Robbie set for Anfield

Which Robbie? Of course not Robbie Fowler, it's Robbie Keane who is set to sign for Liverpool. Rafa Benitez hopes to hand Keane his Liverpool debut at Rangers next Saturday.

The striker’s dream transfer moved a step closer on Thursday night when he was left out of the Tottenham side for the friendly in Alicante.

Keane is expected to complete a £20million switch to Merseyside early next week. It seems unlikely the deal will be done in time for him to line up in the Reds’ next warm-up fixture at Villarreal on Wednesday.

The trip to Scotland to play against Rangers at Ibrox three days later is the more likely option, assuming there are no problems with his medical.

Rafa Benitez is refusing to panic in his efforts to land Gareth Barry despite Martin O’Neill’s attempts to place a deadline on the transfer.

Rafa Benitez has refused to budge from his stance that Barry is overpriced at £18million while a growing cash crisis at Valencia is raising the possibility of the Kop manager moving for David Silva instead.

Liverpool’s Spanish stars Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa returned to training following their Euro 2008 heroics.

Benitez believes their success can inspire everyone at Anfield. But one of his Spanish stars will be wanting for an exit. Arbeloa leaving could left Liverpool short of cover at the right-side of defence as Steve Finnan was wanted in the deal for Barry.

Could it be all over for Barry? Rafa is set for a crunch talks with Alonso over the midfielder future at Anfield soon after he returned from his holidays.

Valencia have debts of £400million and the Spaniards are looking to fund a new £250million stadium.

And owner Juan Solares is desperately trying to sell the club.

But until he does, the need to raise cash has become desperate and some of Europe’s big guns are circling Silva, David Villa and Joaquin.

Solares was furious with figurehead president Juan Villalonga for rejecting Atletico Madrid’s £17million bid for Silva which is an obvious sign he was ready to do business at that price.

The figure is lower than Rafa has expected them to demand and, with no immediate end in sight to the war which is tearing Valencia apart, Liverpool could get the Spain winger for a cut price.

David Villa is Valencia’s jewel in the crown and Real Madrid will swoop if they are forced to concede defeat in their bid to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

One good news for Liverpool is that Tottenham are going after David Villa as a replacement while having conceded that they'll lose both Berbatov and Keane.

Well Keane is only worth £20million, captain of his country and Barry just capped a few games for England, Aston Villa wants £18million.

That's ridiculous, don't you think?

YNWA,
Red's Fury™