The OFFICIAL Liverpool Supporters thread

[Hound]

Latest rumour...Crouch to Spurs in a swap deal for Robbie Keane

Not just a swap, Liverpool to pay cash as well.

Whatever about Pool needing Keane, Spurs have no need for Crouch unless Berbatov is on his way too.

The soundings come from Villa sounds like they are finally ready to do a deal re Barry. Though I still think he's not as good as Xabi.

Great to see Torres do the business last night.

[stevo-08]

Keane valued at 20m!!! I dont think this is a good move. why not just sell crouch and use the money to bid for Villa. Glad to see the war of words between O'Neill & Barry. There's no way Barry can play for villa next season now, which might mean O'Neill accepting a lower offer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/30/premierleague.liverpool


Benítez offers Crouch and cash to lure Keane
Andy Hunter The Guardian, Monday June 30, 2008

Rafael Benítez will pursue his interest in Robbie Keane despite Tottenham's insistence that their vice-captain is not for sale. The Liverpool manager has proposed a cash-plus-Peter Crouch deal but the Republic of Ireland international will have to agitate for a move to bring Benítez's pursuit to fruition.

Keane has emerged as a leading target for Liverpool after discussions between Anfield officials and their Spurs counterparts about Crouch, the England international who is valued at between £10m and £12m and is also wanted by Portsmouth, Manchester City, Newcastle and possibly Arsenal.

Benítez, encouraged by Gareth Barry's willingness to make a public request for a move from Aston Villa, now hopes similar tactics will lure the 27-year-old Keane to Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy and who can offer Champions League football. Tottenham instantly dismissed Liverpool's approach last week but Benítez will persist with efforts to induce Keane to move. A £20m-rated deal involving Crouch would suit Liverpool but should the England forward resist a return to White Hart Lane they could put money from his sale towards a straight cash bid.

The Liverpool manager has allocated his existing transfer budget to the purchases of Barry and the left-back Andrea Dossena, who will finalise his £8m transfer from Udinese this week. Further signings will be dependent on player sales.

Benítez's exhaustive attempts to prise away the Villa captain received a significant assist yesterday when Barry criticised his manager, Martin O'Neill, and for the first time publicly declared his desire to leave. "My mind's made up - I want to join Liverpool," he said. "There's no going back; it's time for me to move on. I'm desperate to play Champions League football and that's why I have to leave Villa.

"Villa kept saying they wanted me to stay but I have not heard from the manager for weeks. It's seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer's found time to be a pundit for the BBC at Euro 2008 he hasn't found the time to speak to me. Have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my future is at Villa Park, not Anfield? Not a thing."

The decision on whether Everton's proposed stadium in Kirkby should be called in by the government has been delayed. Everton were due to learn this week whether their move would be subject to government scrutiny, entailing a delay which would be likely to scupper the proposal because of rising costs, but the Government Office for the North West has requested an extra fortnight to consider the plan.

[corn02]

Keane could be a very good foil for Torres, I would welcome this move. Houllier of course approached Keane and he was all for it until it fell through.

[Hound]

Keane could be a very good foil for Torres, I would welcome this move. Houllier of course approached Keane and he was all for it until it fell through.

Not entirely true.

Both Liverpool and Spurs agreed transfer fees for Keane. Robbie then chose Spurs. He said it was because he was guaranteed first team action.

[corn02]

Apologies, I thought he was all for it, the fact that Fowler would nopt be driven out stopped it.

[stevo-08]

Keane could be a very good foil for Torres, I would welcome this move. Houllier of course approached Keane and he was all for it until it fell through.

Thinking about it again, we definitely do need a partner for Torres and it's unlikely that we'll get somebody like Villa. So keane might well be a good buy. Im just amazed at the valuation. But that seems to be the order of the day at the moment.

Losing Crouch, Alsonso + approx. 13m while gaining Barry & Keane. Probably being ripped off but it will improve the team if goes through. Would still need some quality on the wing though.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje has arrived in Istanbul late Sunday night, with his agent to complete negotiations with Galatasaray executives. If talks progress positively, Itandje is expected to sign a three year six million euros deal with the Turkish champions. Liverpool is reportedly to receive a 4 million euros transfer fee for Itandje.

[corn02]

. Liverpool is reportedly to receive a 4 million euros transfer fee for Itandje.

Is it April 1?

[GalwayBayBoy]

. Liverpool is reportedly to receive a 4 million euros transfer fee for Itandje.

Is it April 1?

Maybe they have him mixed up with someone else?

[The Real Laoislad]

I actually think Keane would do well at Liverpool,Couldn't believe when i saw someone posted he was only 27!! He's seems to be around forever..

[bingobus]

I hope a private jet was laid on for Charles to fly to Istanbul and seal his deal. He has been a great servant and if he wants to leave then we should at least have the decency to make sure he travels in style to his new home.
 

Istanbul has been good to Liverpool but this goes beyond the call of duty. Gala I salute you!!

[slow corner back]

I actually think Keane would do well at Liverpool,Couldn't believe when i saw someone posted he was only 27!! He's seems to be around forever..

As a utd fan the only time I want to see Keane at anfield is when he is scoring for spurs, as an ireland fan I think it would be an excellent move for him and ireland.Champions league football would suit him and improve him and his confidence. He would suit your passing style very well and link up well with Torres. The big question would be would defensive Rafa play Torres+ Keane up front and Gerrard as an attacking central midfielder? Personnally I think Benitez is far too defensive and would burst into tears the first time you concede two at anfield. Gerard would then be moved wide right causing tensions in the dressing room as Rafa tried to play as many defensive midfielders as humanly possible.

[The Real Laoislad]

Pellegrino rejoins Liverpool as first-team coach


Former Liverpool defender Mauricio Pellegrino has re-joined the club as first-team coach.
 
The 36-year-old Argentinian, who played 12 times for the Reds in 2005, has been working as a youth team coach at Valencia but will now return to Merseyside to join the backroom team that also has Sammy Lee recently installed as assistant manager.


Boss Rafael Benitez said of Pellegrino: 'His role will be first-team coach, and he will also carry out specialist training sessions. He can also work specifically with the defence, and also the reserves.'

He added: 'Pellegrino has a winning mentality. He won the Inter-continental Cup before going to Spain with Barcelona and Valencia.

'He has a lot of passion. When I asked him to come he was very pleased, but first he wanted to find out if there was a school where his three children could play good football. He is a football man.'

Meanwhile, Benitez has spoken of his pride in Fernando Torres' Euro 2008 triumph after he scored the winner for his country against Germany in Sunday's final.

The manager was quick to praise record signing Torres, who suffered some heavy criticism from the Spanish media during the tournament.

'I am very proud of Fernando, especially after he has been criticised from some journalists in Spain,' Benitez said.

'Everyone in Spain remembers the Marcelino goal from 44 years ago (when Spain were last European champions), and the last final Spain were in was 24 years ago.

'Now people will talk about Torres in the same way, I am very proud of him and what he has achieved.'

[The Real Laoislad]

Just spent some time reading some of the Liverpool fc forums to get a view on Keane coming to Liverpool..Not all positive,One poster described Keane as the Irish Craig Bellamy    Bit harsh is it?

[Minus15]

I was going to mention Keane on here last week as somebody I would like to see Liverpool going for. I must say I think Keane would be very good for Liverpool and would be excellent with Torres. If the rumours of a transfer are to come to fruition I think come august we would be excited at the prospect of the pair of them! Liverpool must be careful not to be ripped off however. Crouch plus 4-5million would be about right I should think!