[all_funkt_up]

Interesting to see Liverpool are apparently interested in Javier Mascherano according to Eurosport sources in Italy. Cant see how he is the answer the our lack of clinical finishing up front... Also we normally struggle to juggle the midfield with Momo, Xabi, Gerrard and thats not even mentioning the Collossus that is Bolo Zenden. Really dont see where he would fit into the equation.

[Kop66]

Liverpool will sell striker Peter Crouch to Newcastle for £12m, but insist they need a replacement first. (The Sun)

I've a feeling little Mickey is on his way back AFU

[rcgills]

Southampton are hoping Real Madrid drive up the price for their wonderkid left-back Gareth Bale. (Daily Express)

I'm sure they are. Don't think Real Madrid are in the market for a left-back though are they - they've just signed Marcelo with a view to him being the eventual successor to Roberto Carlos.

[all_funkt_up]

RC - is Cicinho a left back or right back? I heard we were in the hunt for him too some time back. Rafa certainly wants another striker, right back and I would go for a right winger too. I honestly dont believe Pennant is good enough. All this talk of David Villa for £22 million is way off the mark. We dont have that sort of cash. If we did, Rafa would look to strengthen in 2 or 3 key areas rather than one player.

Plus, Villa is cup tied for Europe - cant see Valencia being too happy about selling the top dog in january. They are still in the CL and decent strikers who arent cup tied are difficult to come accross in the January window.

[all_funkt_up]

Kop - cant see that happening mate. I was gutted when we failed to sign him a couple of years back, but I dont see what he offers us now. Big fee, massive wages and china fucking legs.

I think we (the club) ragged him as a young boy. We absolutely knackered his body. He was playing regular at football at 17 years old. he was so important to the club and to England at a young age, we have nackered him. He was always being rushed back from injury to play for us. The club couldnt function without him so he played 50% fit and when he was carrying injuries. I honestly think that thanks to Mr Houllier, Owen is absolutely fucked.

I cant see him playing for a 'big' club again. Who would take him on - £120k a week for 50% of the games of the season. I know he has been unlucky at Newcastle, but that's Owen for you. You build your team around him and the little taff goes and gets injured.

It would be reckless to spend that much money on a player who has always been injury prone and will get worse as the years go on.

[rcgills]

Cicinho is a right-back, but he's out injured at the moment, did his cruciate ligaments earlier in the season. Not sure when he's due back, but there's no mention of him even being back in training that I can see, he only had surgery at the end of September, these things normally take at least 6 months don't they?

[all_funkt_up]

We have been rumoured to be interested in Alves, but he seems top notch to me and well out of our budget. Shame really because now we're going to sign that Aussie Cunt - Lucas Neil.

[all_funkt_up]

Originally Posted by Reuters

MADRID, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Sevilla's Brazilian defender Dani Alves has agreed a one-year contract extension that ties him to the club until 2012, the Primera Liga leaders said on Friday.

"This deal proves that both parties are happy with each other and that the player feels valued and recognised by the club," Sevilla sports director "Monchi" Rodriguez told the club Web site.

The player's buy-out clause remained unchanged at 60 million euros.

The 23-year-old, who has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Liverpool, was part of the Brazil side that won the World Youth Cup in 2003.

Rightm, thats that theory out of the window then. Shitter.

[rcgills]

Good, hadn't seen that. Got money on Sevilla for the title, and was worried they were going to be picked apart by a few bigger teams during the transfer window.

[all_funkt_up]

Hmmm, surely we cant sell Crouchy after his goal today. Absolute legend.

[all_funkt_up]

Today's Transfer Speculation

West Ham believe they have succeeded with a £9.8m bid for Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips. (Sun)

Preston have turned down Sheffield United's £6m bid for striker David Nugent. (Daily Mail)

Suprised Preston can afford to turn down such a big wedge, they are a selling club after all.

Fulham are ready to bid for Southend's Freddy Eastwood and also want Chelsea's Lassana Diarra on loan. (Daily Star)

West Ham's Javier Mascherano must ask Fifa to allow him to join Liverpool as rules disallow playing for more than two clubs in a season. (Daily Star)

:loon Not Quite Sure exactly what we would do with him, when Momo, Alonso and Gerrard are fit like. Still, a decent acquisition never the less.

Alan Curbishley will swoop for Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka or West Brom's John Hartson to save West Ham's season. (Daily Star)

The Hammers are also chasing West Brom's Nigel Quashie (Sun), Tottenham's Anthony Gardner (Daily Mail) and Blackburn's Lucas Neill. (Guardian)

Arsenal have turned down Curbishley's audacious bid to sign Theo Walcott on loan. (Times)

Viduka is set to snub West Ham and opt for a summer move to Italy. (Sun)

Manchester United have made contact with Bayern Munich once again about midfielder Owen Hargreaves. (Sun)

Inter Milan will block Luis Figo's move to a Saudi Arabian club after failing to land David Beckham. (Sun)

Chelsea are refusing to pay Bolton's £3.5m asking price for defender Tal Ben Haim. (Daily Star)

I thought Mourinho didnt 'panic buy' .....

