Revealed: Jamie Carragher's retirement present from his LFC team-mates

With the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich only hours away, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed the CL-themed retirement present he received from his Anfield team-mates.

In his column for the Daily Mail today, Carra - who is due to join Sky Sports as an analyst - noted:

"For a retirement present, I was treated by a few Liverpool players to a trip to the Bernabeu earlier this month to watch the second leg of [Borussia Dortmund's] semi-final against Real Madrid".

Pretty cool present for someone who is as football-mad as Carragher, but it's a shame that the game itself wasn't a classic.

Despite that, Carra came away from the game mightily impressed with Dortmund, and tipped Jurgen Klopp's side to overcome Bayern in the final. He enthused:

"Dortmund have incredible pace, intensity and quality. They swarmed all over Madrid - Gundogan and Bender had too much energy and power for Khedira and Alonso, and if they can get on top of Schweinsteiger and Martinez, Bayern might find it difficult to keep pace"

Carra also believes Marco Reus could be the man to make the difference:

"In Reus, they have a player who has only been outperformed in the Champions League this year by Messi and Ronaldo. It has been said Gotze’s thigh injury will damage Dortmund’s chances, but losing Reus would have been worse"

Carra may be slightly exaggerating Reus's influence here. In the CL this season:

* Reus: 4 goals/2 assists in 12 apps.
* Messi: 8 goals/2 assists in 11 apps.
* Ronaldo: 12 goals/1 assist in 12 apps.
* Lewandowski: 10 goals/2 assists in 12 apps.
* Muller: 8 goals/2 assists in 12 apps.

In terms of specific, measurable impact on their respective teams, there's a strong case to suggest that Lewandowski and Muller have also outperformed Reus.

Jaimie Kanwar

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'It doesn't help' - Angry boss blasts 'erroneous' £15m LFC transfer deal. Game over...?

In April, Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic admitted that he is 'happy' to be linked with a summer transfer to Liverpool, and with Pepe Reina continuing to be linked with a move to Barcelona, the Reds are planning for life without the Spanish stopper. Earlier this week, Begovic seemingly gave the strongest indication yet that he could become the club's new goalkeeper, but Stoke City have hit back today, claiming that reports of an imminent move are very wide of the mark.

According to a report in The Mirror over the weekend:

"Brendan Rodgers will try to jump the queue for Asmir Begovic, if Pepe Reina rejoins Barcelona".

Speaking to the Bosnian media this week, Begovic made it clear that he wants to join the Reds. He told reporters:

"I want to start preparing on July 10, with all the players of Liverpool”

According to Stoke, the story is not true. Potters chief executive Tony Scholes told Sky Sports today:

"Asmir's agent rang me as soon as these stories surfaced. He assures me that Asmir doesn't know the Bosnian journalist and has certainly never spoken to him.

"It's complete fabrication. It's inevitable when a manager parts company with a club that there's a period of uncertainty and erroneous newspaper reports certainly don't help matters."

Believe that, and you'll believe anything. Stoke is a good club, but why would Begovic want to stay with a managerless team that narrowly avoided relegation last season? Scholes probably saw the quotes, chewed out Begovic, and is now trying to control the situation.

I personally find it amusing how often players are allegedly 'misquoted' and/or deny taking part in ill-advised interviews about their futures.

A similar thing happened recently with Daniel Agger, who admitted in a Danish interview that he'd considered quitting Anfield 'several times' due to injury, and suggested that he didn't have 'much time left' at LFC.

A couple of days later, Agger (predictably) claimed he'd been 'misquoted', even though his comments were very far from controversial.

Begovic cost Stoke £3.5m in 2010, and he's now rated in the £15m bracket, which is (IMO) slightly overpriced.

I don't think we've heard the last of the Begovic story...

Jaimie Kanwar

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Transfer Fail: LFC deal for 'terrific' £10m star collapses. FSG negligence...?

After months of speculation, Swansea City captain Ashley Williams is set to snub Liverpool for a move to Arsenal.

Liverpool have been persistently linked with a move for Williams over the last year, and in April, The Guardian reported that:

* LFC were 'pole position' to sign him.

* Williams favours a move to LFC.

* He was a boyhood Reds fans.

Well, According to the Evening Standard today:

"Arsenal have agreed terms to sign Ashley Williams this summer. Arsene Wenger is hopeful of tying up a three-year deal to bring him to the Emirates Stadium for a fee of £8-10million in the next fortnight"

Many Liverpool fans will probably breathe a huge sigh of relief over this latest development, but Wenger is no mug - his transfer record proves that he's one of the best judges of talent in the Premier League, if not Europe, so if Williams is good enough for Arsenal, why - according to Reds fans - is he not good enough for Liverpool?

