New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson remains confident that star striker Fernando Torres will still be a Reds player next season.
The 26-year-old Spain international continues to be heavily linked with a move away from Anfield, but Hodgson has faith that Torres is going nowhere.
He told reporters:"As far as I know he is looking forward to coming back here – he is back on Monday.
"He is enjoying a holiday – a well-deserved break as he has not had one for three years.
"He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to anyone.
"But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season.
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"That is what I know, so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Ambitious Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala are lining up a sensational swoop for Robin Van Persie and Nicolas Anelka according to the Sun.
Backed by billionaire owner Suleyman Kerimov new player-manager Roberto Carlos is eager to turn the club from mid-table dwellers into a serious outfit capable of competing in the Champions League.
Despite already hitting the headlines by spending £22 million to bring Samuel Eto’o to the club and handing him wages of £345,000-a-week, making him the highest paid player on the planet, Carlos wants to bring the striking duo to Dinamo Stadium.
The Brazilian is desperate to lure Arsenal captain Van Persie and Chelsea forward Anelka to Russia in an attempt to bolster his squad and believes he can tempt them both with big money offer but admitted they weren’t the only players on his list.
He said: “Anelka is not the only player. Nene from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following.
“Neymar? I talked to him. If Real (Madrid), Barcelona or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants.”
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Whilst a switch to Russia may not interest Van Persie it could prove to be attractive to Anelka who’s contract at Stamford Bridge ends in the summer with Anzhi set to offer him a lucrative deal.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has once again been the subject of praise from the media for his work in the transfer market. The loan signing of Jamie O’Hara has seen the midfielder score twice in just four appearances. His form has also inspired Wolves to wins against Blackpool and Manchester United, as well as a draw at rivals West Brom.
The ninth-longest serving manager in the English leagues, McCarthy has seen a wealth of talent both enter and leave Molineux during his time in charge. I think it’s fair to say we have seen our fair share of flops during McCarthy’s time, the likes of Maierhofer, Eastwood and Shackell come to mind.
However, most Wolves fans will agree there has definitely been more positive than negative arrivals in Wolverhampton. I’ve had a look back over all of McCarthy’s signings (there were a lot) and picked out the five that matched these categories – a) the best value for money b) consistent performers c) best overall performances in a Wolves shirt.
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Michael Kightly
Pretty obvious one to start off. Originally signed on loan from non-league Grays in the winter of 2007, Kightly impressed immediately and scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win at QPR in December. Despite interest from Manchester United, he signed permanently for a fee (believed to be in the tens of thousands, rather than millions). Kightly went on to earn England under-21 caps, help Wolves to promotion and become one of the best players outside of the Premier League. Only injury has stopped him from progressing even further.
Matt Jarvis
Another lower league signing, Jarvis moved to Molineux from Gillingham in June 2007 for an undisclosed fee (again, not expected to be anywhere near the millions). He settled in the team and immediately showed why McCarthy had taken a gamble on him. A pacey and tricky winger, Jarvis was instrumental in helping Wolves gain promotion, and go on to remain in the Premier League. Has recently been linked with an England call-up and moves to other Premier League sides. Jarvis continue to impress and is improving as the season goes on.
Kevin Foley
Completing the trio of lower league signings, Foley joined Wolves about a month after Jarvis. Joining from Luton, who had just been relegated to League One, Foley was regarded as one of the brightest young defenders around. Foley made the right-back spot his own at Molineux, going on to win the Wolves Player of the Season award in the 2008-09 season. Last season, he made the transition from defender to midfielder, and comfortably settled in the middle of the park as part of the 4-5-1 formation employed by McCarthy. A regular member of the Republic of Ireland squad, Foley is easily one of the most steady and consistent players at Wolves.
Continue to the NEXT PAGE for the rest of the top five…
Kevin Doyle
Joined Wolves in the summer of 2009, ahead of their new season in the Premier League. With a £6.5 million pricetag around his neck, it would be fair to say big things were expected. Doyle didn’t disappoint. After overcoming an early injury, he went on to establish himself as the spearhead of the Wolves 4-5-1 system. Playing up front by himself, he finished the season with 10 goals and picked up the Wolves’ Player’s Player of the season. Despite being linked with a move, Doyle stayed at Molineux and has gone on to impress this season. Although his goal tally is not huge, his workrate in games is as good as I have ever seen from a Wolves player. A fantastic player and signing.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
There were plenty of contenders for this last spot, but I had to give it to Ebanks-Blake as, let’s face it, we wouldn’t be where we are today without his goals. Joined for £1.5 million from Plymouth in January 2008, he went on to score 12 goals and even finished the season as the Championship Golden Boot winner. He went on to win the accolade again the following season, scoring 25 goals to help Wolves win the title and gain promotion. Although he didn’t continue his goalscoring exploits in the Premier League, his second goal of the season saw Wolves draw 1-1 with Blackburn and all-but guarantee their survival. This season has seen his goalscoring return, having scored six so far. ‘SEB’ continues to find himself used as a ‘super-sub’, but remains a firm favourite with the fans!
