Makes for depressing reading especially the bit in bold.
STEVEN GERRARD and Jamie Carragher were expected to sign their new Liverpool contracts today.
The Anfield duo agreed four year deals before the Champions League final, but the trip to Athens and international commitments delayed the formality of putting pen to paper.
With England heading to Estonia for their crucial Euro 2008 qualifier, the players and club are keen to tie up the formalities as soon as possible and intend using an opening in their diary this afternoon.
With negotiations to keep the Scouse duo concluded two weeks ago, manager Rafa Benitez was hoping to make progress on the futures of Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso. Reina has indicated he will commit to the club and Benitez is also determined to retain Alonso, despite Barcelona’s interest.
And he’s also planning key talks when he returns to England with Momo Sissoko. Benitez has no intention of allowing the African to move to Juventus for a paltry £10m, as widely reported over the weekend.
Sissoko suffered a crisis of confidence towards the end of the season after a succession of horrific injuries, but at just 22, Benitez feels the midfielder is still potentially one of the best in Europe.
Sissoko will be offered a new deal and if Juventus make a £10m bid as expected, they’ll be told to forget it.
Benitez, who doesn’t return from holiday until the end of this week, is hoping for swift progress on a wide range of issues. Liverpool intend recruiting left winger Florent Malouda but are facing awkward negotiations with Lyon if the £8m switch is to proceed.
Meanwhile, Benitez’s chief scout, Eduardo Macia, announced to the Spanish media over the weekend that Liverpool have ended their interest in Daniel Alves, who seems to be on the verge of joining Real Madrid in a £15m deal.
Benitez would still love to sign Alves, but in the absence of any confirmation of how much is available, Liverpool are in no position to pursue such targets.
Benitez remains in close contact with club officials but while the Reds continue to be linked with stars such as Samuel Eto’o, there appears to be an ever growing gap between reality and fantasy.
The suggestion Liverpool may have as much as £35m to bid for Eto’o – as one report suggested last week – would be heartily welcomed by the manager, but so far he’s been given no clue he has anything like this budget as his disposal.
He’s more likely to spend the next few days assessing how to raise funds through sales rather than await the huge cheque many presumed available following the takeover.
STEVEN GERRARD and Jamie Carragher were expected to sign their new Liverpool contracts today.
The Anfield duo agreed four year deals before the Champions League final, but the trip to Athens and international commitments delayed the formality of putting pen to paper.
With England heading to Estonia for their crucial Euro 2008 qualifier, the players and club are keen to tie up the formalities as soon as possible and intend using an opening in their diary this afternoon.
With negotiations to keep the Scouse duo concluded two weeks ago, manager Rafa Benitez was hoping to make progress on the futures of Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso. Reina has indicated he will commit to the club and Benitez is also determined to retain Alonso, despite Barcelona’s interest.
And he’s also planning key talks when he returns to England with Momo Sissoko. Benitez has no intention of allowing the African to move to Juventus for a paltry £10m, as widely reported over the weekend.
Sissoko suffered a crisis of confidence towards the end of the season after a succession of horrific injuries, but at just 22, Benitez feels the midfielder is still potentially one of the best in Europe.
Sissoko will be offered a new deal and if Juventus make a £10m bid as expected, they’ll be told to forget it.
Benitez, who doesn’t return from holiday until the end of this week, is hoping for swift progress on a wide range of issues. Liverpool intend recruiting left winger Florent Malouda but are facing awkward negotiations with Lyon if the £8m switch is to proceed.
Meanwhile, Benitez’s chief scout, Eduardo Macia, announced to the Spanish media over the weekend that Liverpool have ended their interest in Daniel Alves, who seems to be on the verge of joining Real Madrid in a £15m deal.
Benitez would still love to sign Alves, but in the absence of any confirmation of how much is available, Liverpool are in no position to pursue such targets.
Benitez remains in close contact with club officials but while the Reds continue to be linked with stars such as Samuel Eto’o, there appears to be an ever growing gap between reality and fantasy.
The suggestion Liverpool may have as much as £35m to bid for Eto’o – as one report suggested last week – would be heartily welcomed by the manager, but so far he’s been given no clue he has anything like this budget as his disposal.
He’s more likely to spend the next few days assessing how to raise funds through sales rather than await the huge cheque many presumed available following the takeover.
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