In recent weeks, Liverpool legends Ian Rush and Jan Molby have thrown their support behind the possibility of signing Williams, but FSG reportedly put the blockers on a move for 28-year old due to his age. If this is true, then in my view, Liverpool's owners are clearly damaging the club's ability to compete for top class experienced players.

What do FSG - who have comparatively ZERO experience and knowledge of football - know about players? Having a blanket rule of ignoring any player over the age of 27/28 is negligence IMO, and it undermines the manager, who incidentally, has 20 years of experience in the British game.

Williams - recently described as 'terrific' by Wales boss Chris Coleman - is undoubtedly a good defender, and the his stats over the last five years prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Indeed, this season - according to Opta stats - he is a more effective defender than both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Liverpool continue to be linked with a host of young central defenders, but experience is needed, and the likes of Kyriakos Papadopolous et al will need time to adapt to the Premier League, whereas Williams is proven performer over a number of years, and would fit right in.

Another one bites the dust, it seems...

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Jaimie Kanwar

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I Want Out: 'Incredible' £25m LFC striker target hints at summer exit. Sign ASAP...?

Liverpool target Christian Benteke has given the strongest indication yet that he may be willing to leave Villa Park this summer.

Speaking to The Telegraph recently, Benteke's Agent, Eris Kismet, hinted that the the striker would consider a move at the end of the season. He said:

"At the end of the season, interested clubs will talk to Villa, but it has to be right the buying club and Christian. If all three parties are agreeable, something could happen"

When quizzed about his future at a press conference for the Belgium national team last night, Benteke - who is currently in talks with Villa over a new contract - told Reporters:

“If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that.

“I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

"I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa."

Clearly, Benteke is open to leaving, which is inevitably given Villa's struggles last season. Liverpool have been regularly linked with a move for the striker, but in the same press conference, Benteke mentioned Arsenal as a potential destination, and I'm sure Arsene Wenger will be interested to hear that.

Last Thursday, Villa boss Paul Lambert warned Benteke that a transfer this summer would be a 'gamble', but heaped praise on the youngster's shoulders. He told the Daily Mail:

"In the second half of the season Christian has scored nearly as many goals as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi which is absolutely incredible really. You are talking about the two best players in the world. The big guy has been scoring goals for us left, right and centre"

Lambert has also slapped a massive £25m transfer fee on Benteke, which seems wildly optimistic considering the Belgian has only one year's experience in the Premier League.

Additionally, over the last few years, many other strikers with more experience and superior goal records have gone for far less than £25m.

Benteke may well be worth that amount, but in reality, the likelihood of Villa achieving that fee seems slim.

I have no doubt that Liverpool could pull off the signing of Benteke if the club pulled out all the stops. Anyone can see that the Reds are going places, and I doubt that lack of Champions League football will bother a player of Benteke's age/experience.

Jaimie Kanwar



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Hansen: Carra was 'definitely better' than 'brilliant' LFC legend. Insult...?

Over the years, a series of formidable central defenders have worn the red shirt with distinction, and recently retired Jamie Carragher is up there with the best of them. Liverpool legend Alan Hansen wrote the book on the art of defending, but in an interview today, he claimed that Carra was a better defender than Sami Hyypia. Is he right?

Speaking to the official LFC website, Hansen - who won 8 league titles at Anfield - observed:

"It [Hyppia/Carra] was a great partnership - they combined well, they played off one another.

"Their two great strengths combined beautifully; Hyypia was brilliant positionally, great on the ball and had great technique.

"Jamie was definitely the better defender, stronger in the air, stronger in the tackle and probably stronger mentally"

Hansen is perfectly entitled to his opinion, but in my view, his contention that Carra was 'definitely the better defender' is (IMO) so staggeringly inaccurate that it's hard to believe the view came from someone revered as one of the game's defensive greats.

Carra a better defender than Hyypia?! Absolutely no chance, and Hansen's reasoning is arguably an insult to the Finn, who is clearly one of the greatest defenders ever to grace the Anfield turf.

In what universe is Carragher 'stronger in the air'? Hyypia was absolutely imperious in the air; it was the standout feature of his game, and that aerial prowess has never been replaced at Anfield, especially not by Carra.

How many times this season have the Reds conceded stupid headed-goals from corners and set-pieces this season (an in previous seasons). Aerial ineffectiveness is one of the Reds major problems in defence, and Carra made no real difference to that.

