Man UTD.
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Hargreaves to UTD
Dirk Kuyt is edging closer to joining Liverpool after reaching agreement with the Dutch club Feyenoord that he will be permitted to leave Rotterdam for Anfield once a fee has been thrashed out between the clubs.
Reports in Holland last night suggested the striker had already met the Merseysiders' manager, Rafael Benítez, to discuss the transfer though negotiations between the two clubs are understood to be ongoing.
Funds are relatively tight at Anfield and, while Liverpool could offer Feyenoord a deal worth up to £10m for the international, they would look to stagger payments over the course of his contract.
Any lingering hopes Newcastle may have had of luring the 26-year-old to St James' Park appear to have been dashed with Kuyt telling the Feyenoord hierarchy he is only prepared to move to Liverpool.
A desire to play in the Champions League was paramount in his thinking - the 2005 winners hold a slender advantage going into next week's second leg of their qualifying tie against Maccabi Haifa - with Benítez's interest in the former Utrecht forward long-standing.
The player's stance has denied the Dutch club the auction they hoped to instigate for their prize asset's signature, with the coach Erwin Koeman torn between his desire to raise as much money via a sale and resigned to the reality that the club will hardly benefit from retaining a player who is anxious to leave.
The striker is currently in Ireland preparing for this evening's friendly against the Republic at Lansdowne Road and is hopeful his future will be resolved imminently.
While Kuyt's impact at the recent World Cup finals was a disappointment, the forward failing to score in any of his three appearances, he has proved himself one of the most prolific forwards on the continent in recent seasons.
He scored 22 times last season and boasts 71 in 101 league games since moving to De Kuip three years ago.
Kuyt had hoped to move to the Premiership last summer but was persuaded to wait another season, not least by the Dutch coach Marco van Basten, with Feyenoord agreeing to review his situation after the World Cup.
He was duly allowed extra time to consider his options before returning to pre-season training last month and, despite being handed the club captaincy and enjoying cult status among the Feyenoord fans, he has now set his heart upon the switch to Merseyside.
Link:
Hargreaves to UTD
Dirk Kuyt is edging closer to joining Liverpool after reaching agreement with the Dutch club Feyenoord that he will be permitted to leave Rotterdam for Anfield once a fee has been thrashed out between the clubs.
Reports in Holland last night suggested the striker had already met the Merseysiders' manager, Rafael Benítez, to discuss the transfer though negotiations between the two clubs are understood to be ongoing.
Funds are relatively tight at Anfield and, while Liverpool could offer Feyenoord a deal worth up to £10m for the international, they would look to stagger payments over the course of his contract.
Any lingering hopes Newcastle may have had of luring the 26-year-old to St James' Park appear to have been dashed with Kuyt telling the Feyenoord hierarchy he is only prepared to move to Liverpool.
A desire to play in the Champions League was paramount in his thinking - the 2005 winners hold a slender advantage going into next week's second leg of their qualifying tie against Maccabi Haifa - with Benítez's interest in the former Utrecht forward long-standing.
The player's stance has denied the Dutch club the auction they hoped to instigate for their prize asset's signature, with the coach Erwin Koeman torn between his desire to raise as much money via a sale and resigned to the reality that the club will hardly benefit from retaining a player who is anxious to leave.
The striker is currently in Ireland preparing for this evening's friendly against the Republic at Lansdowne Road and is hopeful his future will be resolved imminently.
While Kuyt's impact at the recent World Cup finals was a disappointment, the forward failing to score in any of his three appearances, he has proved himself one of the most prolific forwards on the continent in recent seasons.
He scored 22 times last season and boasts 71 in 101 league games since moving to De Kuip three years ago.
Kuyt had hoped to move to the Premiership last summer but was persuaded to wait another season, not least by the Dutch coach Marco van Basten, with Feyenoord agreeing to review his situation after the World Cup.
He was duly allowed extra time to consider his options before returning to pre-season training last month and, despite being handed the club captaincy and enjoying cult status among the Feyenoord fans, he has now set his heart upon the switch to Merseyside.
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