RAFA READY TO KOP BECKHAM!
EXCLUSIVE New Arab owners planning sensational Real deal
By Andy Dunn
LIVERPOOL'S prospective owners will announce their arrival at Anfield by making a sensational bid to recruit David Beckham.
Sheikh Maktoum's company Dubai International Capital is close to completing a £450million takeover of the club but it has been rocked by suggestions that the buy-out is merely a short-term, money-making exercise.
The new owners are keen to make sure that they are not seen as opportunists. A DIC source said: "We will make sure there is cash available for the ongoing strengthening of the playing squad.
And People Sport understands tha senior figures within the company see a bid for Beckham as the perfect way of highlighting their ambitions.
Real Madrid outcast Beckham can talk to other clubs from tomorrow and is available on a free transfer in the summer.
He has an offer on the table from Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls and firm interest from a variety of Premiership and Serie A clubs.
Beckham, 31, is unlikely to make a decision until towards the end of the', season.
It seems unthinkable that the former Manchester United player, who is still a big fan of the club, would end his career at Anfield.
But Liverpool can almost certainly offer him Champions League football - and the perfect stage to prove Sir Alex Ferguson and Steve McClaren wrong.
Ferguson shocked the football world by selling Becks to Madrid and McClaren unceremoniously dumped him from the England set-up.
The option of Beckham staying in Madrid is shrinking by the day as Real boss Fabio Capello continues his recruitment of South American midfielders.
And while the prospect of a swansong in the USA appeals to him, Beckham still feels that he has a couple of years left at the highest level in Europe.
He could be the solution to Liverpool's problems on the right-hand side of midfield.
Jermaine Pennant has not been a success there and manager Rafa Benitez now seems to accept that Steven Gerrard's best position is in the centre of midfield.
And Beckham's marketability - he remains the best-known footballer in the Middle and Far East - would appeal to the Dubai ownership.
CLICKY
REINA KEY TO £25M SWOOP
FOOTBALL ARABS STIR UP ANFIELD SENSATION
By Alan Nixon
LIVERPOOL keeper Jose Reina is at the centre of a huge transfer headache for boss Rafa Benitez - and the key to a £40million-plus merry-go-round.
Valencia will only let star striker David Villa go to Anfield if they get Spaniard Reina as part of the deal.
Reina has been Liverpool's number one since he signed I for £6m in July 2005 and, although he has made some costly blunders, the boss wants to keep him if he can.
However Valencia will not play ball with £25m-rated Villa unless Reina is in the package, and that is driving Benitez to distraction.
He wants the deal now rather than next summer and is desperate to sign Villa and then sell Peter Crouch to Newcastle - the massive double deal first revealed in People Sport last Sunday.
Crouch would love a £7m switch to St James' Park, but that can only happen if Benitez ties up the deal for Villa.
Liverpool are considering what to do about Reina in the equation.
They have let Chris Kirkland go to Wigan and have loaned out Scott Carson to Charlton with a view to selling him. Benitez's spies have been asked to draw up a hit-list of goalkeeper targets.
Shock names under consideration include old boy David James, who's at Portsmouth.
James had a colourful career at Liverpool and made some famous cock-ups, but Benitez rates him the best English keeper around and would have no fears about going in for him.
CLICKY
EXCLUSIVE New Arab owners planning sensational Real deal
By Andy Dunn
LIVERPOOL'S prospective owners will announce their arrival at Anfield by making a sensational bid to recruit David Beckham.
Sheikh Maktoum's company Dubai International Capital is close to completing a £450million takeover of the club but it has been rocked by suggestions that the buy-out is merely a short-term, money-making exercise.
The new owners are keen to make sure that they are not seen as opportunists. A DIC source said: "We will make sure there is cash available for the ongoing strengthening of the playing squad.
And People Sport understands tha senior figures within the company see a bid for Beckham as the perfect way of highlighting their ambitions.
Real Madrid outcast Beckham can talk to other clubs from tomorrow and is available on a free transfer in the summer.
He has an offer on the table from Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls and firm interest from a variety of Premiership and Serie A clubs.
Beckham, 31, is unlikely to make a decision until towards the end of the', season.
It seems unthinkable that the former Manchester United player, who is still a big fan of the club, would end his career at Anfield.
But Liverpool can almost certainly offer him Champions League football - and the perfect stage to prove Sir Alex Ferguson and Steve McClaren wrong.
Ferguson shocked the football world by selling Becks to Madrid and McClaren unceremoniously dumped him from the England set-up.
The option of Beckham staying in Madrid is shrinking by the day as Real boss Fabio Capello continues his recruitment of South American midfielders.
And while the prospect of a swansong in the USA appeals to him, Beckham still feels that he has a couple of years left at the highest level in Europe.
He could be the solution to Liverpool's problems on the right-hand side of midfield.
Jermaine Pennant has not been a success there and manager Rafa Benitez now seems to accept that Steven Gerrard's best position is in the centre of midfield.
And Beckham's marketability - he remains the best-known footballer in the Middle and Far East - would appeal to the Dubai ownership.
CLICKY
REINA KEY TO £25M SWOOP
FOOTBALL ARABS STIR UP ANFIELD SENSATION
By Alan Nixon
LIVERPOOL keeper Jose Reina is at the centre of a huge transfer headache for boss Rafa Benitez - and the key to a £40million-plus merry-go-round.
Valencia will only let star striker David Villa go to Anfield if they get Spaniard Reina as part of the deal.
Reina has been Liverpool's number one since he signed I for £6m in July 2005 and, although he has made some costly blunders, the boss wants to keep him if he can.
However Valencia will not play ball with £25m-rated Villa unless Reina is in the package, and that is driving Benitez to distraction.
He wants the deal now rather than next summer and is desperate to sign Villa and then sell Peter Crouch to Newcastle - the massive double deal first revealed in People Sport last Sunday.
Crouch would love a £7m switch to St James' Park, but that can only happen if Benitez ties up the deal for Villa.
Liverpool are considering what to do about Reina in the equation.
They have let Chris Kirkland go to Wigan and have loaned out Scott Carson to Charlton with a view to selling him. Benitez's spies have been asked to draw up a hit-list of goalkeeper targets.
Shock names under consideration include old boy David James, who's at Portsmouth.
James had a colourful career at Liverpool and made some famous cock-ups, but Benitez rates him the best English keeper around and would have no fears about going in for him.
CLICKY
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