Hansen may have a case that Carragher is 'stronger in the tackle', but 'probably stronger mentally' too? Based on what, exactly? I don't recall Hyypia ever picking up a coin on the pitch and chucking it back at the crowd, do you? Someone with supreme mental strength would not do something like that, surely...?

One prime example of Hyypia's mental strength is the LFC captaincy situation. In 2003 - two years after making Hyypia captain - Gerard Houllier handed the armband to the much younger Steven Gerrard. Many players would've seen this is an embarrassment, and a slight on their leadership ability, but not the Big Fin - he accepted the decision gracefully, got on with his job, and continued to perform with consistent brilliance.

You can count on the fingers of one hand the major mistakes Hyypia made during his 10-year career at Anfield. Indeed, it's hard to recall many mistakes he made that led to opposition goals.

Speaking to the official LFC site in April, Reds hero Dietmar Hamann - who played alongside Hyypia for seven years - outlined Hyppia's strengths:

"He [Hyypia] is Liverpool’s best signing of the last 15 years. Heading was obviously a big aspect of his game, but at the same time, his positioning, technique, and the way he passed the ball, was great. A fantastic player and a fantastic person as well"

Another former LFC defender, Gary Gillespie, added:

"I’ve been fortunate to play alongside Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen, two of the very best, but I’d put Sami up there alongside them"

Don't get me wrong - Carra was/is a superb defender, but he is not (IMO) in the same league as Hyypia, and since he left, the gaping void at the heart of Liverpool's defence - and at the heart of LFC itself - has never been filled.

The Reds miss Sami's commanding presence, organizational skills, leadership qualities and overall calming effect on the defence, and hopefully one day, he'll return to Anfield in a coaching capacity.

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Jaimie Kanwar

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'He's fantastic' - LFC chase €10m striker hailed as the 'surprise of the season'

Liverpool are reportedly considering a summer move for Parma striker Ishak Belfodil.

According to reports in Italy today:

- Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is an admirer of the 20-year old goalscorer.

- Liverpool scouts have watched him play on three separate occasions.

Tottenham and Everton are also monitoring the €10m-rated Algeria International, who signed for Parma last summer.

Parma winger Jonathan Biabiany is not surprised that clubs are in for Belfodil. In a recent interview, he enthused:

“I am delighted that we have so many strong players here and added to the squad well too and it is also deserved that people are being linked with our players. Belfodil is a great asset of the club and a fantastic player.”

Belfodil - a devout Muslim - found himself increasingly on the sidelines in the second half of the season after falling foul of Parma boss Roberto Donadoni.

The Italian recently explained his decision to marginalise the player, claiming that although his 'huge religious faith affects his lifestyle and performances on the pitch', it did not 'affect his choices. He told reporters:

“From January onwards he [Belfodil] was a little too distracted. When everyone is talking about you then the pitch is no longer a priority. Now he has understood his mistake and I am sure he’ll begin giving his best again. He needs to win back his credibility.”

Parma Chief Tommaso Ghirardi is a big fan of Belfodil, and he's 'proud' of the fact other teams are showing an interest:

“He’s one of the surprises of the season. He’s already scored seven goals in Serie A this season. He’s young and needs to mature, but Juve are alert to him. That makes us proud.”

Belfodil's contribution this season is creditable:

* 8 goals/4 assists in 34 apps (22 starts)
* Goal every 2.7 games
* Goal/Assist every 1.8 games

Liverpool need another striker, and a younger player may be a good option as the competition upfront is sure to be strong next season. However, players from Serie A never seem to do well at Anfield, and for €10m, I'm sure most fans would want the club to sign a more prolific goalscorer.

Worth a bid...?



Jaimie Kanwar

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Enrique insists: £17m LFC star is one of the 'best in the world'. Deluded or correct...?

Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson is a joy to watch when he's attacking the opposition, but even the most fanatical LFC fan would probably concede that consistent defensive solidity is not one of his strong points. Generally speaking, Johnson's defensive mistakes are guaranteed to cost the club goals every season, but according to Jose Enrique, the 29-year old England international is up there with the very best.

In a recent interview with the official LFC website, Enrique enthused:

"He [Rodgers] has always said to me and Glen, and the other full-backs as well, that we have to play really high up the pitch.

"I don't like to speak about myself but, for me, Glen is one of the best right-backs in the world".

I've posted many articles over the years highlight Johnson's defensive weaknesses, and in my view, he is a defensive liability at the best of times. Indeed, it's no coincidence that since Johnson arrived, LFC's overall defensive solidity has become progressively worse with each passing season.

