Benítez targets French keeper
Andy Hunter
The Guardian,
Wednesday May 21 2008
Rafael Benítez has identified Bordeaux's Ulrich Ramé as his next summer recruit, providing the former France international goalkeeper can be tempted to understudy Jose Reina at Liverpool. Ramé, who turns 36 in September, has enjoyed a fine season as Bordeaux's first-choice keeper and helped Laurent Blanc's team secure Champions League qualification as runners-up to Lyon, but will be offered a more lucrative two-year contract at Anfield.
The current Liverpool reserve keeper, Charles Itandje, who made seven first-team appearances last season, has been offered to Bordeaux as part of the deal but Benítez has received no indication from Ramé as yet that he is prepared to leave France.
The Liverpool manager, who hopes to solve his problem at left-back by signing Udinese's £8m-rated Andrea Dossena, secured his first signing of the summer yesterday when the club confirmed Swiss right-back Philipp Degen will join on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund when his contract expires on July 1. "He is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality," said Benítez of the 25-year-old. "His strength is going forward and I am confident he will prove to be a quality addition to our squad."
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