Cardiff wants Reds striker

As reported in yesterday’s Echo, the 32-year old Wales international, Craig Bellamy is being again linked with a return to his home-town club where he spent a season on loan back in 2010 when at Manchester City. Cardiff are considering a bid for the Liverpool striker, who spent the 2010-2011 season on loan with the Bluebirds.

Bellamy, began his career with Norwich City and established professionals Mackay and Roberts were among his Carrow Road team-mates.

Cardiff are understood to be working out the finances to re-sign Bellamy, who was captain during his season long loan spell.

Bellamy re-joined Liverpool on a two-year deal from Manchester City in August 2011.

The Championship club hope to discuss a proposed deal with Liverpool before any talks take place with the former Wales captain.

A loan move back to Cardiff could be an option, but appears unlikely.

But with former Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers in charge at Anfield now, Bellamy is set for talks to determine just what his role on Merseyside might be next campaign.

The striker was dissatisfied under former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish. He made 37 appearances for the Reds, but only 12 Premier League starts.

As Rodgers looks to improve on Liverpool’s eighth place finish last term what role Bellamy might have in his plans remains unclear.

The Welsh club's Malaysian owners recently announced a £100million investment plan as Cardiff, who have suffered three successive play-off disappointments, bid for Premier League promotion.

Cardiff’s rumour may appear to be true and will bid in the region of £2million for Bellamy when the players are back from their summer holidays.

Will Bellamy leave Anfield for Cardiff City?

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Photo: Liverpool 2012/2013 third jersey spotted in the wild

Finally something looks legitimate seen captured on photo above. The first row shirt seen on the left in the photo could be the new third kit for Liverpool FC.

The photo below is someone’s idea of a joke!

Source: Caught Offside

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Transfer deadline slapped on Icelandic midfielder move to Liverpool

Gylfi Sigurdsson has been  given until the end of the  month to seal his move to  Liverpool.

New Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers is  keen to snap up Sigurdsson after the midfielder impressed during a spell on loan under him at  Swansea City from Hoffenheim during the  second half  of last season.

The  22-year-old  was poised  to complete a club record £6.8million move to the Swans last month until Rodgers’ departure put a block on  the deal.

Rodgers has expressed his interest in taking  Sigurdsson to Liverpool but stressed the player  had to first speak to Swansea, who appointed  Michael Laudrup as their new boss on Friday.

That, though, is expected to be a formality,  although Liverpool will have to pay nearer  £8.5million  for Sigurdsson’s services after Swansea negotiated a discount as  part of their initial loan deal  for the player.

The Iceland international  was scheduled to begin  pre-season training with  Hoffenheim yesterday, but  the Bundesliga side have  granted extended leave in  order for him to complete a  move to England.

The pundit has tipped Sigurdsson to join Rodgers at Liverpool rather than complete his proposed permanent move to Swansea.

The Welsh club earned £45.9million from television and prize money during their first season in the Premier League, finishing 11th in the table, and so have funds to strengthen the squad.

Sigurdsson said in April he would be happy to stay at the Liberty Stadium beyond the end of the season.

But Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins had also admitted the Welsh club would struggle to keep hold of the midfielder.

Will he choose Liverpool over Swansea?

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Liverpool could sign this player for £10M now

The papers has been going rounds and more speculation on the Premier League champions, Manchester City’s winger Adam Johnson’s footballing future at the Etihad Stadium. It’s difficult to know exactly who’s to believe in.

According to some sources he’s perfectly content at the Etihad stadium, whilst according to others he’s itching for a move. One paper will say that Roberto Mancini is prepared to sell the 24-year-old, whilst another will claim that Manchester City view him as a keeper.

More intriguing stories from the daily paper suggested Manchester City would entertain bids of around £10million for Johnson’s services. Of course, it’s difficult to know exactly how true this is. Manchester City spent £8million bringing Johnson in from Middlesbrough and he’s improved in quality significantly in the proceeding years. Given his status as a young British talent (and given that Liverpool spent approximately £20million on Jordan Henderson last summer) that price tag seems rather low.

While my poll on “First summer signing for LFC?” has been up and running with Johnson leading the vote counts, it’s hard not for Liverpool new manager Brendan Rodgers to take a look at the City’s winger.