The club's abject performance in the league over the last four years is one glaring consequence of that, though I'm not suggesting Johnson is solely to blame - he's just one part of leaky defensive unit in urgent need of major overhaul.

The primary purpose of a right back is to defend, and in my view, a right-back cannot be considered to be one of the 'best in the world' unless he excels defensively. Similarly, a striker cannot be one of the world's best unless he excels on the goalscoring front.

It's almost a cliche to mention this now, but it still amazes me how successive LFC managers have neglected to give Johnson a run of games on the right-wing/right side of midfield. Over the years, many players in the squad have been played out of position (Downing, Henderson, Borini, Wisdom etc), yet the one obvious positional change is totally ignored. It makes no sense to me, especially since:

* The club is short of genuine right-sided attacking midfielders. After Stewart Downing - who is himself playing out of position - who else is there?

* LFC is overflowing with options at right-back, so it's not as if Johnson couldn't be spared.

* Johnson regularly plays at left-back (!), so Rodgers is willing to play him out of position. So why not try right wing...?

It might work, or it might fail, but surely at some point, the club has to give it a shot...?

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Jaimie Kanwar

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'We love him' - LFC want to sign coveted €8m 'Player of the Year'. Priority...?

Of all the defensive positions that need strengthening this summer, right back is arguably the least of Liverpool's priorities this summer. The club has a whole host of options to fill that role, including Glen Johnson, Andre Wisdom and Martin Kelly, but according to reports today, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has his eye on a new right back.

Man City are also tracking Byram, who was recently named Leeds United Supporters' Club player of the year, and a report in The Mirror today claims:

"[Brendan] Rodgers wants £7m-rated right-back Sam Byram from Championship side Leeds.

"The Yorkshire club have resigned themselves to losing the talented 19-year-old - also a target for Everton - and have already lined up Manchester City starlet Reese Wabara as a replacement".

When asked about Byram's future in April, Leeds United boss Brian McDermott made it clear that he doesn't want the youngster to leave. He told the BBC:

"Sam leaving the club is not something that has crossed my agenda. People can talk about whatever they want, but for me the best place for Sam is Leeds - playing and doing well. He’s a Leeds boy – the fans love him, the staff love him, the players love him"

In another interview with the Yorkshire Evening Post at the end of April, McDermott enthused:

"He's a super fellow, but what strikes me more than anything is his [Byram's] character, personality and mentality. He has the great mix of talent, work-rate and the hunger to get better. Given all of those things, it gives him a major chance of being a top player.”

At 19, Byram has made 53 appearances in his debut season, which is admittedly impressive, but seems like overload for such a young player. When asked recently about a possible move to the Premier League, Byram told reporters:

“It’s nice to hear that Premier League clubs are interested in me, just because it shows that I’m doing a good job here, but personally I’ve really enjoyed playing at Elland Road. The best way to learn is by playing games and the new manager’s been unbelievably encouraging with me.”

£7m for a Championship player Liverpool even need? I don't see the logic here, unless Kelly and Wisdom are being groomed to take over in central defence, which doesn't look likely at the moment.

Byram could be a star of the future, which is probably why Rodgers is interested, I'd be disappointed if the Reds spent £7m on this teenager. Surely, at this stage of LFC's 'transition', that money should be spent on a higher priority signing, and preferably a player with more experience?

Byram's current contract expires in 2016. Good idea to bid...?



Jaimie Kanwar

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Bundesliga Raid: LFC make €16m offer for 'one of the best in Europe'.

Former Monaco CEO Tor-Kristian Karlsen recently claimed that Liverpool are interested in Schalke star Kyriakos Papadopoulos, and reports today suggest that the Reds are moving quickly to sign the 21-year old central defender.

Last week, Karlsen tweeted that Kyriakos is 'one of the best center-backs in Europe', and claimed that several Premier League clubs are chasing the youngster:

"Liverpool interest is concrete. Has been on the shortlist/highly rated by many European top clubs (including Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd).

"Nice transfer coup for Liverpool if they manage to land Papadopoulos.

Yesterday, The Mirror claimed that Liverpool were set to 'table an offer' for Papadopolous, and today, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reports that the Reds have put in a €16m offer for the coveted defender.