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There we go, in my view, McCarthy’s top five signings for Wolves. There were plenty more that could have made the list. Captain Karl Henry joined for a relatively small fee, Stephen ‘Utility man’ Ward likewise. George Elokobi was another lower league success, whilst Adlene Guedioura was somehow discovered in the obscurity of the Belgium second division.
We must not forget the players that cost money, but proved their weight in gold, such as reliable defender Christophe Berra and popular full-back Ronald Zubar have proved very valuable acquisitions. You can even look to free signings such as Marcus Hahnemann and Gary Breen as to how clever Mick can be in the market.
If you look at the majority of the signings, there seems to be one thing in common – where they were discovered. McCarthy seems to have a talent for spotting players where nobody else would have thought to look. From non-league to lower league Belgium, and from Serbia to the Irish leagues, McCarthy must have eyes all over the globe. So, if you are a footballer and are hoping to get noticed, I reckon Mick isn’t too far away!
Real Madrid are reportedly set to launch a bid for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and they will offer the club in excess of £30m plus either Rafael van der Vaart or Fernando Gago. With such a large offer would the club be making the right move in accepting the bid?
Everybody knows that Steven Gerrard is a world class midfielder and could probably play for any team in the world and so it’s no surprise that Real Madrid are interested in his services. As a symbol of Liverpool it would be heartbreaking for fans to see him go, just like it must be for Real Madrid fans to see Raul leaving the club this summer. However in both circumstances fans have to consider what more can they offer the club? And is it economically a good deal?
The answer in both circumstances is a resounding yes, Gerrard is now 30-years-old and to get that sort of money for someone that age is a great deal on it’s own, to get that amount plus quality midfield with it is even better. As for Raul the Spanish striker is 33 now and reportedly earns £3.3m a year at the club, so although he could maybe still have a part to play for them it would be better for Real Madrid to let him leave.
With Liverpool having very limited funds they probably need all the money they can get to go out and make new signings. The cash injection his sale would bring will enable Roy Hodgson to get them a lot of players and would significantly boost their chances of getting back into the top four next season. Both van der Vaart and Gago are great players and despite them being different types of midfielders, could both easily get into Liverpool’s team. It would just be a question of what is needed more, a defensive midfielder or an attacking one? Really a case could be made for either coming to the club with Liverpool already boasting Alberto Aquilani as an attacking midfielder and Javier Mascherano as a defensive midfielder. What would make an even better deal for the club would be if they could persuade Real to part with both midfielders plus the cash. Considering Madrid always seem to be happy to go out and buy new players it may not be such an improbable idea.
It will be very sad for everyone at Liverpool to see Steven Gerrard go and it will be a loss to the Premiership as well, but Liverpool have to look at the deal they’re being given and their current situation. It is a very generous deal and really they should be biting Real Madrid’s hand off. Nobody likes to see a symbol leave the club but unfortunately Gerrard isn’t Liverpool’s most important player anymore, that honour is now bestowed by Fernando Torres. The Spanish striker is the one player who Liverpool must do everything to keep as no doubt their resolve will be greatly tested this summer.
At 30-years-of age a move to Real Madrid would appeal greatly to Steven Gerrard as it is a club that everyone would love to play for, and the chance to represent them will probably not come around again for him. Although his departure would be with heavy hearts surely the fans would not hold it against him should he decide to leave. Gerrard himself will also recognise what a good deal the club will be getting with this transfer, and as a Liverpool lad himself he would want to ensure that they get the best deal possible for him.
Should Liverpool cash in on Gerrard, or simply spurn Real’s advances?
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Click on image below to see the Dutch babes at the World Cup
Chicago Fire are lining a stunning bid for Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand according to the Daily Mail as they strive to match Major League Soccer rivals LA Galaxy.
The Americans have identified Ferdinand as they man they hope will allow them to compete with Galaxy who have seen their global appeal rise in the last four years after signing David Beckham.
He is out of contract next year and the MLS club are confident they will be able to convince the him to leave the Premier League and finish his career across the pond.
Fire are drawing up plans to make the 32-year-old the highest paid player at the club with the lower US tax rates allowing him to pick up a similar £120,000-a-week deal to the one he is currently on at Old Trafford.
The England defender has struggled with injuries in the last three years and has been left out of the England squad to face Montenegro in the final Euro 2012 qualifier.
Ferdinand still has aspirations of making it into Fabio Capello’s squad for next summers Championships but faces stiff competition from the likes Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka along with club mates Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
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It’s thought he is aware of interest from America but could have other options should he choose to leave United with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp monitoring his situation.
Former Rangers and Millwall defender Kevin Muscat has retired.
The 37-year-old confirmed his decision to hang up his boots at an emotional press conference in Melbourne on Wednesday after a professional career which has spanned more than 20 years.
