DUFF

Espanyol winger Albert Riera admits it would be 'madness' to turn down the opportunity to play for Liverpool. The Spain international has made no secret of his desire to leave Espanyol and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to bolster the left-side of his midfield. Liverpool have already had one offer for Riera rejected as Primera Liga outfit Espanyol hold out for a fee believed to be in the region of £12million. But Riera - who spent a period on loan at Manchester City in 2006 - remains keen on a permanent return to England. "I know English football and it is an attractive option for players," Riera told Sport. Realistic "If Espanyol do finally receive an offer I do not want to miss the opportunity to go to Liverpool. The option to join a super-club doesn't come every day. "I am a realistic person but this has given me something to look forward to. "To reject the possibility of a move would be madness." Meanwhile, Espanyol's sporting director Paco Herrera insists the club will not rush into a decision on the future of one of their star assets. "It is necessary to study the options and after that we'll make a decision," Herrera added.

Liverpool close on Keane prize Simon Johnson, Football Correspondent 21.07.08 Related Articles Ramos warning over star strikers Liverpool are confident they will sign Tottenham striker Robbie Keane this week despite chairman Daniel Levy making a complaint against them to the Premier League. Levy, who has also asked for Manchester United to be investigated over their pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov, has accused Liverpool of approaching Keane and his agent Struan Marshall about a move without Spurs' permission. He was also angry over Benitez declaring his interest publicly in a television interview 11 days ago. But Standard Sport understands a deal worth up to £20million, with Liverpool paying the full amount should they win the Champions League or Premier League while Keane is at the club, is close to being agreed. Sources close to Anfield have revealed the club are unconcerned over Levy's complaint to the League and feel most of his ire is aimed at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who was quoted last week saying it was only a matter of time before Berbatov came to Old Trafford. Even then, there are suspicions at Liverpool it is a public relations ploy to appease Spurs fans, who are angry they are set to lose the two stars. The League are waiting to receive Liverpool and Manchester United's response to Levy's complaints although Ferguson has already publicly denied the claim against him.

From Tony Barrett...... The move for the striker has no bearing on Liverpool’s bid to sign Robbie Keane and though the move for the Irishman is taking longer to be completed than first expected, senior Anfield figures remain confident a deal will be struck this week. The transfer market is expected to hot up in the coming days and Liverpool will be busier than most with at least two potential signings in the pipeline and a number of Reds players up for grabs.

Did have much to say for himself?

Badly need two if anyone has any spares?

Having completed the first new arrivals of the summer Benitez is now looking to bring in further additions; although he has ruled out a potential move for Valencia striker David Villa - at the moment. "I said the other day that he is one of the names we had on our list, but I can say at this moment that it is not an option for us," he said. "We know Villa is a very good player, we know the price and we know the players we have, so when you consider everything we decided he was one of the names, but at this moment, not our target. "Keane is one of the other names and okay we are still working with other names. We were in contact and we will see now."

Personal terms agreed just the medical now according to SSN

Keane

So Tuesday it is!!!!

Liverpool face battle for Keane By Phil McNulty Chief football writer Robbie Keane was a key figure as Spurs won the Carling Cup last season Liverpool have launched a surprise move to sign Tottenham striker Robbie Keane - but may be priced out of a deal for the Republic of Ireland star. Spurs boss Juande Ramos is an admirer of Liverpool forward Peter Crouch and Anfield boss Rafael Benitez is happy to make him part of an exchange deal. BBC Sport understands Liverpool would be willing to offer Crouch plus cash to sign 28-year-old Keane. But they fear Spurs will demand £20m for Keane, wrecking a possible deal. Spurs have not received a transfer request from Keane, despite reports claiming he had demanded to leave White Hart Lane. Liverpool's transfer plans are currently focused on concluding the protracted and acrimonious pursuit of Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry. Barry has publicly stated his desire to move to Liverpool - and while Villa boss Martin O'Neill admits he is willing to do business, the current price tag of at least £18m is out of Liverpool's reach. 606: DEBATE Should Keane quit Spurs for Liverpool? Benitez's interest in Keane is an unexpected development but, with Crouch likely to go and Portsmouth still his most likely destination and Andriy Voronin struggling to make an impact, he is seen as an ideal partner for Spain's Euro 2008 hero Fernando Torres. Keane is under contract with Spurs until 2012, having signed a new five-year contract in May 2007. He was an influential figure last season, scoring 23 goals in a campaign that was capped by the Carling Cup going to White Hart Lane - and Liverpool's move will receive no encouragement. But reports suggest Keane may be tempted to make the switch by the lure of playing Champions League football at Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy. He joined Tottenham from Leeds for £7m in August 2002 and has also played for Wolves, Coventry and Inter Milan Liverpool, meanwhile, may have to wait until European champion Xabi Alonso returns from holiday before they can sort out the Spanish midfielder's future. Alonso is on a three-week break after being part of Spain's successful Euro 2008 squad, leaving a possible £16m move to Juventus in limbo and boss Benitez waiting to discover if he will get a fresh injection of transfer funds.

