Juventus preparing £15 million Alonso bid

[coop]

May 9 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

JUVENTUS are considering a £15million bid to prise Xabi Alonso away from Liverpool – as Rafael Benitez slapped a similar price tag on Peter Crouch.

The Anfield manager, who has urged the club’s board to “work quickly” in the transfer market, anticipates a summer of change with a number of high-profile departures.

While Benitez has no immediate plans to include Alonso in that group, Liverpool’s interest in Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry has cast doubt over the midfielder’s long-term future.

And Juventus, having already taken Momo Sissoko from Anfield this season, are preparing to test Liverpool’s resolve by launching an official bid for the Spain international.

Barcelona are also contemplating a move for Alonso, with new coach Josep Guardiola – who will replace the departing Frank Rijkaard in the summer – a boyhood idol of the 26-year-old.

Benitez, though, said yesterday: “Xabi is our player, he has a contract. Barry can play in three different positions, so I don’t think we need to worry about this.”

The Liverpool manager also responded to criticism from Martin O’Neill over the offer for Barry, claiming to have been in talks with his Villa counterpart for almost three weeks.

“I was surprised with part of his comments,” said Benitez. “I had a private conversation with him, he knew my idea and needed to talk with his owners. In the end, we needed to make an official movement. I don’t have any problem waiting, we must respect his decision, and then talk again with him. I was talking with him 20 days ago more or less, and he knew everything. He knew my idea and I knew his idea.”

Definitely leaving Anfield in the summer is Harry Kewell, while Crouch and John Arne Riise, who both have a year remaining on their current contracts, have been told they can speak with other clubs.

Crouch’s decision to not yet take up the offer of a new deal at Anfield has already prompted interest from potential suitors, with Portsmouth ready to offer £8m. But Benitez believes Crouch is worth almost twice that figure and claims to have no problem keeping the England international at Anfield next season – despite the striker able to leave for nothing in 12 months’ time.

“Peter is a different player now to the one we bought from Southampton,” said Benitez. “He is a big name, an international player and everybody talks really well about him.

“Peter said in December that he wanted to talk about a new contract, but then his representatives said they wanted to wait, so now we will see the situation.

“If we receive a very good offer, and by that I mean £15m, we will consider it. I’m reading about £8m, but if we only receive that then I’d rather keep the player. And don’t forget he is an English player, which is really important when you consider the market.

“Peter is a player with an agent who will be working to do the best for him, and we will be working to do the best for us.

“If that means I need to keep the player, I will keep the player. We’ve offered him a new contract, we like the player and we want him to stay. But we cannot offer him a guarantee he will start every game every week. We need to resolve this situation, and that won’t be with an £8m offer.”

Benitez also underlined the situation regarding Kewell and Riise, with the latter being tracked by a clutch of clubs including Newcastle United and Villa.

“Riise has one year left on his contract and we know there are some clubs interested in him, and we will wait until the end of the season and try and do the best for him and the best for us,” said Benitez.

“I was talking with Harry’s agent, we didn’t have any agreement and we decided to release him at the end of the season.

“Everyone knows Harry is a very good player. The question is whether we could do something with him, and in the end we couldn’t so we had to forget about it and think about the future.”

As he presses ahead with his transfer plans, Benitez has been reassured by an improvement in communication with the club’s owners.

But having been frustrated in the past by perceived hesitancy in the market, the Spaniard is eager to wrap up the majority of his summer dealings as soon as possible.

“I’ve been in contact with the owners and Rick Parry, so they know our idea and the things that we want to do” said Benitez. “Now we must wait to see if they approve or not. The situation now is much better than before, because I can talk with them. I want transfer business to be done as quickly as possible. If you sign a player at the end of July you do not have much time, it is better to sign players as quickly as possible.

“But the plan is not just to buy. It’s also to sell. But because we don’t have any concrete offer on the table for any player, we will just have to wait a little bit.”

[Section_31]

Another 5m and they've got a deal.

[theRedHorse]

I think its clear now, Barry is not a replacement for Xabi.

