Liverpool will need to double their offer for England winger

Liverpool will need to seriously increase their valuation to land Stewart Downing.

The Anfield club were hoping to move swiftly to capture the England international winger as soon as Aston Villa appoint a new manager

Boss Kenny Dalglish values the player at around £10million, and given he cost that figure when he moved to Villa Park from Middlesbrough, and has only two years left on his contract.

But the Villa board see things very differently, and even though they don't yet know if Downing will figure in their new manager's plans, they have indicated any offer will have to be double that figure for them to consider it.

Downing, like team-mate Ashley Young, has decided his future lies elsewhere, and he is keen to move to Anfield after being sold on the Merseyside club.

He is a friend of Andy Carroll, and wants to become part of Dalglish's revolution, but it seems there is much work to be done if he is to get his his wish.

Young's imminent departure has put pressure on the Villa board to attempt to keep the rest of their players, and they are prepared to play hard-ball to at least ensure they have the funds to find an adequate replacement.

Young seems certain to go to Manchester United. He is about to enter the final year of his contract, and Villa know they must sell now to try and recoup the £8million they paid to Watford for the player.

But Downing is a different matter, and even though the player is desperate to go, there could be a struggle over the fee reminiscent of the wrangling that surrounded Gareth Barry's on-off move to Anfield two years ago.

Dalglish will need to offload several of his highly-paid fringe players if he is to generate the funds and clear the wage bill to snatch Downing, but remains confident he will get his man.

Source: Liverpool FC Official, Daily Mirror

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Liverpool to have a massive summer clear-out

Kenny Dalglish’s summer spending spree will hinge on his ability to cut some serious dead wood at Anfield.

The Liverpool manager is hoping to bring in four or five new faces during the transfer window, at a cost of £50million-plus.

But while the Reds’ American owners have sanctioned a bold move by the club in the market in a serious attempt to gatecrash the Premier League top four next season, they have also made clear the axe must be taken to a top-heavy squad.

Dalglish has as many as 13 players who are surplus to requirements at Anfield… at a staggering cost of more than £600,000 a week in wages.

That equates to more than £30million a year being paid to players who were either out on loan last season, or cast to the furthest fringes of the first team squad with barely a hope of seeing some action.

Principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner have already expressed their incredulity at the obscene level of wages paid to players such as Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole, who were barely able to the make the match day squad last season.

That pair alone command more than £200,000 a week in wages, and with fringe player Maxi Rodriguez – who will be surplus to requirements when Stewart Downing arrives this summer – also on wages thought to be around £100,000 a week, it means huge sums were spent on three players who were brought in on free transfers.

But it gets worse for Dalglish…

Read more: The LFC Zone

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Rumour Mill: Charlie Adam set to sign for Liverpool FC

Liverpool's pursuit of Charlie Adam should finally pay dividends this week.

Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish looks set to land his man at last, having chased the classy midfielder virtually from the day he returned to the club in January.

And the Merseyside club could make it a double deal, with Dalglish also inching closer to bringing England winger Stewart Downing to the club.

The Aston Villa star is still waiting for his club to appoint a new manager, but he is desperately keen to join Liverpool, and is hopeful a transfer can be agreed as soon as possible.

Adam could make the switch even sooner.

The Scot was distraught when what appeared a dream move to Anfield was dashed as Blackpool refused to do business, even at an inflated price of £10million.

But Dalglish's interest has never wavered, and discreet talks have continued this week, with the midfielder returning from holiday in Dubai to hasten proceedings.

Blackpool have played hardball in negotiations, with chairman Karl Oyston insisting he is under no pressure to sell, despite the player entering the last year of his contract.

But eventually, they are expected to agree a fee, with Liverpool now confident the Scot will finally join by the end of the week, in a deal that could eventually reach £9million.

Read more: Liverpool FC Official

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: Daily Mirror

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Liverpool swoop for Seasiders midfielder

Sky Sports News sources understand Liverpool will hold talks with Blackpool's Charlie Adam later this week.

The Scotland international has long been a target of the Anfield club and they failed in an attempt to agree a deal in the January transfer window.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's interest in his compatriot is not thought to have ended and he is again attempting to secure the playmaker, with Sky Bet suspending their market earlier on Monday.

Sky sources understand discussions will consequently take place with relegated Blackpool and Adam later this week.

The Reds have already signed Jordan Henderson from Sunderland and are expected to continue to remodel their squad this summer.

Read more: Liverpool FC Official

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Source: Sky Sports

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Former Liverpool fullback says Kenny Dalglish is the perfect match

Alvaro Arbeloa has thanked Kenny Dalglish - for making him love watching Liverpool again.

The Spanish defender left Anfield for Real Madrid in 2009, and while his affection for the club never withered, he admits there were times when being a supporter became 'difficult'.

"Always when I can, I try to watch Liverpool," Arbeloa told SI.com.

"This past season at the beginning it was a little bit difficult and when they have changed the manager, I think they have improved a lot and finished better.