In September, Papadopolous - who at the age of 21 already has 16 appearances under his belt for the Greece national team - signed a contract extension until 2016, and in a recent interview with FIFA.com, the youngster - nickname 'Papa' by his team-mates - spoke about his rapid rise to first team football with both Schalke and the Greece national team:

“I think a blend of talent and hard work has got me where I am today. My parents were very sporty and I guess I was born with talent, but you need a huge amount of work to make the most of it. It's a very special feeling to be one of the youngest players at Schalke. I'm just delighted at the chance to represent such a huge and successful club"

Papadopolous made his debut for Olympiakos at the age of 15 years and 283 days, and he clearly fits the FSG transfer template. However, with three years left on his contract, he won't come cheap, and there's a significant risk factor in that he's been out injured for almost SIX months.

After Daniel Agger's injury problems, the last thing Liverpool need is another (potentially) injury-prone defender.

The club surely needs a defender who will come in and hit the ground running, and after six months out - and adapting to a new league - I doubt Papadopolous will be able to do that.

If the plan is to also bring in another older, experienced center-back to directly replace Jamie Carragher then fair enough, but I'd be worried if Papadopolous is seen by Rodgers as Carra's replacement.



Jaimie Kanwar

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Desperation: 'Fantastic' £15m LFC star in urgent transfer talks with BR. Admirable...?

Speculation over the future of Liverpool flop Andy Carroll has reached fever pitch this week, and in the last 24 hours, things have intensified to the point that the £35m striker seems to be on the verge of finally leaving Anfield. Alas, things are never that simple when it comes to Liverpool, and it looks like there's still a possibility that Carroll may stay at the club.

Over the weekend, Sam Allardyce confirmed that signing Carroll on a permanent deal is West Ham's 'main transfer priority' this summer, and yesterday, Liverpool reportedly accepted the Hammers' £15m bid.

Alas, according to The Telegraph, Carroll doesn't want to go:

"Carroll held talks with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in the last 24 hours when he was informed he could move to Upton Park on a permanent transfer.

"Instead, the former Newcastle United forward said he remained determined to prove himself at Anfield despite knowing he would be only a squad player".

As much as I want Carroll to leave, you have to admire his determination to succeed at Anfield. He could just take the easy route and join West Ham, a club where he is valued by the manager, players and fans, and played regularly in a team set-up to serve him.

However, Carroll - - recently described by team-mate Kevin Nolan as 'fantastic' - clearly feels as if he has something to prove at Liverpool, and he probably knows that if he joins West Ham, history will always paint him as an Anfield failure, a reality that probably stings.

If Carroll's desire to stay is genuinely motivated by a burning desire to prove himself, then you have to respect that. With very few exceptions, players only get one chance to play for Liverpool, and with the likes of Henderson and Downing improving exponentially in their sophomore seasons, Carroll probably thinks he can do the same.

In any event, Liverpool may have no choice but to keep Carroll - he is currently injured, and could be out for 3-4 months (according to some reports), and if that's the case, West Ham may just decide to look elsewhere. After all, who wants to pay £15m for an increasingly injury-prone player?

My view on Carroll remains the same: keeping him would be a retrograde step for Liverpool. He does not fit the team's style of play, and he lacks the necessary technical and tactical skills to make a consistent difference.

Having said that, end product is all that matters, and if Carroll stays and ends up scoring 20+ goals a season, then I'd have no problem with that. However, with only 7 goals in 23 games for West Ham last season, I can't see him achieving that.

Rodgers has made it clear in the past that he doesn't want a £35m player sitting on the bench, so when it comes to the crunch, I'm sure he'll make it emphatically clear to Carroll that he has no future at Liverpool.

Again, you have to respect Carroll's determination to make it at Anfield, but for the sake of his own career, it's time for him to move on, and accept that it's never going to happen.

Jaimie Kanwar

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'He is the best' - Agent confirms LFC want exciting £6m South American striker

In September 2012, Brendan Rodgers sent scouts to assess Argentinian striker Luciano Vietto, an 19-year old striker who currently plays for Racing Club in the Argentine Apertura. It seems that the Reds liked what they saw because according to the youngster's Agent, Liverpool are still interested.

In October, Talksport, claimed that Liverpool, Juventus, PSG and Real Madrid were all tracking Vietto, and his Agent, Jorge Cyterszpiler, told TMW:

"I confirm that he [Vietto] has caught the attention of big clubs, including Juventus. He was the second top scorer in the league."

In an interview last night, Cyterszpiler told Tuttosport:

"I'm leaving next week for Europe to meet the various interested clubs interested. The whole world wants Vietto, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Juventus and other international clubs. Vietto is the best young player in Argentina. "

£6.5m-rated Vietto scored a fabled 'perfect' hat-trick - left foot, right foot and header - against Club Atletico San Martinu in a league game in September:



Liverpool have a strong South American contingent at the club, which could be an attraction if/when negotiations begin. Having said that, the presence of Luis Suarez, Sebastian Coates and Lucas Leiva didn't seem to help in the pursuit of Gaston Ramirez last summer, so perhaps that's wishful thinking (!)

