Cricbeat

Newcastle United have agreed a £5million deal with Inter Milan for highly rated Italian international full-back Davide Santon.

 

Manager Alan Pardew has turned to the 20-year-old Italy international after hitting a snag in negotiations over PSV Eindhoven defender Erik Pieters.

Santon is an attack minded full back whose pace and energy has frightened teams in Serie A. The player has been highly thought of in Italy and has been with the club since he was 14 and former Italy head coach Marcello Lippi even called him a young “Paolo Maldini” as little as two years ago. Santon already has two Serie A titles, a Champions League and Coppa Italia trophy on his CV.

Liverpool are expected to seal a deal for Blackpool's Charlie Adam this weekend, unless Aston Villa enter into a bidding war.

Liverpool's director of football, Damien Comolli, will press ahead over the next 48 hours in an attempt to add Adam to the capture of Jordan Henderson. A meeting with Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is booked, and Liverpool are confident of concluding an £8 million transfer.

Liverpool first lodged an £8 million bid in January, only to find the Tangerines holding out for £12 million. Oyston had hoped Adam would keep his club in the Premier League, but now he is left on weaker ground to barter, with the Scotland international desperate to stay in England's top flight.

Liverpool are close to agreeing a deal with Udinese for highly rated Colombia international defender Cristian Zapata according to SkySports.

The versatile 24-year-old can operate anywhere in the back four was also being linked with a move to Bayern Munich. But now it looks like that Liverpool have all but secured his signature.

Zapata, who is currently preparing for Copa America was speaking to Colombian radio  La FM. He said, “I don’t know what to say, I can say that I’m very close to Liverpool. After the Copa America, we will see what happens. I have gained experience, but the time has come for me to make the jump to a big team.”

Zapata played a crucial role in Udinese securing Champions League Football next season. The two-footed Zapata who generally plays as a center-back is comfortable slotting in at full-back. 

Stoke City have made a club-record £12million bid for Birmingham centre half Scott Dann according to the Daily Mail.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested in Dann, 24, after missing out to Manchester United in the race for Blackburn's Phil Jones.

But Stoke City are the  first to move for Dann, who has been widely expected to leave Birmingham since their relegation. That bid for Dann will increase speculation over captain Ryan Shawcross's future at the Britannia Stadium.

  

Dann has established himself as one of the best young defenders in the league during the last two seasons. The 6ft 2in Dann, who been likened to Alan Hansen and Tony Adams.

Ans according to SkySports Alex McLeish has also made Birmingham defender Scott Dann his top target when he takes charge at Aston Villa.

Manchester United are reportedly preparing a £12 million bid for Blackpool playmaker Charlie Adam to gazump Liverpool's attempt to sign the Scottish midfielder. While Tottenham have also opened talks with Blackpool.

It was also supposed to be formalities in the last 24 hours for Adam to make the switch to Andfield, but now Manchester United and Tottenham have thrown in a huge spanner in the works with talks expected to open up between Blackpool and the Premier League duo.

Manchester United fear losing out Wesley Sneijder to Manchester City while Tottenham are looking to add a midfielder in their ranks as they fear the departure of Luka Modric this summer. Tottenham also had a bid rejected towards the end of the January transfer window for Adam.

Adam has been a wanted man since January by Liverpool with Kenny Dalglish has been a keen admirer since taking over the reins at his beloved club.

 

Ferguson is said to be convinced that higher wages and the opportunity of Champions League football will persuade Adam to change his mind.

 

Via: The Daily Star

Fernando Gago's agent claims Liverpool would be "a perfect club" for the Real Madrid midfielder to continue his career after being told that he is surplus to requirements.

The midfielder, 25, has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, and both Liverpool and Aston Villa have been credited with an interest in recent weeks.

"Gago needs to play and Liverpool would be a perfect club for him," his agent Marcelo Lombilla is quoted by the Daily Star.

"Fernando wants to get back on the pitch and return to the top level and at the moment that is not possible in Madrid."

Lombilla added: "Last year when we were about to sign with Manchester City, it was Mourinho who demanded that Gago will not go.

"Then he had a series of injuries that prevented him from playing for most of the season and now we have come to this situation."

German winger Marko Marin has denied reports that he is set to leave the club after reports linking him to Liverpool and Tottenham, with his agent claiming he snubbed the Premier League duo.