Perhaps, moneybags Manchester City are merely exercising their more generous side. He’s a player who hasn’t got a fair run of games in the first team and they may well be prepared to accept bids below his worth in order to give him the exit route he deserves. He’s a good player but he’s perhaps not as fully formed as a number of others in City’s roster so it’s fair to say he’ll always be a part of the squad’s second string.

Last summer Liverpool gambled on Stewart Downing. I think it’s fair to say that that experiment was a failure. No League goals, after 72 shots is an absolutely dreadful return. The Reds need a player like Johnson to run the wings. A player who offers results, not just potential. If the club are ever to drag themselves back up to the Premier League, Johnson is exactly the kind of player they should be looking at.

So if there’s any truth to the claims that he currently has a £10million price-tag, I think Liverpool should snap him up now.

Source: This Is Futbol

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Rumour Mill: Liverpool set to bid £8M for Tottenham centre back

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants Tottenham Hotspur and England Under-21 defender Steven Caulker to be his first signing at Anfield.

The former Swansea manager is determined to be reunited with the 20-year-old, who spent the duration of last season on loan at the Liberty Stadium.

Before joining Liverpool, Rogers expressed a desire to keep the highly-rated centre-half in South Wales for another season but now wants Caulker to join him on Merseyside.

Spurs remain interested in loaning out the England Under-21 international for another season to continue his development but have made it clear that Caulker, who is under contract in North London until July 2014, is not for sale.

Rodgers, however, is set to test Spurs resolve and is preparing an opening bid thought to be in the region of £8 million for the defender, who made 26 Premier League appearances last season for the Swans.

Rodgers believes Caulker is good enough to challenge for a first team spot at Anfield and this could tempt the youngster to push for a move. Spurs already have French international defender Younes Kaboul on their books and are close to finalising a deal to bring Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen to White Hart Lane.

Rodgers, privately feels the 6 foot 3 inch star will be an England regular within a year and is willing to increase his offer for the youngster should Spurs rebuff Liverpool’s opening bid.

Source: Caught Offside

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Transfer Watch: Who will Liverpool sign first?

Who will become Brendan Rodgers’ first signing as a Liverpool manager? Let’s go through the list reported in the press.

Clint Dempsey

The Anfield club's co-owner Tom Werner admitted: 'We never talk publicly about our transfer targets, however, any team would be lucky to have Clint Dempsey playing on their squad.'

At the moment Rodgers is also said to be actively pursuing Clint Dempsey, whom he feels will fit into the system of play that the new head honcho prefers. By agreeing to coach Liverpool, Rodgers will carry the aspirations, dreams and desires of hundreds of millions of Liverpool fans worldwide.

Adam Johnson

Talks are set to move forward in the coming days and the Kop outfit are hoping the Blues will do quick business on the England star who narrowly missed out on Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad.

Brendan Rodgers knows he also faces stiff competition from both Sunderland and Newcastle for Johnson, but the Merseysiders are understood to be willing to match his City wages.

Former Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish set the wheels in the motion last season and Liverpool scouts have been tracking the tricky 24-year-old ever since.

Rodgers is also a huge admirer of the player and has been told the funds are there to push through a big deal.

Johnson is now looking for more first-team opportunities to further his England claims and Liverpool are confident they can provide them.

Gylfi Sigurdsson

Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson admits he would be interested in a move to Liverpool to be reunited with former manager Brendan Rodgers after claiming his record-breaking move to Swansea is off.

Last week the Swans agreed a £6.8million transfer - almost doubling their record fee - to sign the player from Hoffenheim permanently after his successful four-month loan spell subject to a medical.

However, Rodgers' departure to Anfield cast doubt on the deal and Sigurdsson now does not think he will complete it - despite being keen to remain in the Premier League.

Mohamed Diame

Mohamed Diame’s move to Liverpool is back on, after it emerged that new Reds manager Brendan Rodgers is a fan of the former Wigan midfielder.

The Senegalese international was initially sounded out by former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish about a move to Anfield, before the Scot lost his job.

The 24-year-old – available on a Bosman after his contract with the Latics ran out – said he had hoped to move to Liverpool but was looking at other options, but it has now emerged that Rodgers would be keen on signing him.

First summer signing for LFC?

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Steve Clarke leaves Liverpool and is in contention to become WBA new manager

The League Managers' Association has announced that Steve Clarke has left Liverpool, clearing the way for Brendan Rodgers to bring in his own assistant.

