Chelsea bid for Liverpool midfielder

Chelsea were planning to make an improved offer for Raul Meireles on Monday night after Liverpool rejected their opening bid of £8 million plus Yossi Benayoun.

Meireles can leave Liverpool, and has been available for sale at £11 million, but it is understood that Liverpool would rather he went overseas than join another Premier League club, particularly Chelsea.

Indeed it is thought that Chelsea’s renewed interest in Meireles — who is greatly admired by manager André Villas-Boas — has already led to an increase in the fee being demanded by Liverpool. However, Chelsea are desperate to conclude the deal and will make a new cash bid.

Sources have indicated Liverpool do not want to re-sign Benayoun, who would like to return to the club he left last summer for £5 million. The Israeli is almost certain to leave Chelsea and it remains more likely he will join French champions Lille. There has been tentative contact from Arsenal — who have also inquired about Benayoun’s Chelsea team-mate Alex — but no bid has been made.

Meireles is unsure of his future at Liverpool and whether he fits into the plans of manager Kenny Dalglish, who has bought several midfielders this summer. There has been interest in him from Serie A Liverpool would rather he did not stay in England.

Villas-Boas only worked briefly with Meireles at Porto but there is a mutual admiration and the Chelsea manager would welcome him at his club especially if he failed to land Modric. It is believed that Villas-Boas has decided against bidding for another midfielder, Porto’s Joao Moutinho who he had considered as an alternative to Modric.

Liverpool is understood to be in the market for a backup striker, if Chelsea are ready to do business, Daniel Sturridge should be the one who will be in the player plus cash makeweight deal.

Let’s us know what are your thoughts on this deal? Are Liverpool FC going to part with Meireles this summer? Leave your comments below.

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Source: Telegraph

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Sebastian Coates transfer hinged on working permit

Kenny Dalglish refused to discuss the imminent arrival of Sebastian Coates at Liverpool after watching his side return to the top of the Premier League table for the first time in over two years.

Uruguay international defender Coates was at Anfield on Saturday to witness an entertaining 3-1 win over Bolton which maintained the Merseyside club's unbeaten start to the campaign.

The 20-year-old is set to complete a £7 million (7.9m euros) move from Nacional before Wednesday's transfer deadline, and his arrival will take Dalglish's spending to £115 million since he returned to take charge of Liverpool last January.

Dalglish, however, was reluctant to talk about the transfer until it is completed.

Our guess are the working permit, which it will take time to process before Coates can put pen to paper on his transfer to Liverpool.

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Premier League: Liverpool 3-1 Bolton

Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam opened their competitive accounts as Liverpool went top of the league with a 3-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday tea-time.

Martin Skrtel was the other scorer on a day when Kenny Dalglish's boys treated their supporters to a superb exhibition of football.

Ivan Klasnic fired a consolation in injury-time but the Reds now lead the pack on goal difference ahead of Sunday's fixtures after completing their best start to a league season for 17 years.

Andy Carroll had to settle for a place on the bench for the visit of Owen Coyle and co, who last season had the worst away record in the Barclays Premier League. That meant Dirk Kuyt partnered Luis Suarez up front.

The opening exchanges were characterised by Liverpool playing some sumptuous football, Charlie Adam the puppeteer in midfield while Suarez and Kuyt played like Jacks who refused to go in their boxes.

The only surprise when the home side opened the scoring was that it took 15 minutes. Suarez was the architect with a swerving cross struck with the outside of his right foot. Downing's first-time volley was saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen but Henderson was there to guide the ball into the top corner before wheeling away in ecstasy.

Bolton attempted an instant reply but Pepe Reina was on guard and aware to block Martin Petrov's hit.

The game was developing into an open affair and Liverpool could have added to their lead twice in quick succession, first when Adam bypassed the Bolton defence with a lofted ball to Suarez, then when Henderson centred to Kuyt. On both occasions the strikers just failed to connect.

Next Henderson played Suarez clean through. The Uruguayan could have gone either way round Jaaskelainen but instead chose the lob and was unfortunate to hit the roof of the net.

The crowd were jubilant at the football they were witnessing - the pass and move philosophy being played out before their eyes.

But not everything was going Dalglish's way. On 30 minutes the Scot was forced to swap Martins - the injured Kelly being replaced by fit again Skrtel.

Kuyt was next to threaten before the break, angling over from 12 yards after another neat move from the hosts.