"I want to stay at Werder," the set-piece specialist told Bild. "I am feel good at Bremen, I have never had the urge to leave.

"I want to be successful here, and that is my only aim. If the club receives an offer and decides to sell me, that is another situation. Until then I am happy here."

Marin's agent, Fali Ramadani, went a step further, claiming there was interest from Liverpool and Tottenham but that Marin would not even talk to them.

"Marko rejected both teams," Ramadani said

 

 

Via: Eurosport.yahoo.com

Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez has admitted that he wants to return to his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys, in a recent interview.

Rodriguez, 30, scored two hat-tricks in three games towards the end of last season, has spoken with Newell’s president Guillermo Lorente and is hopeful of completing a switch.

Maxi started off his career with Newell’s in 1999 before moving to Espanyol in 2002, and despite going on to play for Atletico Madrid and Liverpool since then the Argentine insists he has always had his heart set on a return home.

“When I left here, I knew I was coming back.” said Maxi.

Maxi also revealed that he has already had talks with Newell’s president Guillermo Lorente, and is hopeful that a deal can be agreed to free him from his current contract.

“The president (Lorente) called me and I told him yes,” Maxi told La Capital on Tuesday afternoon.

“Now it all depends on the contract I have with Liverpool, that maybe can be loosened a little.”

Also In the News: Liverpool can challenge for title says Suarez.

 Via: Kopsource.com

Inter Milan are interested in signing Liverpool's Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles, according to reports in Italian newspapers.

The 28-year-old moved to Anfield from Porto in a £11.6m deal last summer and enjoyed a promising first season in the Premier League, scoring five goals in 33 appearances.

Inter are worried that despite his recent allegiance, Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder might leave San Siro to head for the Premier League, where the trio of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are chasing him. Meireles is seen as a like for like replacement for Sneijder.

And if Liverpool complete rumoured move for Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, Meireles will have to face competition for place in the team with Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Lucas Leiva.

Considering circumstances Inter believe that a £14m bid would tempt Liverpool into selling the midfielder.

The French striker will hold talks with the North East club, whilst Henderson brokers his move to Anfield.

Henderson is due to link up with England Under-21 squad ahead of the European Championship which begins this weekend, and both club are eager for the move to be completed before then.

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young will complete a £20million move to Manchester United within the next 48 hours, if reports from England are to be believed.

Arsenal and Liverpool are going head-to-head for defensive duo Phil Jones and Scott Dann according to SkySports.com. 

Dann has established himself as one of the best young defenders in the league during the last two seasons. The 6ft 5in Dann, who been likened to Alan Hansen and Tony Adams, is believed to be keen to stay in the Premier League and the lifelong Liverpool fan would jump at the chance of a move to Anfield.

Liverpool and Arsenal are also currently at the front of the queue for the signing of Phil Jones with the player's camp said to favour a move to Anfield. The North London club have held a long-term interest in the England Under-21 international and had a bid rejected for Jones last summer.

Blackburn value Jones at about £15million but are determined not sell him for less than the club record £18m banked from Roque Santa Cruz's move to City two years ago.

Jones, who signed a new five-year contract in January, is unlikely to submit a formal transfer request and Blackburn’s wealthy Indian owners, Venkys, could yet veto any attempts by Jones to leave the club.

Liverpool and Arsenal are currently at the front of the queue with the player's camp said to favour a move to Anfield.

However sources at Blackburn Rovers have confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson expressed an interest in January, and both Manchester United and neighbours City could enter the equation once the bidding begins. Ferguson wants to sign Jones as a long term partner for Chris Smalling.

Liverpool FC have agreed a deal with AS Roma to sign Brazilian goalkeeper Doni according to Sky Sports Italia.

The two clubs have agreed a fee for the 31 year old and Liverpool now have permission to discuss personal terms with the player ahead of his prospective move to Anfield.

Liverpool were interested in signing American Brad Friedel but he decided to join Tottenham instead, after which Liverpool moved quickly to secure a deal for the out of favor 31-year old Doni with the Italian club.

Doni had three solid season with Roma from 2005-08 but he lost his place to fellow Brazilian Artur in the second half of the 2008–09 season. Doni fell further down the pecking order later on and was reduced to a third choice goalkeeper.

Meanwhile Brad Jones and Peter Gulacsi would both Liverpool this summer, Jones would return to Australia to be with his son who is suffering form leukaemia while Gulacsi would be loaned out.