Unless we get a silly offer 20M+, I can't see him leaving.
Xabi is not the type of player to sulk about not being guaranteed a starting position, either. He'll work hard, and try to get back into the team.

[PaddyBerger15]

What is slightly concerning about that article is the section where Rafa refers to Kewell. I think its basically saying that the club/manager spoke to his agent to try and work something out, but couldn't reach an agreement, with the inference being that we were looking to keep him and give him a contract....on what basis would or could anybody say that he has earned/deserves/warrants an extended stay here? I know there are no details, I suspect we may have offered pay as you play, but to be honest, he should have been shown the door...no negotiations, no offers or discussions, just fuck off. He is an injury liability.

[robslappa]

If Alonso isn't leaving then I really don't understand why we're after Barry.

We should be using that money to try and sign a decent winger and/or striker.

[coop]

If Barry signs then i expect him to line up alongside Alonso for the first game of the season.

[Tom R]

It's madness to even think about selling Alonso.

You don't see any of you few world class players. Not for any price.

[Malarkey]

Originally Posted by coop

May 9 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

JUVENTUS are considering a £15million bid to prise Xabi Alonso away from Liverpool – as Rafael Benitez slapped a similar price tag on Peter Crouch.

The Anfield manager, who has urged the club’s board to “work quickly” in the transfer market, anticipates a summer of change with a number of high-profile departures.

While Benitez has no immediate plans to include Alonso in that group, Liverpool’s interest in Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry has cast doubt over the midfielder’s long-term future.

And Juventus, having already taken Momo Sissoko from Anfield this season, are preparing to test Liverpool’s resolve by launching an official bid for the Spain international.

Barcelona are also contemplating a move for Alonso, with new coach Josep Guardiola – who will replace the departing Frank Rijkaard in the summer – a boyhood idol of the 26-year-old.

Benitez, though, said yesterday: “Xabi is our player, he has a contract. Barry can play in three different positions, so I don’t think we need to worry about this.”

The Liverpool manager also responded to criticism from Martin O’Neill over the offer for Barry, claiming to have been in talks with his Villa counterpart for almost three weeks.

“I was surprised with part of his comments,” said Benitez. “I had a private conversation with him, he knew my idea and needed to talk with his owners. In the end, we needed to make an official movement. I don’t have any problem waiting, we must respect his decision, and then talk again with him. I was talking with him 20 days ago more or less, and he knew everything. He knew my idea and I knew his idea.”

Definitely leaving Anfield in the summer is Harry Kewell, while Crouch and John Arne Riise, who both have a year remaining on their current contracts, have been told they can speak with other clubs.

Crouch’s decision to not yet take up the offer of a new deal at Anfield has already prompted interest from potential suitors, with Portsmouth ready to offer £8m. But Benitez believes Crouch is worth almost twice that figure and claims to have no problem keeping the England international at Anfield next season – despite the striker able to leave for nothing in 12 months’ time.

“Peter is a different player now to the one we bought from Southampton,” said Benitez. “He is a big name, an international player and everybody talks really well about him.

“Peter said in December that he wanted to talk about a new contract, but then his representatives said they wanted to wait, so now we will see the situation.

“If we receive a very good offer, and by that I mean £15m, we will consider it. I’m reading about £8m, but if we only receive that then I’d rather keep the player. And don’t forget he is an English player, which is really important when you consider the market.

“Peter is a player with an agent who will be working to do the best for him, and we will be working to do the best for us.

“If that means I need to keep the player, I will keep the player. We’ve offered him a new contract, we like the player and we want him to stay. But we cannot offer him a guarantee he will start every game every week. We need to resolve this situation, and that won’t be with an £8m offer.”

Benitez also underlined the situation regarding Kewell and Riise, with the latter being tracked by a clutch of clubs including Newcastle United and Villa.

“Riise has one year left on his contract and we know there are some clubs interested in him, and we will wait until the end of the season and try and do the best for him and the best for us,” said Benitez.

“I was talking with Harry’s agent, we didn’t have any agreement and we decided to release him at the end of the season.

