Turkey international midfielder Arda Turan says that he would be interested in a move to Liverpool.
Turan has spoken of his desire to experience football overseas and Anfield would be one of his preferred destinations.
”Of course I want to play abroad but it is our board’s decision,” said the 23-year-old, who has previously been linked with Rafael Benitez’s side. ”As I always mention, Liverpool attracts me because of their tradition.
”In Europe, I am a Liverpool supporter, so if I go to play in Europe, I would like to play for them.”
Turan also told the UEFA website: ”My dream has always been to play for one of the top European clubs, but you shouldn’t make concrete plans in your life because sometimes these plans cannot be achieved. This is my dream, but for now I’m just working on my football.”
Source: ESPN
Liverpool are close to agreeing a pre-contract deal with Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic.
The Reds, along with AC Milan and Premier League rivals Birmingham, have long been linked with the 28-year-old and now seem to be on the verge of getting their man.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has stepped up his efforts to capture Jovanovic, who is out of contract with Liege in the summer, after failing in a pursuit of Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones.
Serbia international Jovanovic is reported to be on the verge of signing terms that would guarantee he moves to Anfield after participating in this summer’s World Cup to offer an alternative to injury-prone Fernando Torres.
It has been suggested that Jovanovic was only prepared to sign for Liverpool if the club offered guarantees that Juventus target Benitez would stay on Merseyside beyond the end of this season.
But it appears that an agreement over a three-year deal with an option for an additional 12 months is close.
Source: SkySports
Juventus have agreed terms with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez for him to manage the Serie A club next season, according to authoritative reports from Italy last night.
La Repubblica newspaper reported that the club’s lawyers will arrive in England today for talks tomorrow about the release of the manager this summer. Benitez’s current contract at Anfield runs until 2014.
Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc is reported to have “already fixed everything with Benitez and has in his drawer a detailed agreement of his terms and length of contract”. Juve are keen to reach an agreement and begin making plans for next season.
The Turin club are also keen to minimise any payment they will have to make to Liverpool, and will be aware of the Premier League club’s poor form and rumours that the Spaniard’s deal makes him “too expensive to sack”.
Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport last night confirmed the arrival of Juve’s representatives but insisted that it remains uncertain whether Benitez actually wants to leave Anfield.
Ryan Babel has been included in the Liverpool squad which faces Bolton Wanderers at Anfield today having been informed by Rafael Benitez that he will not be sold before the January transfer window closes on Monday.
The Holland forward had seemed set to leave the club but Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has challenged him to prove himself worthy of a place in the team by fulfilling the potential that earned him an £11 million move to Merseyside in 2007.
Benitez also revealed he may not be able to add to his squad before the window closes on Monday, although he is still endeavouring to do so with a right back to fill in for the injured Glen Johnson and allow Jamie Carragher to revert to central defence being high on his list of priorities.
“Ryan will be in the squad,” Benitez said. “I think he will stay. I was talking with him and I told him that I know there are clubs asking about his future but I think he is a good player and he has to show his quality on the pitch. He can do it. It’s just a question of starting again and maybe having more confidence.
“We were looking for players for different positions. Right back was one of them as soon as we knew about Glen Johnson’s injury. But it isn’t easy because you cannot find players at the level that we have now and there aren’t too many better right backs than Carra.”
Source: TimesOnline
Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt knows nothing about a possible move to Juventus, his agent Robert Jansen has claimed.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez has recently been tipped to take over at Juve with current boss Ciro Ferrera severely under pressure after a number of lacklustre displays.
The reports have sparked rumours over which players could join the Spaniard if he moves to Italy and Kuyt has seen his name linked with the Serie A club.
However the forward, who Benitez bought for £9million from Feyenoord in summer 2006, is happy at Anfield, according to Jansen.
“I know nothing of Juventus’ interest,” he told Calciomercato.it. “No-one has contacted us at the moment. He is now happy at Liverpool where he has two more years of his contract left.” Read more »
