Spaniards set for new contract talks
Jan 24 2007
by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
Rafael Benitez with new signings Xabi Alonso (right) and Luis Garcia to Anfield
LIVERPOOL are ready to sit down and discuss new contracts with Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia.
Rafael Benitez is keen to extend the Anfield careers of the Spanish duo, who have proven a huge success in England since arriving before deadline day in August 2004.
Alonso, signed for £10.6million from Real Sociedad, is under contract until the summer of 2009, while Garcia, a £6m capture from Barcelona, is poised to become a free agent at the end of next season.
Alonso has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid while Garcia is attracting the interest of former club Atletico Madrid, despite being ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.
Liverpool, though, want to keep hold of both players and negotiations could even begin later this week, with Benitez having already indicated his desire to reach a new agreement with goalkeeper Pepe Reina to head off interest from Valencia.
Liverpool have also made the move in light of new rules over contracts that are due to come into force in August.
Referred to as the “protected period”, if a player’s contract was signed prior to reaching the age of 28 then, provided he has completed three entire seasons or three entire years, he is permitted to buy out the remainder of his contract with just 15 days’ notice. However, if the contract was signed after he reaches 28, only two seasons or years must be served.
In effect, the buy-out value will become the player’s transfer value as interested clubs would no doubt pay the fee rather than the player himself.
Both Alonso and Garcia fall out of their “protected period” at the end of the season and could conceivably then buy out their present contracts.
Meanwhile, Alonso believes Liverpool must not allow their concentration to falter after their defeat of Chelsea at the weekend.
The victory moved the Anfield outfit to within five points of the second-placed Londoners, with leaders Manchester United now a further six points ahead.
United visit Anfield on March 3, but before then Liverpool face a quartet of games that could effectively shape the remainder of their league campaign.
Benitez’s side visit West Ham United next Tuesday then entertain Everton in the Merseyside derby four days later, which is followed by a trip to Newcastle United and a home clash with Sheffield United.
And midfielder Alonso knows Liverpool need to remain focused on their short-term targets, starting with victory at Upton Park next week.
“It’s dangerous when people start talking about the title, because we must be realistic,” said the Spaniard.
“The position we are in now shows we are improving, and I would prefer to think about that rather than other things.
“We are in a good situation now, but we have to concentrate on keeping going and not think about the gap that’s still there. You can see we’re progressing and improving with every game.
“All the games become important, but once you’ve proven you can beat the top sides, you have to carry on in the same way and not believe you’ve already achieved your target. Now, after a win like against Chelsea, it’s important to keep our confidence, but not allow our concentration to slip.”
Liverpool reserves’ mini-derby against Everton last night was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. No new date has yet been arranged for the fixture.
# STOKE manager Tony Pulis confirmed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao until the end of the season after a 1-0 win at Burnley took the Potters back into theCoca-Cola Championship play-off places.
Jan 24 2007
by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
Rafael Benitez with new signings Xabi Alonso (right) and Luis Garcia to Anfield
LIVERPOOL are ready to sit down and discuss new contracts with Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia.
Rafael Benitez is keen to extend the Anfield careers of the Spanish duo, who have proven a huge success in England since arriving before deadline day in August 2004.
Alonso, signed for £10.6million from Real Sociedad, is under contract until the summer of 2009, while Garcia, a £6m capture from Barcelona, is poised to become a free agent at the end of next season.
Alonso has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid while Garcia is attracting the interest of former club Atletico Madrid, despite being ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.
Liverpool, though, want to keep hold of both players and negotiations could even begin later this week, with Benitez having already indicated his desire to reach a new agreement with goalkeeper Pepe Reina to head off interest from Valencia.
Liverpool have also made the move in light of new rules over contracts that are due to come into force in August.
Referred to as the “protected period”, if a player’s contract was signed prior to reaching the age of 28 then, provided he has completed three entire seasons or three entire years, he is permitted to buy out the remainder of his contract with just 15 days’ notice. However, if the contract was signed after he reaches 28, only two seasons or years must be served.
In effect, the buy-out value will become the player’s transfer value as interested clubs would no doubt pay the fee rather than the player himself.
Both Alonso and Garcia fall out of their “protected period” at the end of the season and could conceivably then buy out their present contracts.
Meanwhile, Alonso believes Liverpool must not allow their concentration to falter after their defeat of Chelsea at the weekend.
The victory moved the Anfield outfit to within five points of the second-placed Londoners, with leaders Manchester United now a further six points ahead.
United visit Anfield on March 3, but before then Liverpool face a quartet of games that could effectively shape the remainder of their league campaign.
Benitez’s side visit West Ham United next Tuesday then entertain Everton in the Merseyside derby four days later, which is followed by a trip to Newcastle United and a home clash with Sheffield United.
And midfielder Alonso knows Liverpool need to remain focused on their short-term targets, starting with victory at Upton Park next week.
“It’s dangerous when people start talking about the title, because we must be realistic,” said the Spaniard.
“The position we are in now shows we are improving, and I would prefer to think about that rather than other things.
“We are in a good situation now, but we have to concentrate on keeping going and not think about the gap that’s still there. You can see we’re progressing and improving with every game.
“All the games become important, but once you’ve proven you can beat the top sides, you have to carry on in the same way and not believe you’ve already achieved your target. Now, after a win like against Chelsea, it’s important to keep our confidence, but not allow our concentration to slip.”
Liverpool reserves’ mini-derby against Everton last night was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. No new date has yet been arranged for the fixture.
# STOKE manager Tony Pulis confirmed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Salif Diao until the end of the season after a 1-0 win at Burnley took the Potters back into theCoca-Cola Championship play-off places.
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