“Everyone knows Harry is a very good player. The question is whether we could do something with him, and in the end we couldn’t so we had to forget about it and think about the future.”

As he presses ahead with his transfer plans, Benitez has been reassured by an improvement in communication with the club’s owners.

But having been frustrated in the past by perceived hesitancy in the market, the Spaniard is eager to wrap up the majority of his summer dealings as soon as possible.

“I’ve been in contact with the owners and Rick Parry, so they know our idea and the things that we want to do” said Benitez. “Now we must wait to see if they approve or not. The situation now is much better than before, because I can talk with them. I want transfer business to be done as quickly as possible. If you sign a player at the end of July you do not have much time, it is better to sign players as quickly as possible.

“But the plan is not just to buy. It’s also to sell. But because we don’t have any concrete offer on the table for any player, we will just have to wait a little bit.”

The part that I have put in bold looks like he may play Barry out wide to accomodate Alonso. We'll see.

[Carra_is_legend]

Originally Posted by Malarkey

The part that I have put in bold looks like he may play Barry out wide to accomodate Alonso. We'll see.

So we can expect a "Arsenal bid £10m for Babel" headline tomorrow.

Journalism is so easy.

[Malarkey]

Originally Posted by Carra_is_legend

So we can expect a "Arsenal bid £10m for Babel" headline tomorrow.

Journalism is so easy.

Si. I like your avatar.

[Carra_is_legend]

Originally Posted by Malarkey

Si. I like your avatar.

Aye. Fuck transfers, fuck DIC, fuck Hicks. Tits (I don't mean Riise and Kewell) are the way forward.

[Sangria]

Originally Posted by robslappa

If Alonso isn't leaving then I really don't understand why we're after Barry.

We should be using that money to try and sign a decent winger and/or striker.

Could not agree more with that.

[Section_31]

Originally Posted by PaddyBerger15

What is slightly concerning about that article is the section where Rafa refers to Kewell. I think its basically saying that the club/manager spoke to his agent to try and work something out, but couldn't reach an agreement, with the inference being that we were looking to keep him and give him a contract....on what basis would or could anybody say that he has earned/deserves/warrants an extended stay here? I know there are no details, I suspect we may have offered pay as you play, but to be honest, he should have been shown the door...no negotiations, no offers or discussions, just fuck off. He is an injury liability.

I reckon it was a pay as you play deal and done purely to keep the squad numbers up in these uncertain times.
There was no way the greedy cunt would go for that though, he knows where the bears shit in the buckwheat when it comes to his own knackered body.

Originally Posted by coop

If Barry signs then i expect him to line up alongside Alonso for the first game of the season.

What about The Chief though coop? Can't imagine any of those three liking the thought of being rotated.

[DooooodekNo5]

Originally Posted by robslappa

If Alonso isn't leaving then I really don't understand why we're after Barry.

We should be using that money to try and sign a decent winger and/or striker.

people seem to forget carsons gonna be part of this deal so its hardly like were shelling out millions for him, if its the 10 million fee thats being reported for barry then we will only be paying 2-4 million cash

[coop]

Originally Posted by Section_31

I reckon it was a pay as you play deal and done purely to keep the squad numbers up in these uncertain times.
There was no way the greedy cunt would go for that though, he knows where the bears shit in the buckwheat when it comes to his own knackered body.




What about The Chief though coop? Can't imagine any of those three liking the thought of being rotated.

Both Mascherano and Lucas will miss the start of the season thanks to the Olympics.

[Thants]

Originally Posted by Malarkey

The part that I have put in bold looks like he may play Barry out wide to accomodate Alonso. We'll see.

It's just saying 1) Barry's coming and 2) You're not getting Xabi on the cheap . . . but he's going.

[snez1]

The Olyimpics will decide when Alonso leaves in my opinion. No point having Gerrard, Xabi, Barry, Lucas and Masch with Plessis is reserve when we are short of money. However, we can't go into the new season with only Stevie, Barry and Plessis to pick from which would be the case if we sold Xabi as Lucas and Masch won't be here.