The final act of the period saw Gretar Steinsson cautioned for handball right on the chalk of the penalty area. Referee Lee Probert enraged the Liverpool players by not awarding a penalty but those in red should have done better with the free-kick.

The question now was whether Liverpool could avoid a repeat of their opening day draw with Sunderland, when a superb first half was followed by a languid second.

The answer came seven minutes after the restart when Skrtel head butted an Adam corner into the Kop net.

A minute later, with The Fields of Anfield Road still echoing across L4, Adam made it 3-0 with a right-foot drive into the bottom corner from 25 yards. It was party time inside English football's most atmospheric stadium.

Suarez almost made it four after rounding Jaaskelainen but it was the side and not the back of the net that rippled.

The crowd were on their feet again on 77 minutes when Maxi replaced Henderson - the latter receiving a standing ovation for his man of the match display.

Skrtel almost collected a second goal with 80 minutes on the clock, while substitute Carroll swivelled before firing wide inside the box.

Liverpool's final chance of the game fell to Downing, who cut inside after a dribble down the left before firing over the crossbar into the Kop choir.

But it was Klasnic who had the last word, pouncing after a superb Jamie Carragher tackle looked to have halted Petrov.

By: Jimmy Rice

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Video Highlights: Liverpool 3-1 Bolton

Source: FootyTube.com

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Aquilani completes move to AC Milan

Alberto Aquilani has completed his loan transfer from Liverpool to AC Milan.

The deal, which includes the option of a permanent move, will end on June 30, 2012.

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Juventus before returning to Anfield earlier this summer.

Milan had been looking to reinforce their midfield line following the departure of veteran Andrea Pirlo to Juventus earlier this summer.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv earlier about the move, Kenny Dalglish said: "It's a great move for Alberto. He's got his wife and kid over there. It was difficult for him here.

"When he came back his pre-season training was excellent. We gave him a few games, he did well in those games. But the problem for us was trying to get him in the team. We couldn't get him in the team.

"Obviously everybody wants to play and Alberto is moving over to a fantastic football club. He goes there with the best wishes of everyone and we hope it works out for him, because he was never a problem in any way, shape or form."

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Source: Liverpool FC Official

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Official: Emiliano Insua joins Sporting Lisbon

According to Emiliano Insua’s Twitter post, the Argentinean left-back has joined Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon.

The Argentine was fallen behind Jose Enrique, Fabio Aurelio and Jack Robinson for the left-back berth in the Liverpool squad. He has now agreed a deal to join Sporting on a permanent basis, and departs Merseyside with immediate effect.

We wish Emiliano the best of luck in his football future with Sporting.

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Source: Twitter

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Sebastian Coates to Liverpool FC?

At the time of writing, the Uruguayan central defender Sebastian Coates from Club Nacional could be already touched down at Merseyside by now.

Report from Nacional website, the player’s former club has announced Coates’ sale and given a proper send-off to the young star who spent the past nine years working his way through the academy and then leading his boyhood team to back-to-back league titles.

To further support this news, he was caught by a reporter at Carrasco International Airport as he prepared for his flight to England, where he talked of both his sadness at leaving Nacional and the honour of joining Liverpool, as well as admitting he isn’t likely to be given quite as boisterous a reception as attacking countryman and friend Luis Suarez was.

He also confirmed having refused to move when presented with an earlier offer for a higher fee from Europe—a previously rumoured approach by Ukraine’s FK Dnipro—hoping the interest he had received from England would eventually result in a formal offer.

More news on Sebastian Coates’ transfer later.

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Source: The Offside

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Liverpool midfielder loaned back to Italy

Liverpool FC have reached an agreement, subject to a medical, for Alberto Aquilani to join AC Milan on loan for the remainder of the current season. The deal includes an option to make the move a permanent one.

The 27-year-old underwent a medical in Milan this morning and is set to join the Italian side on an initial loan deal.

Milan will have an option to make the move permanent if the former Roma playmaker makes at least 25 appearances this season.

Aquilani, who spent last season on loan at Juventus before returning to Anfield earlier this summer, is under contract with Liverpool until June 2014.

   “I am delighted to have arrived here. This is a leap in my career.”

“I have come to Milan to do well.

“I have different characteristics to (former AC Milan midfielder) Andrea Pirlo but this is a further responsibility for me.

“I believe I can play in all positions in midfield.

“The clause of making at least 25 appearances? It's not a problem for me and I'm not thinking about it.

“I will do everything possible to earn the trust of the club.” said Aquilani.

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Source: Liverpool FC Official, The Independent

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