Clarke was taken to Anfield in January 2011 by former Reds boss Kenny Dalglish.

Having forged a reputation as one of the finest coaches in the business during spells at Newcastle, Chelsea and West Ham, the Scot was offered the opportunity to work alongside Dalglish as he attempted to bring the good times back to Merseyside.

Liverpool disappointed, though, in 2011/12, with a Carling Cup success not enough to paper over the Premier League cracks.

Dalglish was relieved of his duties by the Reds board as a result, leaving Clarke facing up to an uncertain future.

Liverpool moved quickly to fill their managerial void with the appointment of Rodgers, and he will be allowed to bring in his own backroom team.

That means Clarke's services are no longer required and he has officially vacated his post.

Rodgers has yet to name a number two but Liverpool and the 39-year-old's former club Swansea have agreed a compensation package which sees three of his trusted staff move to Anfield, including his Liberty Stadium assistant Colin Pascoe.

Performance analyst Chris Davies and head of sports science and medicine Glen Driscoll have also linked up with the Reds.

West Bromwich Albion have moved quickly to sound out Clarke after he left Anfield and sources close to the club believe he could even be appointed by the weekend.

Former Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick had looked set to take charge at the Hawthorns, but he appears to have now dropped out of the running to succeed Hodgson.

Clarke has gained plenty of experience working as number two at Chelsea, West Ham and most recently at Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish.

But the 48 year-old is believed to be keen to step in to a managerial role and Albion fit the bill.

Clarke will have a hard act to follow in Hodgson, who guided West Brom to a top-10 finish in the Barclays Premier League last season.

Source: Sky Sports, Telegraph Sport

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Transfer Watch: Liverpool to re-ignites Fernando interest and other possible transfers

Liverpool has been alerted by the news report coming out from the Real Madrid camp on the availability of Argentine defensive midfielder, Fernando Gago.

Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho has instructed the club that he intends to get rid of Kaka, Fernando Gago, Hamit Altintop and Ricardo Carvalho in the off-season. According to Mundo Deportivo, Gago will follow Kaka, Altintop and Carvalho through the Bernabeu exit if Mourinho gets his way in the summer.

Gago is not part of Mourinho's plans and the midfielder spent the season on loan at Roma. He was expected to seal a permanent move to the Serie A outfit last month but the Italians refused to meet the €7million asking price set by Madrid by the June 1 deadline. Gago has one year left on his contract and may now be forced to run out his contract next season if no other interested buyers come in.

Liverpool new manager, Brendan Rodgers are looked set to recruit more players to mount a serious Premier League challenge this August. There are a few key areas in the Reds team need to be covered and Lucas Leiva’s position are the most crucial as the Reds struggles to fill the defensive midfield role last season when the Brazilian midfielder sat out through injury.

Fernando Gago transfer probability – 3/5 and worth £5.7million, aged 26, will fits into FSG’s plan.

Let’s look at other transfer target for Liverpool FC.

Many reports suggested that Rodgers are interested in his former Swansea City players, Joe Allen and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Are these the kind of players that can drive Liverpool back to Champions League football?

According to the BBC, Sigurdsson has verbally agreed to make his loan move to Swansea permanent, but since Rodger’s made his Liverpool switch, his future has become somewhat more uncertain. Rodgers has since admitted that “if he comes on the market I have to be interested. He knows that I rate his qualities and abilities.”

Rodgers’ interest in Joe Allen also has an air of authenticity. He was the mainstay at Swansea City and Rodgers’ is clearly a big fan. There’s every chance that he’ll look to bring him over to the Reds (if Swansea doesn’t placed a players protection clause when Liverpool signs Rodgers).

Another noticeable mentioned by the press was Fulham’s Clint Dempsey. Liverpool’s chairman Tom Werner has made his interest in the American star clear. He publicly told the press, “We never talk publicly about our transfer targets. However, any team would be lucky to have Clint Dempsey playing on their squad.”

All three are Internationals, can pass the ball around neatly and score goals. They’ve all got Premier League experience, are physical and have bucket loads of energy. In particular Clint Dempsey is the real deal and how Liverpool could use his goals moving forward.

Without Champions League football, Liverpool FC would never going to get Fernando Llorente, Kaka or Eden Hazard. As such the Reds need to start making sensible signings and rebuilding. These three players look like they’ve got the nous to get Liverpool competing again.

Source: LFC Stats

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