Liverpool ready to offload Italian to Fiorentina

Liverpool have accepted an undisclosed offer from Fiorentina for Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

The 28-year-old has flown to Italy from the Reds' pre-season tour of the United States to complete his move.

Liverpool are likely to step up their attempts to sign Swansea's Joe Allen if the deal proceeds as expected.

Aquilani has failed to settle at Anfield since signing in 2009 for £20million from Roma and has been on loan for the last two seasons.

The Italian’s lucrative contract equates to around £6.5 million a year, an expense which has only been reduced in recent years thanks to loan deals.

To put it into perspective, the £125,000 a week he is currently costing the Anfield club double what Anfield stalwart Jamie Carragher earns.

His stints at AC Milan last term and Juventus in the 2010-11 season mean he did not play for former Reds' managers Kenny Dalglish and only made two appearances for Roy Hodgson.

And despite having two years left on his contract and completing pre-season under new boss Brendan Rodgers, it appears that his time at Liverpool is coming to a conclusion.

Rafael Benitez brought Aquilani to Anfield as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but he struggled with injury and made 26 appearances in his first season.

Source: BBC Sport

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club or Red's Fury™ blog.

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Video Highlights: Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool

Fabio Borini made his debut and Steven Gerrard returned as Liverpool brought their tour of North America and Canada to a close with a 0-0 draw against Barclays Premier League rivals Tottenham at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

The new signing from Roma and the captain both played half an hour against Spurs as Brendan Rodgers introduced several players who had been handed extended leave following Euro 2012.
Spurs winger Gareth Bale had an instant chance to break the deadlock, running clear on goal straight from kick-off but his effort at Brad Jones was deflected out for a corner, which the Reds subsequently cleared.
Also making his first appearance in pre-season, Stewart Downing had the first sight of goal for the Reds, sending a cross-shot into the box from the right hand side which curled dangerously but not enough to trouble former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
Jonjo Shelvey, who impressed from midfield during the 2-1 defeat by Roma on Wednesday, showed positivity again from the centre, driving forward and planting a shot from distance into Friedel's hands on 13 minutes.
Tottenham tried to respond three minutes later, when young striker Harry Kane received a through ball inside the Reds' penalty area and guided a shot around Martin Skrtel which rolled narrowly wide.

Downing drifted in from his position on the right again in the 23^rd minute and when his shot was blocked, the ball arrived at Adam Morgan, via Joe Cole, in a promising position but the striker dragged his attempt off target.

Full report: Liverpool FC Tour

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Video Highlights: Liverpool FC 1-2 AS Roma

Liverpool continued their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 defeat against Italian side Roma in front of a packed crowd at the historic Fenway Park in Boston.

Roma responded quickly and should have taken the lead when Pablo Osvaldo dribbled past Jamie Carragher and found himself one-on-one with Gulacsi, but again the Hungarian stood tall and pushed the shot around the post for a corner.

As both teams increased their tempo, Jonjo Shelvey almost helped the Reds break the deadlock twice in quick succession. First, the 20-year-old drove from midfield before sending a shot at goal which Lobont had to parry, then the midfielder played in Nathan Eccleston, whose rising shot went wide.

Two of the Reds' returning stars combined on 32 minutes but were denied by the woodwork. Alberto Aquilani's precise dink forward found Cole, who, spotting Lobont off his line, lobbed the 'keeper but saw his attempt bounce clear off the top of the crossbar.

Shelvey brought another save out of Lobont five minutes before half-time after creating a chance for himself out of nothing. The Reds No.33 carried the ball past two Roma defenders and hit a left-footed strike towards goal but the goalkeeper was down quickly to save, and Lobont was called into action again a minute before the break, stopping a Cole shot to ensure the half ended goalless.

Full report: Liverpool FC Official

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Video Highlights: Toronto FC 1-1 Liverpool FC

Brendan Rodgers began his reign as Liverpool manager with a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC in their friendly at the Rogers Centre in Canada.

The Reds recovered from a goal behind to claim a draw with the Major League Soccer side, who took the lead through Quincy Amarikwa but were pegged back by Adam Morgan.

Rodgers took the opportunity to give 23 players a taste of the action during his first match as Liverpool boss, which also served as the opening fixture of the team's tour of North America and Canada.

There was an early chance for the Reds when Dani Pacheco was found free on the left edge of the area by Nathan Eccleston after 2 minutes, but the Spanish forward's cross was cleared.

The hosts, who are midway through their MLS season, had seen little of the ball during the opening seven minutes but created the first genuine opportunity of the match with their maiden attack.

Full report: Liverpool FC Official

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