Vietto - who scored another hat-trick in April against Newell's Old Boys - has made 29 senior appearances for Racing Club this season, scoring 11 goals along the way, but he'll miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery this week for a bilateral inguinal hernia.



Jaimie Kanwar

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'It would be an honour' - £12m star admits he wants to sign for LFC. Bid?

Liverpool have been linked with Lille central defender Aurélien Chedjou several times this year, and last night, he made it clear that he would love a summer transfer to Anfield.

In an interview with TMW, the 27-year old Cameroon international said:

"There has been no agreement with other clubs, but it is true that I want to leave Lille to have a new experience.

"It would be a great honor to play for Liverpool, which is such a prestigious club with the fantastic fans. "

The £12m-rated Cameroon international is also wanted by Newcastle United.

Chedjou - who has made 31 appearances this season - recently signed a new contract with Lille that ties him to the club until 2016, and after the extension, the Ligue One club posted the following glowing endorsement on its official website:

"He [Chedjou] is one of the driving forces of Lille. His athletic power, remarkable technique, his sense of position, anticipation and recovery have made him a leading player."

Another possible option to replace Jamie Carragher...?



Jaimie Kanwar

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Boss raves: 'Top-level' £5m LFC target scores 'Barcelona' style goals. Sign...?

Reports this week suggest that Liverpool are interested in Tottenham Hotspur star Danny Rose, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, but Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas has hinted that the coveted left-back still has a future at White Hart Lane.

According to the Daily Mail yesterday:

"Liverpool have revived their interest in Tottenham left back Danny Rose.

"Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers failed to sign Rose in the last two transfer windows"

When quizzed about 22-year old Rose's future last night, AVB told Sunderland Echo:

"We are aware of it [the LFC rumour]. At the moment, Danny will return to our squad. He has had a great season in Sunderland, and he's a player we have to consider.

"There are decisions to be made at this club in the summer. We have to look to build, but we are also aware that we have to hold on to good players to improve as a club."

Jose Enrique is Liverpool's only senior left-back at the moment, so it would be beneficial to have some quality cover in that area. Having said that, Glen Johnson can play there, and Jack Robinson has potential, so is it really a priority position this summer?

Last week, Sunderland boss Paolo DiCanio hinted that he wants to keep £5m-rated Rose at Sunderland, and he delivered the following assessment:

"He's an attacking-minded left-back, but he has to improve a lot defensively. He's got a great future in front of him. He's a powerful guy, and he can run with the ball and beat people easily.

"It's obvious he can play at the top level, but he can improve the timing of his tackling and he needs to learn when and how to be aggressive.

"His goal against Aston Villa was like one you might see from the Barcelona left-back. He has a natural way to run with the ball through traffic and deliver the ball to the back post."

To be honest, DiCanio makes Rose sounds like Glen Johnson MKII: Great going forward, but suspect defensively. For years, Reds fans have waited for Johnson to improve defensively, but he still makes a shedload of costly mistakes every season (!)

Is Rose a serious option for LFC...?



Jaimie Kanwar

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'It's flattering' - £15m LFC star admits he 'dreams of playing for Barca'. Let him go...?

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has given the strongest indication yet that he could leave Anfield for Barcelona this summer.

A report over the weekend in Spanish newspaper Marca stated:

"Pepe Reina is aware of Barcelona's interest. He would be happy to make the move, and he is waiting for a call from the Catalan club"

In an interview with Iberian radio station Cadena Ser last night, the Spaniard admitted that he is 'flattered' to be linked with a move to Barcelona, and made a very unsubtle 'come and get me' plea to the Spanish giants. He said:

"The Barcelona rumours are flattering. It is a team that I know well and the club where I grew up.

"Whoever does this job dreams of playing for Barcelona.

"There has been no contact with my agent or with Liverpool, but certainly. I'd like to end my career in Spain. Here I feel appreciated and it is not easy to find a place where it can be equally good"

Reina's comments come as no shock whatsoever (for me, anyway). Reading between the lines, it is blindingly obvious that £15m-rated Reina wants to join Barcelona, but Liverpool will still stick their hands in the sand and refuse to accept it.

When asked the question, did Reina have to say that all goalkeepers 'dream of playing for Barca'? Did he have to say that he wants to 'end his career in Spain'? NO. If he wanted to stay, he would've just explained that he's happy at LFC and looking forward to the future.

