Exclusive: Liverpool turn transfer sights to Spain's David Silva
Rafa Benitez wants to bring in Valencia midfielder after being priced out of other deals.
By David Maddock 20/06/2008
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has added Spain's David Silva to his wish-list, after tiring of 'ludicrous' demands for other summer targets.
And Benitez will be helped in his pursuit of the midfielder as his chief scout is the player's mentor. The player is in the Spain team that has taken the European Championship by storm with a 100 per cent record so far.
But Silva's Valencia club are in financial trouble, and have made it known that they are prepared to sell him and fellow Spain star David Villa.
Benitez has grown tired of the sky-high price tags placed on the wide players he has targeted - with Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, Albert Riera of Espanyol and Newcastle's James Milner all vastly overpriced in his opinion.
After a discreet approach from Valencia, Benitez has expressed firm interest in the left-winger.
The big stumbling block is the fee, with Valencia asking in excess of £20million.
But Benitez believes he has two trump cards.
Firstly, Valencia have to sell because of their money worries, and while they will demand a huge fee, they are almost certain to settle for less.
The La Liga club have to fork out around £20m a month in loans and interest payments on their new stadium.
And while publicly they insist they do not want to lose any of their big stars, privately they have contacted several clubs to gauge interest in Silva and Villa.
Liverpool are also keen on Villa, but with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea circling, the striker will be out of any Anfield price range.
But the Reds have a strong connection with Silva that could tip the scales.
Anfield chief scout Eduardo Macia worked with Silva as a youngster at Valencia.
Macia was a youth team coach when the player broke through to their B team. He helped Silva get a loan to feeder club Eibar, which set the winger on the road to glory.
Silva remembers that, and still keeps in touch with his old pal Macia.
Exclusive: Liverpool turn transfer sights to Spain's David Silva - Mirror.co.uk
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Rafa Benitez may look to secure David Silva signing
Jun 20 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post
LIVERPOOL are weighing up a move for Spain’s Euro 2008 star David Silva.
But they will face a fight to prise him away from Valencia, who are likely to ask for £20million for the 22-year-old.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is in the market for a wide player, with Newcastle’s James Milner and Espanyol’s Albert Riera the more affordable options he has considered during the current window.
Silva’s price tag would have to be reduced significantly as Benitez is still confident of sealing Gareth Barry’s move from Aston Villa and his budget would not stretch to the current valuation.
But the former Valencia coach is an admirer of the player who can operate on either flank or just behind a striker. And Benitez has also been struck by the impact Silva has made helping Spain into the quarter-final of the European Championships with a 100% record, particu-larly the cross he delivered for Liverpool’s Fernando Torres to score against Sweden at the weekend.
He was rested along with Torres and Spain’s major players for the final group game with Greece on Wednesday but will return to the side for Sunday’s meeting with Italy in the last eight.
Silva began his career at the Mestalla as Benitez was departing for Anfield in 2004 and enjoyed loan spells at SD Elbar in the Spanish second division and later Celta Vigo.
Last summer he signed a new seven-year deal with Valencia, who are keen to retain him alongside Euro 2008 leading scorer David Villa.
Villa, who has also interested Benitez in the past but was not on his radar for this summer’s transfer business, indicated he was happy to stay with the Spanish Cup winners while dismissing reports he was interested in joining either Liverpool and Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, has revealed he is happy to plan for next season at Anfield – despite previously accepting his days are numbered while Benitez tries to raise cash for Barry.
Juventus are still expected to table a bid for the midfield-er once Euro 2008 is finished and his agent has previously indicated that the Italians are keen to complete a deal.
But Alonso said: “At the moment I’m a Liverpool player. Really it is something that I am detached from. I am just focusing on the European Champion-ship. At the moment I’m absolutely a part of Euro 2008. “Whatever is going to happen is between the clubs and I have nothing to say about that. I haven’t spoken so far with Rafa because he knows that I am focused and I am thinking about the Euro and at the moment I have no news.
“I signed a contract with Liverpool last summer. I have four more years of contract at Liverpool. I haven’t been told anything so far. My plans are to start next season with Liverpool, unless there is a change. We will see what happens. I can’t really say any more.”
Rangers have confirmed a pre-season friendly has been arranged with Liverpool at Ibrox on Saturday, August 2.
Ticket details for the match, which kicks off at 3pm, will be announced on the Rangers website.
Liverpool will also travel to Germany to take on Hertha Berlin in the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, July 22 (7.45pm).
Rafa Benitez may look to secure David Silva signing - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk
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Rafa To Steal £20mil Worth Of Silva?
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is preparing to ambush his old hunting ground in the hope of capturing Valencia winger David Silva…
Benitez rose to managerial fame during his time at the Mestalla, having led los Che to a pair of La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup before replacing Gerard Houllier at Anfield.
And The Guardian reports that the Spaniard will contact his former employers with a view towards convincing them to part with one of Europe’s most promising attackers.
Silva is currently in Austria representing his country at EURO 2008, where his mercurial displays from the left flank have earned him many plaudits and even drawn comparisons to former Reds favourite Luis Garcia.
The heavy Spanish contingent on Merseyside, combined with Benitez’s Valencia ties, makes it the automatic favourite as far as Premier League destinations go, as the 22-year-old would link up with compatriots Fernando Torres, Alvaro Arbeloa, Jose Reina and possibly Xabi Alonso.
Any potential deal could hinge on Alonso’s future at the club, as his proposed ₤14million move to Juventus would be the only way Benitez could come close to matching Valencia’s ₤20million price tag.
The Reds may struggle for funds regardless after committing a considerable amount to securing Gareth Barry and Andrea Dossena, but Benitez will no doubt seek to exploit his old side’s less-than-perfect financial situation following their nightmare season.
Goal.com - Liverpool - Rafa To Steal £20mil Worth Of Silva?
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