"So I am supporting them and when I was there I was really, really happy and the supporters were good to me.

"I think the style under Roy Hodgson, they played maybe too many long balls.

"I think Liverpool is the type of team that has to play more football. Technically they have some really good players and they need to play more football. I think with Kenny Dalglish, who was one of the best players in the history of Liverpool, they look more confident and they improved a lot."

Read more: Liverpool FC Official

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Case Closed: Phil Jones Officially A Devil

Blackburn have stepped aside to allow Phil Jones to "follow his dream" of joining Manchester United.

Although Rovers have claimed Jones' switch to Old Trafford could eventually break their transfer record, United have not gone beyond the initial £16.5million offer that triggered a buy-out clause in the teenager's contract last week.

Even as Blackburn owners Venky's were refusing to sanction the deal when it was first put together last Wednesday and were fielding renewed interest from Liverpool over the weekend, Sir Alex Ferguson was secure in the knowledge Jones was not interested in going anywhere else.

So, once Jones' contribution to England's draw with Spain in their opening European Under-21 Championship group game was out of the way last night, further contact with Blackburn was made to assure the club any attempt at prolonging the transfer was futile.

Jones will formally sign a five-year contract once he returns from Denmark.

"Much as we would love him to stay on with us - and we made all efforts to convince him to stay - Phil has to finally follow his heart," said a statement on behalf of the Rovers' owners, directors and manager, released on the club website.

Blackburn boss Steve Kean confirmed those efforts included offering to make Jones the highest-paid player in the club's history.

"The offer we made he was staggering for a 19-year-old, but it wasn't the money," Kean told Sky Sports News. "Phil wants to play Champions League football now and we're not at that level.

"I'm sure we will be in the coming years, and we gave it a real good try and made him a fantastic offer, but I understand why he wants to go now. He goes with our blessing and it's an opportunity for us to invest in other young players across other areas of the pitch.

"We were hoping he was going to be captain of our club and captain of England, he's a fantastic prospect and I'm sure he'll be an England regular very soon."

It represents a smart piece of business for Ferguson, who knew the 19-year-old was also coveted by Arsenal, and secures another important piece in a developing United team that now contains four of England's starting line-up last night.

In addition, the Old Trafford chief is hoping to complete the signing of Spain goalkeeper David De Gea, who produced an excellent performance in Herning.

However, Ferguson is not focusing purely on youth as he looks to rebuild in the wake of his club's chastening Champions League final defeat to Barcelona last month.

It is widely assumed Ashley Young's much-discussed switch from Aston Villa will be completed once the Midlands outfit have sorted out their managerial situation.

Ferguson is also trying to secure a replacement for recently retired playmaker Paul Scholes, although apparently it will not be Mesut Ozil, the Germany star whom United were interested in before he left Werder Bremen for Real Madrid last August.

"We thank Manchester United for their interest but Ozil is fine in Madrid and has no intention of leaving," said the midfielder's agent Reza Fazeli.

With Wesley Sneijder giving out mixed messages over a potential departure from Inter Milan and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp repeatedly stating he has no interest in offloading Luka Modric, finding someone to step into Scholes' shoes is not going to be easy.

"That is up to the manager," laughed Scholes.

"You only have to look at the youth team and what they have done this year to see there is a lot of talent at this club. There are some great players.

"But the ones we have been linked with are great as well."

Although he will be part of Ferguson's coaching team at the start of pre-season, with his precise role yet to be determined, Scholes will have no input in the discussions over his replacement.

Instead, he will be like any other fan, sitting back and waiting to find out which star name will eventually arrive, knowing his first appearance on English soil could well come in Scholes' testimonial game against New York Cosmos on August 5.

"It is a great time of year," said the 36-year-old.

"Even when I was a player you see all these top players around the world that you're linked with, and you are excited about maybe playing with them.

"Now I am just like my son, hoping we buy the best players in the world and that they make us even stronger for next year."

Meanwhile, one of Ferguson's more bizarre recent captures, Bebe, is in talks with Turkish club Besiktas about a loan move.

Ferguson broke the habit of a lifetime buy snapping Bebe up despite never actually seeing him play.

The transfer has not really worked out, with the 20-year-old making only seven appearances, scoring two goals.

Source: Football365

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Liverpool outbid United for Jones

Manchester United’s multi-million pound signing of teenage defender Phil Jones from Blackburn Rovers lies in tatters.

Blackburn's Indian owners have reacted furiously to what they perceive as United's attempt to railroad them into selling the 19-year-old and have told United: 'We will not be bullied'.

And in a stunning 11th-hour development on Saturday, the Mail on Sunday can reveal that Liverpool have told Blackburn they will pay £22million for Jones, a move that will ruin Alex Ferguson's holiday mood as he takes a break in the south of France.

Arsenal have also belatedly submitted a bid that tops United's £16.5m offer, and with Chelsea showing serious interest in the player, too, an auction appears to be unfolding. It will come as a bitter blow to Ferguson if he misses out on Jones, and it will sting all the harder if the player ends up at United's fierce rivals at Anfield.