When players say this stuff in public, it is a message to other teams that they are willing to leave, and an open invitation for any the interested team to make a move.

Reina wants out. Fans should start accepting it now as he'll probably be gone sooner rather than later.

Jaimie Kanwar

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Redknapp insists: £20m 'baby Drogba' will have 'lots of takers' this summer. LFC...?

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has been a revelation at West Brom, and with 23 goals/assists for the Baggies this season, you'd think that Chelsea would be desperate to have him back at Stamford Bridge. Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp doesn't think so, though, and he believes another loan spell would be the best career move for the 20-year old Belgian.

Liverpool were linked with a move for Lukaku in 2011, and in his column for the Daily Mail on Monday, Redknapp observed:

"Jose Mourinho loved Didier Drogba as the focal point of his Chelsea attack, so the hat-trick for Romelu Lukaku against Manchester United has come in good time for the returning manager.

"If Baby Drogba is not going to play regularly then another loan will keep him active. I can think of lots of takers".

Like Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, Lukaku is a beast of a player, and Chelsea would be stupid to let him go out on loan again. However, if they're not going to play him regularly - which seems likely if (as expected) they sign an expensive striker this summer - then other clubs could benefit.

After watching Lukaku bully Liverpool's defenders during West Brom's 2-0 victory over the Reds at Anfield in February, Robbie Earle argued that the striker would be a good buy for the club. He told ESPN:

"What a monster this boy is. Still not 20 years of age, but he bullied Liverpool into submission in the end. They say he isn’t quite good enough for Chelsea, well you look at this Liverpool team, and strangely enough, a player like Lukaku would be the perfect complement to their side".

I would love to see Lukaku at Liverpool. Like Christian Benteke, he's a big, powerful striker with good technique and an eye for goal, and at the age of 20, he perfectly fits the FSG transfer template.

Lukaku - who cost Chelsea £20m - grabbed two goals against Liverpool this season, and helped West Brom to a humbling 5-0 aggregate victory over the Reds. He is everything Andy Carroll should be, and he's four years younger than Liverpool's record £35m signing. He has great pace, power, close control, technique, balance, and the ability - as Earle suggests - to bully defenders into submission.

Lukaku would be great addition to the squad but considering he initially cost £20m, I doubt Liverpool would be able to afford him. A loan, on the other hand, could be a possibility, but would Chelsea allow him to go to a major rival...?





Jaimie Kanwar

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'We'll see' - £12m LFC target Del Bosque called 'unique' responds to transfer rumours

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon winger Diego Capel several times over the last few months, and the 25-year old has now responded to the rumours swirling around about his future.

In March, reports in Italy claimed, that Lisbon - currently afflicted by financial problems - were ready to 'enter into negotiations' with Liverpool over a potential summer move for the Spaniard.

Then, in April, Portuguese Daily Jornal Record reported:

"Liverpool are interested in signing Diego Capel, and the English club is prepared to offer up to £12 million for his signature"

When quizzed last week about rumours linking him with a transfer this summer, Capel - who is also being tracked by Lyon - told Spanish newspaper Marca:

"The only thing I can think of right now is to finish the season with the team that gave me everything. We will see later if my future is here or not. I can only thank the Sporting, who I will always carry in my heart"

25-year Capel cost Sporting €3.5m in 2011, and although he has a ridiculously excessive €30m release clause in his contract, there's no way he'd go for anywhere approaching that amount. Capel is not really a prolific goalscorer or provider, and his stats over the last few years show this:

- This season: 3 goals/1 assist in 21 apps.
- 2011-12: 5 goals/5 assists in 37 apps.
- 2010-11: 1 goals/2 assists in 34 apps.
- 2009-10: 3 goals/3 assists in 44 apps.
- 2008-09: 3 goals/1 assist in 43 apps

That's a pretty underwhelming contribution, and there are plenty of other transfer prospects out there with better goals/assists ratios. Despite his poor creative return, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque seems to really rate Capel, and after the winger signed for Sporting, the Spain boss enthused:

"He [Capel] is a unique player. There are hardly any players like him. He is very fast, with and without the ball and has good control to overcome any opponent. He is a very complete and very useful player for any team"

Hmmm. If Capel is so 'unique' and 'useful for any team', why has Del Bosque never picked him for Spain? At the age of 25, Capel has only two senior caps so far, which is low for a player who's supposedly 'complete'.

Sporting are beset with problems at the moment, and in February, the entire board resigned after just two years at helm of the struggling Portuguese club. The club's financial problems mean that there could be a fire-sale at the end of the season, with the likes of Capel sacrificed to bring in much-needed cash.