The Blues are also interested in Deportivo's Jorge Andrade, Man City's Sylvain Distin and Roberto Ayala of Valencia. (Times)

Hasnt Ayala been touted around and fancied by just about every club for the last 5 years? Surely more transfer nonsense.

Fulham have signed Italian striker Vincenzo Montella on a six-month loan deal from Roma. (Daily Express)

Could be a good one this. Dunno if he can still cut it at the highest level, but he was ace in his day. Maybe the Prem might be too quick for an aged striker like him. Time will tell. Could spell the end for Collins John too ??

Manchester City defender Micah Richards wants to join Chelsea but he could be forced to wait until the summer for his dream move. (Guardian)

Manchester United's David Jones will join Derby for £1.1m. (Daily Star)

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says he is not sure if Milan Baros wants to stay at the club. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth want West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun but if that bid fails, they will go for West Brom's Zoltan Gera. (Independent)

Bung bung bung bung bung bung bung bung bung (allegedly)

Villa and Everton are leading the chase to sign Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson on loan. (Times)

Ferguson has held talks with Rangers chairman Sir David Murray in a bid to save his career. (Daily Record)

Rangers and Celtic will step up their interest in Hibernian pair Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown in the next 24 hours. (Daily Record)

[all_funkt_up]

Ooooh exciting news....

Originally Posted by Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL are closing in on January targets Lucas Neill and Javier Mascherano - with an Anfield board meeting today expected to open the door to their arrival.

As the DIC takeover saga nears a successful conclusion at Liverpool, Rafa Benitez is seeking a swift completion of deals which have been a priority for several months.

The Reds boss wants the players in place early during the transfer window, and hopes there will be no delays which may prove costly to his plans.

Both Neill and Argentinian Mascherano are ready to move to Anfield, but the finishing touches are still to be put in place.

Clearly there is a balancing act for the board as they juggle immediate concerns with the long-term strategy of the prospective owners, but the manager is in need of new recruits this month.


Benitez is also hoping to complete a deal for 16-year-old James McCarthy for £100,000 from Hamilton Academicals.

Central midfielder Mascherano's transfer would initially be a loan until the end of the season, which could become permanent if he adapts more successfully at Liverpool than he has at West Ham.

Benitez has identified the 22-year-old as a quality cover for Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso as the Reds enter a crucial period with Momo Sissoko still on the treatment table.

Despite suggestions Mascherano can't play for three clubs in the same season, in fact, he's only played for one during this campaign.

The South American season ended on December 31, 2005, before Mascherano joined West Ham in the summer of 2006.

However, any move would still have to be ratified by FIFA.

Mascherano has made it clear he wants to move to Liverpool, and a deal has been agreed with his representatives Media Sports Investments.

Neill is another player who hopes he's played his last game for his current club.

The Aussie defender is suspended for this weekend's FA Cup third round at Goodison Park, and Benitez hopes to have him on board in time for Liverpool's Premiership game at Watford.

Neill would also be eligible for the Champions League, because new rules state at least one player in a squad list who's played in the UEFA Cup can also feature in the premier competition.

As in August, his hopes depend on how keen Blackburn are to hold onto a player nearing a Bosman.

Mark Hughes still wants to sign Stephen Warnock as part of a swop deal. Warnock is also attracting the attention of Sunderland, but would clearly prefer to remain in the Premiership.

[slick]

I believe Bayern have knocked back Man United over the sale of Owen Hargreaves until the end of the season at least.

Ribery is also going nowhere for now..
Franck Ribery has revealed there are a number of Spanish and English clubs keen on his services, but has reiterated his desire to stay at Marseille until the end of the season.

Several sides including Real Madrid, Lyon, Arsenal and Manchester United, are being linked with the France attacking midfielder.

Speculation is rife he could leave OM in the January transfer window.

But the 23-year-old is intent on helping the Mediterranean club qualify for next season's Champions League, and has once again stressed he will make his mind up on his future in the summer.

"I will stay with Marseille until the end of the season," he said.

"My aim is to have a good end to the season with everyone here so that the club plays in the Champions League next season.

"After that, we will see what happens. If we make the Champions League, I will have to ask myself some questions. Even if we don't make it, it will not be easy to leave Marseille."

[sports-investor]

Coleman has confirmed that they have accepted an offer for Collins John from an unnamed Premiership club. Quite curious about this - I think John offered Fulham pace, and is actually a very good player. Can't quite figure out where he might be going, however. Wigan would be a possibility, and that might be a very good move for him.

The other interesting one for me is another Yank set to join the ranks at Fulham - Clint Dempsey this time. If that goes through, and Fulham get a few of the injured players back - we could see a midfield trio of Diop, Bullard and Dempsey in a formation that Coleman has toyed with before. Dempsey will fit into the English leagues very well - very high energy, solid in the tackle - good player.

[slick]

I heard Collins John was was going to Wigan too S-I and Camara could be moving on which could make sense allthough I'd have though Jewel would prefer Camara but if the moneys good Wigan never seem to refuse to sell.

Jewel was also looking into bringing Ellington back which would make Camara going all the more likely if the collins John story is true.