Rovers' owners have been angered by United's attitude and at a meeting on Saturday in Pune, India, which was attended by manager Steve Kean - straight off a plane to Mumbai - they resolved to prevent the deal going through.

United have offered to make Jones the highest-paid teenager in the history of English football with a startling £80,000-a-week contract, but Blackburn are even prepared to top that.

Rovers chairwoman Anuradha Desai made it clear to Kean and fellow executives, who made up a 'war council' in India, that they must try to persuade the defender to stay. The prospect of being a future club captain is also being dangled before Jones.

Money is said to be 'not an issue' for Desai's family, who are billionaires through their Venky's poultry conglomerate.

They want to keep their best players, especially home-grown talents such as Jones.

But if they fail to persuade him, they will do all they can to elicit the best price from one of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, United or Tottenham, telling Jones: 'If you go, you go where we get the best money.'

A source close to Rovers said: "United can't do what they want in this case. Jones is a Blackburn player and while there is a clause that could mean he leaves, it's far from the straightforward issue everyone assumes it to be."

Jones signed a United shirt for fans while training with England's Under-21s in Denmark on Friday and, along with his representatives and United, had thought the transfer was a formality.

The player wants to join United but it is not known whether he has even been informed yet that Liverpool have made a bigger offer.

A major headache for United is in the interpretation of the release clause in Jones's contract. They triggered it with their £16.5m offer and were allowed to talk to the player as a result.

But Rovers have taken legal advice and insist the clause does not force them to sell to the first club to meet the figure.

The biggest loser in all this could be England Under- 21 boss Stuart Pearce.

He would not name his team on Saturday night for the opening game against Spain as the possibility of the transfer deal distracting the versatile defender grew.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: LiverpoolFC.tv, Daily Mail

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Rumour Mill: More players to be signed by Liverpool FC this week

Liverpool could be set to step up their summer transfer dealings with moves for as many as five new players this week.

Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy has emerged as a serious target for Kenny Dalglish, whilst the Anfield outfit are also weighing up bids for Aston Villa's Stewart Downing, Blackpool captain Charlie Adam, Ipswich forward Connor Wickham and Southampton starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Dalglish made his first signing of the summer last week with the £16m capture of Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, and is eager to oversee a serious revamp of his squad, ahead of what promises to be a pivotal season at Anfield.

French international Clichy has just one year remaining on his contract at Arsenal, and is understood to have informed the Gunners that he has no plans to renew his deal in North London. The 25-year-old is valued by manager Arsene Wenger at around £7m.

Italian sides Inter Milan and Roma have expressed an interest, but Liverpool would have the upper hand due to the presence of Damien Comolli, the club's Director of Football. Comolli was integral to Clichy's move to Arsenal from French club Cannes in 2003, and the full-back is believed to be keen to secure a switch to Merseyside.

Downing, Villa's Player of the Season, is also eager to link up with Dalglish's side. The 26-year-old is another player who has been on Comolli's radar for some time, stretching back to Comolli's time at Tottenham, but is valued by Villa at around £18m, with Liverpool hoping to pay closer to £15m for the England international.

In the case of Adam, it could be much simpler. The Scotland international was desperate to join the Liverpool in January, but a move fell through after the Reds were unable to meet Blackpool's £12m asking price.

But with the Tangerines having been relegated from the Premier League, and with the 25-year-old having expressed his desire to quit the club, Adam will now be available for around £8m, meaning a move to Anfield is a likelihood rather than a possibility.

And with Dalglish and Comolli keen to infuse their squad with youthful, English talent, moves for the highly-rated duo of Wickham and Oxlade-Chamberlain have also been lined up.

Wickham, 18, is valued by Ipswich at £10m, and has been attracting interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Sunderland of late. But the 6ft 3in striker, who is away with England's under-21s at the European Championships in Denmark, is believed to favour a move to Merseyside.

England Under-19 star Oxlade-Chamberlain, 17, was watched several times by Comolli last season, and has been a £10m target for Arsenal. But with Southampton holding out for closer to £12m for the starlet, and the Gunners wary of spending such a fee on an untested youngster, a switch to Liverpool is a possibility.

Meanwhile, young goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi has revealed the club are in the market for an experienced back-up shot-stopper, expected to be Roma's Doni, as he prepares to leave on loan.

"I had already been thinking about my possible departure in March although that time it wasn't a topic that Brad Friedel or Doni may sign for Liverpool," said the 20-year-old.

"Of course it doesn't mean that I want my contract to be terminated because the team rely on me. When my agents and I indicated to the club officials that I would like to move to another club on loan they agreed with us and thought the same.

"The club said they rely on me for a long period and it made me very proud. But they added if I go then a seasoned goalkeeper may arrive at the club, which is understandable.

"The best way for me to improve is to play regularly. I don't know where I will play but talks are going well. I have offers from England and also from outside of England. I hope within 10 days or two weeks it will be a fact where I will continue my career - on loan."

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: LiverpoolFC.tv, Daily Post

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