The Spaniard would fit into Brendan Rodgers' preferred 433 formation, but is he good enough for LFC...?



Jaimie Kanwar

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'He's a great player' - LFC chase £5m star who's 'worthy of Barca'. Challenge Lucas...?

Liverpool have reportedly moved ahead of AC Milan in the race for Genoa defensive midfielder Juraj Kucka.

The Slovakian international has been linked with a move to the San Siro for a while now, but according to TMW and Milan News today, Liverpool are monitoring the £5m-rated midfielder, and are now favourites to sign him this summer.

Liverpool arguably need another dedicated defensive midfielder this summer to challenge Lucas, and there are several enticing options out there at the moment, including West Ham star Mohamed Diame.

Genoa Boss Davide Ballardini wants to keep Kucka, and speaking to reporters in February, he paid tribute the midfielder, claiming he's good enough to play for two of the best teams in Europe:

“Kucka is a great player, worthy of Real Madrid and he can even become worthy of Barcelona. He really is a player who can still give a great deal"

Kucka is currently co-owned by both Genoa and Inter Milan, after the Nerazzurri had bought 50 per cent of his signature last summer.

At around £5m, he definitely fits LFC's transfer budget (!), but Diame is already proven in the Premier League, and hopefully he'll be on the Reds' transfer list this summer.



Jaimie Kanwar

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Transfer Priority: 'Suffering' LFC star admits to 'difficult season'. Time for a change...?

It's fair to say that Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has suffered bouts of indifferent form since returning from his injury earlier this season, but the Brazilian is certain that he'll be back to his best next year. Will that be good enough, though?

Speaking to the official LFC website last night, Lucas - who has a great game against QPR on Sunday - admitted that he'd had a 'difficult season', but insisted that he will 'do better' next season:

"Next season is going to be an important one for me because I think I will be at the level I was before the injury. Of course I want to do better because we can always do better. I'll be back to my best next season"

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson summed it up well in a recent column for the Liverpool Daily Post:

"He [Lucas] is levelling out a bit after being out for so long. He is suffering from not having a full pre-season. I don’t care who you are, but you can’t not have a pre-season and not have problems. Lucas may have trained all through summer, but he went missing so early into the season that it is hard to catch up."

Lucas is undoubtedly an important part of Brendan Rodgers' squad, but even if he returns to top form next season, the club (arguably) has to prioritise the signing of another defensive midfielder this summer.

The question is, will Rodgers buy someone, or will he continue to use Joe Allen as cover?

Allen and Lucas are too similar (IMO), and the club needs someone with real physical presence to offer something different in midfield. I suspect, however, that Rodgers will persist with Allen/Lucas sharing the position, and if he does that, it will almost certainly prove to be a major mistake.

Prior to his injuries, Lucas put in some imperious performances for Liverpool, but even *if* he gets back to that level, is the Brazilian's style and impact the best fit to take the club to the next level, i.e. Champions League places, and ultimately the league title?

How will Lucas react to having a major challenge for his position? Competition is a good thing for the squad, but the last time the Reds brought in a dedicated defensive midfielder, he almost left the club. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo last month, Lucas admitted:

“I felt as though it was almost the end for me at the club. I nearly left. They signed Christian Poulsen at the time, and that was a message for me. I was really close to leaving to go to Italy. I had a lot of chances to leave the club through mutual consent. For some reason I did not go, I stayed"

It's great that Lucas has developed into such a key player, but his reaction to the signing of Christian Poulsen is (IMO) slightly worrying. Competition for places is an essential ingredient in any winning team, yet instead of accepting the challenge, Lucas took it as a slight on his ability, obviously sulked about it, and almost ended up leaving the club.

Additionally, the circumstances at the time dictated the signing of another central midfielder, and Lucas surely should've seen that:

* Liverpool had already lost Alonso, and Mascherano had also just left.
* Poulsen was clearly signed to fill out the squad, not to replace Lucas.
* The appearance stats back this up too: Lucas made alot more appearances than Poulsen.

Poulsen was never a major challenger for Lucas, so what happens if the Reds bring in a top class defensive midfielder; someone who won't want to sit on the bench? Someone like, for example, Mohamed Diame. How will Lucas respond to that?

Whatever happens, Liverpool definitely need someone, and if that puts Lucas's nose out of joint, then so be it. The needs of the team have to come before the needs of the individual, and I think most fans would concede that the team needs another DM, specifically someone athletic and strong, with a different style to the likes of Lucas and Allen.

Who though...?

Jaimie Kanwar

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