Gerrard and Carra to sign..Xabi off to Barca??

[hairykewell]

Dominic Fifield
Monday May 21, 2007
The Guardian

Liverpool travel to Athens this morning boosted by confirmation that Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have agreed new contracts with the club.

The England midfielder and defender have swiftly pledged the rest of their careers to the Merseysiders with the deals to be formally signed on the team's return from Greece.

Gerrard, who will earn around £6m a year, will be relieved that his future is all but resolved having been keen to avoid a repeat of the uncertainty which followed Liverpool's Champions League victory over Milan two years ago on penalties, when a delay in contract negotiations almost prompted him to move to Chelsea.

Struan Marshall, who represents both players, will complete the final details of their contracts this week with an announcement expected by the weekend. Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benítez, hopes similar progress will be made with the Spanish international midfielder Xabi Alonso - who has attracted interest from last year's European champions Barcelona - the goalkeeper José Reina and the full-back Steve Finnan.



Maybe we can exchange Xabi for Eto'o

[Marky]

Excellent news.
Surely Riise will be getting a new contract offer aswell?

[hairykewell]

Excellent news.
Surely Riise will be getting a new contract offer aswell?

It sure is!!

Riise will surely get a new contract also, he seems to improve every year! I didn't really rate him till Rafa came in.

[ronanm]

It sure is!!

Riise will surely get a new contract also, he seems to improve every year! I didn't really rate him till Rafa came in.

I think Riise has had better seasons. Not as prolific this year (although he did get the cracker in the Nou Camp )

[hairykewell]

I think Riise has had better seasons. Not as prolific this year (although he did get the cracker in the Nou Camp )

I should have been more specific, I think defensively he has improved. I don't like him when he plays in a midfield role.

[AFII]

STEVIE £30M KOP DEAL
By Dave Maddock 21/05/2007

STEVEN GERRARD and Jamie Carragher have agreed new five-year deals with Liverpool.

The Champions League finalists will go into Wednesday's match lifted by the news their two home-grown talismen will be staying at the club for the rest of their playing days.

Skipper Gerrard has done a £30million deal, while Carragher has one worth £4million a year.

Manager Rafa Benitez said he would hold just one meeting with the players to agree their new contracts ahead of the final in Athens, or the deals would have to be concluded after the game.

However, with new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks determined to give Benitez money to bring in new players, Gerrard and Carragher needed little persuading that the club can help them fulfil their ambitions.

CLICKY - The Mirror

[AFII]

LIFER BIRDS
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL: AC MILAN v LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY KO 7.45PM Gerrard gets £30m deal, Carragher gets £20m but Alonso faces Anfield axe
David Maddock 21/05/2007

STEVEN GERRARD has given Liverpool a massive lift before the Champions League Final, by agreeing a new £30million contract that will keep him at Anfield for life.

And Jamie Carragher has also offered the perfect boost to the club as they prepare to face AC Milan in Athens, by shaking hands on a five-year deal, worth around £4m a year.

The pair have both committed their long-term futures to the club, and will sign after the showcase final with Milan.

Gerrard will see his salary rise to a staggering £6m a year when bonuses are thrown in, but Liverpool are prepared to pay such a price for a player who is so crucial to their future.

New American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks made it clear that he must be signed at all costs, to prevent any chance of him leaving.

There is a fear though, that midfielder Xabi Alonso could quit Anfield if he is axed for the Wednesday's final. The influential playmaker has reached a stalemate in contract negotiations after the club's board refused to meet his demands.

And the Spanish international may decide that his future lies with a club back home if he is overlooked against Milan.

Sources close to the midfielder suggest that he has become increasingly unhappy with playing second fiddle to Argentine Javier Mascherano in the Liverpool engine room.

Alonso was a shock omission from the second leg of the semi-final against Chelsea, where he was confined to the bench after Mascherano was given his usual berth as the holding midfielder.

Manager Rafa Benitez was disappointed with the way the pair combined in the first leg of the semi, and he believes the playing the pair together makes his midfield a little too passive. Mascherano is clearly favoured between the two at the moment, and it seems he will be given the job of trying to negate the influence of Milan's Brazilian star Kaka.

Benitez must then choose who to play alongside him, and he could decide that he needs a more aggressive, dynamic player to combat the physical presence of Rino Gattuso. If so, then he will more likely choose between Gerrard - who will definitely start in the final - and Momo Sissoko, who starred in the quarter-final against Barcelona.

That would see Alonso stay on the bench. With Real Madrid and Barca both thought to be monitoring the situation, that could well lead to a parting of the ways in the summer.

With the Brazilian Lucas Levia already signed for next season, there is some stiff competition for places in the Anfield midfield.

Levia is a Brazil Under-20 international who is tipped for future stardom, and a player described by the Liverpool boss as one capable of challenging immediately for a place in the side.

The feeling from Alonso's advisers is that if he is left out of the final then he will have no option but to look for a move.

CLICKY - The Mirror

[Guest]

All this Alonso talks are bollox.

[AFII]

All this Alonso talks are bollox.

Maddock is very close to the club.

Alonso to Barca and Eto'o to us?

[Guest]

Maddock is very close to the club.

Alonso to Barca and Eto'o to us?

Maddock hasn't quoted anyone in this report and he states in there 'there are fears ...'. So I wouldn't lose any sleep whatsoever !

If ever Rafa wants to sell Xabi, then I feel that we've still got the best midfield around with Momo and the new Brazilian Leiva.

[Parm]

All this Alonso talks are bollox.

but thing is, with us having so many CM's it is natural for a few of them to be linked with moves away. Have seen Xabi and Momo to Juve stories this morning as well.

[thekop]

Dominic Fifield
Monday May 21, 2007
The Guardian

Liverpool travel to Athens this morning boosted by confirmation that Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have agreed new contracts with the club.

The England midfielder and defender have swiftly pledged the rest of their careers to the Merseysiders with the deals to be formally signed on the team's return from Greece.

Gerrard, who will earn around £6m a year, will be relieved that his future is all but resolved having been keen to avoid a repeat of the uncertainty which followed Liverpool's Champions League victory over Milan two years ago on penalties, when a delay in contract negotiations almost prompted him to move to Chelsea.

Struan Marshall, who represents both players, will complete the final details of their contracts this week with an announcement expected by the weekend. Liverpool's manager, Rafael Benítez, hopes similar progress will be made with the Spanish international midfielder Xabi Alonso - who has attracted interest from last year's European champions Barcelona - the goalkeeper José Reina and the full-back Steve Finnan.



Maybe we can exchange Xabi for Eto'o

Fantastic news mate and i agree with you that Alonzo will be moving this summer possibly to Barca with like you said, with Eto'o coming our way which will be good buissness IMO.

Good times ahead i feel

[Diego]

Maddock hasn't quoted anyone in this report and he states in there 'there are fears ...'. So I wouldn't lose any sleep whatsoever !

If ever Rafa wants to sell Xabi, then I feel that we've still got the best midfield around with Momo and the new Brazilian Leiva.

most of this is based on what bascombe said about xabi having to rethink his career if mascher is taking his place in the final...

[The_weatherman]

I think it speaks volumes that I´m not bricking it wheather or not Xabi leaves, if he goes he goes, we´d still have Mascher, Gerrard, Momo and Lucas, although I haven´t seen much of this Lucas fella, I have a good feeling about him he doesn´t sound like he´s as much of a risk as Cisse and Gonzo for example.

[Guest]

most of this is based on what bascombe said about xabi having to rethink his career if mascher is taking his place in the final...

I haven't seen that piece from Bascombe mate. Do you have a link to it ?