Apparently getting said on TalkShite that deal is done to swap Keane for Crouch...

Sumed up perfectly yet amazing how the media never mention his piss poor form in Europe.

Badly need 2 tickets for Man City. Anyone help please?

But your jizz still comes out all over them!!!!

Got one the other day off a bird with a cracking pair of 34D's! Was nice!

Anyone rate them?

Torres hasn't travelled, SSN just. BBC have confirmed the same.

Assume your joking Gav?!

Anyone know which Setanta channel is showing the game on Saturday? Not showing on any of their channels on the website.

A lot of Mancs are saying on their various sites he's been given the ok to sign for us.

Aug 9 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo Meanwhile, Gabriel Heinze is remaining resolute in his ambition to join Liverpool, despite frantic attempts by Manchester United to force him into a rethink. Heinze has been made numerous offers to stay at Old Trafford and avoid the embarrassment of a club versus player Premiership hearing. But the pleas are falling on deaf ears. He’s determined to complete the move to Merseyside, and hopes United will relent before the adjudication panel sits on August 22.

Liverpool await response in Gabriel Heinze battle Jul 31 2007 by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo LIVERPOOL are waiting for the Premier League to take the next step in the acrimonious battle to sign Gabriel Heinze. The Reds have written to league officials asking them to resolve the dispute between Heinze and Manchester United, thus paving the way for the transfer to Anfield. Although the focus has understandably been on the row between two fierce rivals, this is essentially a dispute between the player and his club, not Liverpool and United, and in such instances it is for the league to intervene. The crux of the argument remains whether a signed letter from David Gill making it clear Heinze can join any club for a set fee is binding or not. Gill says he verbally told the Argentinian he couldn’t join their Premiership rivals, but he didn’t put this in writing. Heinze is due to return to training with United next Monday. Clearly, he’ll expect the matter to have taken a turn in his favour by then, as United recognise he has no future at their club. Privately, Liverpool are bemused at United’s refusal to allow him to move to Anfield as they would receive a hefty sum for a player who is clearly surplus to requirements. In the absence of a logical explanation for blocking his move to Merseyside – to a club which United fans gleefully recognise has barely mounted a serious challenge for the title in 17 years – it seems Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson are basing their opposition solely on emotional factors. The Premier League must decide if it’s fair for a transfer to be blocked and a player's career stalled on the basis of one club disliking another. Meanwhile, Steve Finnan is expected to put pen to paper today on the contract he agreed last week. Finnan will sign a two-year deal which may become a three-year contract if clauses are activated.

Is this tapping up?? "They have been away with the Argentina team. I'm sure Gabi's told him what a good club it is. There's nothing else he can say about Manchester United from his own experiences."

Apparently off the record this is what whiskey face said about Heinze! "We supported the lad when he had his cruciate knee operation, and let him do his rehabilitation in Spain and he repays us by trying to engineer a move to Liverpool? Scandalous...some would even say traiterous. It's disappointing, certainly"

Just read whiskey face on Sky Sports site saying how Heinze owes them after the way they looked after him through his injury. Trying the guilt trick now on Heinze me thinks. Why bother going down that avenue if this document is useless!? Also licking him saying how he probably helped them with Tevez and how without the agent there wouldn't be a problem. Is he saying that Heinze tapped Tevez up on their behalf?!!!!!!