The Happy Rumour Mill (Takeover bids, transfer talks etc) Part 2

[piscinin]

Tomkins saying Lucas was nearly sold last week to a French club for €10m.

 

That's the 2nd time I've heard that. The guy that called the Aquilani loan, Mascherano titty lip etc has said Lucas has developed an attitude in training and we want rid.

[Trucker Paddy]

That's the 2nd time I've heard that. The guy that called the Aquilani loan, Mascherano titty lip etc has said Lucas has developed an attitude in training and we want rid.

 

Have to say cant believe that, the lad has always seemed like a great professional

[Ted]

I quite like Ben Arfa.

[paddyberger15]

Somewhere Rashid is praying this happens.

 

Cum Tsunami in St.Albans if it happens. Rashid's footballing philosophy was get a Keeper, or a number 10 to play in goal and they buy ten Number 10's to buzz around like irritating flies, play nice patterns and get bummed 38-3 every week.

[Mark M]

That's the 2nd time I've heard that. The guy that called the Aquilani loan, Mascherano titty lip etc has said Lucas has developed an attitude in training and we want rid.

I wouldn't lose much sleep if he left, I would be happy ONLY if the money was re-invested with a replacement.

This Masch transfer is turning into a disaster, looks to me like a fee will be agreed on the last day and we wont have any time to reinvest in new players there should be a deadline put for 48hrs to get it boxed off.

[paddyberger15]

I quite like Ben Arfa.

 

Are you sure you don't mean Ben Affleck?

[hamstrung]

Lets just sell every fucker on 31/8 and see what happens.

[Ted]

I think so. Maybe. No. Wait, yes. YES!

 

 

Although, I think the Daily Star's backpage describing him as "The New Masch" is a little bit off, like. Just a bit.

 

Rapha Honigstein is a fucking leg.

[piscinin]

Have to say cant believe that, the lad has always seemed like a great professional

 

Yeah I assumed he was a bullshitter but when everything he said happened I was like, hmm, wait a minute. TBH I expected some players to have an issue with Hodgson's coaching methods or the quality of the coaching staff vs. what we had before, maybe Lucas is one such player. Or maybe he got wind of us trying to sell him behind his back. Who knows.

[PaulMcC]

If we let Aquilani, Lucas and Mascherano all go we'll be very light in midfield.

[hamstrung]

Yeah I assumed he was a bullshitter but when everything he said happened I was like, hmm, wait a minute.

 

[dirty_sanchez]

Are you sure you don't mean Ben Affleck?

 

Affleck was THE BOMB in Phantoms yo.

[marcus50bucks]

Liverpool eye £6.5m Hatem Ben Arfa and Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra as Barcelona move in for Javier Mascherano

 

By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 11:04 AM on 25th August 2010

 

Liverpool are ready to pounce for Marseille star Hatem Ben Arfa if Javier Mascherano clinches a move to Barcelona.

 

Classy Ben Arfa, who can play centrally or on the left wing, is not a direct replacement for Anfield's Argentine rebel, but the sale of Mascherano would free up funds to swoop for the £6.5million-rated France international.

 

Roy Hodgson has already signed Denmark international Christian Poulsen from Juventus to toughen up his midfield and is also considering a cheap move for Real Madrid's tough-tackling Mahamadou Diarra.

 

But Ben Arfa would add more creative quality. Werder Bremen have agreed a fee with Marseille, but the 23-year-old would prefer to play in the Barclays Premier League and went on strike when a loan move to Newcastle United was blocked earlier this month.

 

The Geordies appear to be out of the running, but sources in France insist Ben Arfa was on Merseyside for talks on Tuesday.

 

'I want to play in the Premier League because my time in the French League has passed,' he said.

 

Manchester United and Everton have previously shown interest and his agent has contacted several clubs in England, but Liverpool appear to be favourites for his signature.

 

Mascherano is desperate to quit Anfield, but Barcelona's first bid of about £12m and former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb was rejected.

 

Hodgson is not keen on Hleb - at least not at Barca's £4.5m valuation - and Liverpool want a straight £18m cash deal.

 

Reports in Catalonia say the champions of Spain are now prepared to pay close to that, but only if about £4m is in add-ons.

 

Liverpool also want to add a new striker.

 

Dailymail

[JermainePennant]

Ben afra would be a top signing for us and especially at that price, also I rate m diarra aswell, when he went to madrid he was viewed as one of if not the best dm in the world.

 

If we could get them 2 and a striker I would be made up although we need a left back aswell.

[RedinSweden]

Ben afra would be a top signing for us and especially at that price, also I rate m diarra aswell, when he went to madrid he was viewed as one of if not the best dm in the world.

 

If we could get them 2 and a striker I would be made up although we need a left back aswell.

 

That was the other Diarra, the good one.

[Trucker Paddy]

"Classy Ben Arfa, who can play centrally or on the left wing, is not a direct replacement for Anfield's Argentine rebel"

 

No shit

[Royal Family]

Raphael Honigstein tweeted that Lucas was close to being sold for 10m euro last week to a french club. Gutted that never went through if true.

 

I wonder what "nearly" sold actually means? That they thought they were signing the former Brazilian player of the season, but then someone from the french club actually bothered to look through a DVD of his past "performances" at Anfield?

[JermainePennant]

That was the other Diarra, the good one.

 

No it wasnt, when he was at lyon he was very highly rated, arsenal were after him for ages aswell as man u but madrid signed him the year they last won the league.

 

He has had a lot of injurys but is a top player, if we could get him for a decent price he would be a good signing.

[piscinin]

That was the other Diarra, the good one.

 

Nah, it was Mahmoud, when him and Essien were at Lyon, opinion was pretty evenly divided as to who was the better player. No-one in their right mind would describe Lass as the best DM in the world.

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

Must say I'm rather dissapointed Rafa has not used some of the Balotelli money on persuading us to sell Lucas, Insua and Kuyt. Maybe he has not been given the money to spend or perhaps he's worried we won't be allowed to replace them.

[Irishlad]

Reds move for Konchesky

 

Skysports.com understands Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Fulham defender Paul Konchesky.

 

Reds bos Roy Hodgson has openly admitted bringing a new left-back is one of his top priorities this summer and it is believed he wants Konchesky to solve the problematic position.

 

Hodgson is a big admirer of Konchesy having worked with the 29-year-old for two-and-a-half-years prior to his switch to Anfield.

 

Liverpool are keen to bring in a new left-back before the close of the transfer window and had been linked with a move for PSV Eindhoven'sCarlos Salicido.

 

However, it appears Liverpool have opted to go for Konchesky with the player having just a year to run on his contract at Fulham.

Konchesky's future at Fulham has been the subject of speculation all summer with Birmingham having seen one bid turned down eartlier this summer.

 

New Fulham boss Mark Hughes was keen to keep hold of the former Charlton man, but Konchesky is thought to have informed the Cottagers chief of his desire to be reunited with Hodgson at Anfield.

 

Liverpool are believed to be prepared to pay up to £3.5million to land Konchesky as Hodgson looks to finalise his rebuilding plans at the club.

[Randy Marsh]

Konchesky is one fuckin depressing signing, ranking up there with Brad Jones.

[Whelan]

[Kevin D]

If we got 23m, Hleb and Caerces - who I've read can play left back, but haven't seen him myself - for a want-away Mascherano while also getting good money for Lucas in addition to bringing Ben Arfa here; well, I'd have to conclude that Purslow isn't too bad at this director of football thing. That would represent our best business since the 2005 summer, in my view.

[Ted]

We've signed far worse players than Konchesky in the not too distant past, and for a bit more than £3m.