad and that’s why we’ve drawn so many home games. Someone of Owen’s calibre would fit the bill and give us another option to Torres and Robbie Keane.”
“Owen is obviously in no rush to sort out his future and I don’t blame him for that. There’s an offer on the table from Newcastle and he obviously wants to see who else is interested as he is out of contract next summer.”
“Making a move for him would make sense but unfortunately I don’t believe it will happen.”
“I think there’s some previous between Owen and Rafa Benitez going back to when he left to join Real Madrid in 2004. But whether it’s Owen or not we need another option up front.”
“Rafa should get a close look at Owen at St James’ Park tomorrow and we’ve got to be wary of him.”
“He gets into good areas and has grabbed some real poacher’s goals recently.”
“He’s got nothing to prove against Liverpool because he did fantastically well for the club but I know the striker is desperate to get his England place back and will want to show Fabio Capello what he’s capable of.”
“We’ve done really well at St James’ in recent years but Newcastle are a different proposition now compared to a few months back.”
“Joe Kinnear has given them a bit of belief and the Reds will need to be at their best to get maximum points.”
Filed under: Transfer Gossip
The Telegraph are reporting that former Liverpool striker Michael Owen is desperate to impress Rafael Benitez today in order to secure a move back to Anfield.
The England forward is also attracting the attention of Manchester City who are rumoured to be ready with a £6m bid for the 29 year old.
After Robbie Keane’s double against Bolton, Benitez may not feel that he needs more firepower.
Filed under: Transfer Gossip
According to The People and The Telegraph, Rafael Benitez has made a £9m bid for Portsmouth right-back Glenn Johnson.
The former West Ham and Chelsea defender has been in impressive form for Portsmouth in the last 18 months and has also gained international recognition.
The reports claim that Johnson was given a tour of the Melwood training complex in the buildup to Christmas and missed Portsmouth’s game with West Ham on Boxing Day because of the impending move – rather than the claimed injury.
www.diarioequipo.com are reporting that Liverpool are weighing up a move for Deportivo La Coruna winger Angel Lafita.
The former Real Zaragoza man is comfortable playing on either flank and has scored five goals already this season.
The Evening Standard are reporting that Arsenal are preparing to make a fresh bid for midfielder Xabi Alonso.
After having a late Summer bid of £14m rejected by Liverpool, Arsene Wenger is reported to be looking to return with a similar bid for the Spaniard after Cesc Fabregas was ruled out for up to four months – ironically after a challenge by Alonso.
Alonso has been in sparkling form for Liverpool this season and the Anfield faithful are unlikely to be happy if Wenger does pull off this coup.
After seeing a move to Real Madrid collapse over his wage demands, it appears that Jermaine Pennant could have inadvertently closed the door on a potential move to Celtic.
The winger’s £60,000 wage demands could well have seen Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan end his interest in the frozen out Liverpool player.
It seems that wages are the main priority for the player, which can come as no surprise in the modern game.