The captain of A-League side Melbourne Victory cited his growing frustration at his inability to keep pace with the game as the motivation behind his intention to call it quits in June at the end of the club’s Asian Champions League group stage campaign.
It means his final A-League match was the infamous clash against Melbourne Heart, where he was sent off and handed an eight-match ban for a shocking tackle on Adrian Zahra.
Muscat’s career has been dogged by controversy, usually involving on-field tackles.
Brutal challenges on Christophe Dugarry, Craig Bellamy and Matty Holmes, the last of which cost him substantially in a civil suit, saw him branded one of the most-feared defenders in England.
He broke down in tears when thanking both his Melbourne Victory team-mates and his family.
Muscat played for Crystal Place, Millwall and Wolves in England as well as Rangers in Scotland before returning home to captain Victory for the past six seasons.
He said the demands of keeping up with the rigours of training and playing in the A-League were beyond him and he could no longer maintain his high standards of professionalism.
“There has been a lot of consultation and deliberation. I’ve come to the conclusion it was time to go and I will be doing that at the completion of the Champions League,” he said.
“I think the one word when I kept thinking about, I kept recalling how frustrated I’ve become. When I say frustration, it was about turning up to training and not being able to do what I’ve asked of other people throughout my career, to put in and give 100 percent.”
“Increasingly over time I have not been able to do that. Then when I was able to do that, it took me a couple of days to recover. It was a catch 22 in preparing for football games.”
“It’s been over the last two years, not over the last month, two months, I’ve been constantly asking myself questions after the games and after training. In the last three to four months, a lot of the answers have been no. The negative side of things has built up to the frustration of not being able to do what I asked my team-mate to do,” he said.
“Enough is enough and the time has come.”
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While his playing style has drawn plenty of criticism over his career, Muscat said he does not regret his approach to the game.
“In terms of how I am going to be remembered, I understand I’ve had my critics throughout my career. I consider myself to have had a successful career,” he said.
Muscat played 122 A-League matches and represented the Socceroos 51 times over 12 years.
Muscat, who has already been sharing his playing duties with an assistant coaching role, is expected to become a full-time assistant next season.
Striker Fernando Torres is happy to put talk over his Liverpool future on hold until after the World Cup.
Torres' Anfield future has been brought into doubt following his claim that the ailing Reds need to sign "four or five" new players to bounce back from a disappointing season which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League table.
Chelsea have been linked with a £50million move for the Spain striker in recent weeks.
However, Torres insists he is thinking only of the World Cup in South Africa and shaking off a knee injury in time to be fit for Spain's opening game against Switzerland on June 16.
Speaking about the situation at Anfield with the club up for sale, Torres said:"I know the situation, I speak to the chief executive (Christian Purslow) and Rafa (Benitez) every week and I am aware of what is going on.
"I have tried to stay apart from them and re-focus on the national team so when the World Cup ends, we'll see what happens."
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Torres joined Liverpool in the summer of 2007 from Atletico Madrid and has since scored 72 goals in 116 appearances despite a number of injury problems.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The higher they climb, the harder they fall. Sadly, with football being as brutal as it is these days, there is simply no time for sentiment. One day you can be flying high with your club, the next you’re old news, and you’re out on your own.
Through a combination of poor performances, long injury lay-offs or simply because they just weren’t as good as everyone thought they were, the following 10 payers have plummeted down through the football leagues, in this country and around the world.
And while some might seem harsh inclusions, it is important think about where they were, how much promise they had and how badly they have failed to achieve that, through their own fault or otherwise.
Football is now a cruel and uncaring game. Let’s exploit that. Have a cheap laugh at the expense of others. Go on…
Click on Alan Smith to unveil the top 10 fall from graces
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Karim Benzema’s solitary goal proved enough as France overcame 10-man Brazil at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
The French took full advantage of Brazilian midfielder Hernanes’ dismissal following a clumsy tackle five minutes before the interval, as Benzema bobbed up in the 54th minute to score the only goal of the game.
The hosts started brightly in Paris, with Benzema finding himself on the end of Yoann Gourcuff’s pass after nine minutes but the striker’s shot flashed just wide.
The Brazilians responded strongly and were the dominant side for much of the first period, with Alexandre Pato hitting a curling shot just over the bar before Dani Alves had his free-kick blocked.
France came close on the half-hour mark when Alou Diarra’s header from yet another Gourcuff delivery sailed just over.
The game turned in France’s favour on the 40 minute mark when Benzema tried to control a bouncing ball only to be struck by Hernanes’ flailing boot, with the Brazilian midfielder receiving his marching orders from referee Wolfgang Stark.
Numbers won out after the break, with France taking control of the match and unlucky to finish only one ahead.
Roma winger Jeremy Menez made a great run nine minutes after the interval before firing a low cross to Benzema, who gratefully tapped home from close range.
The Real Madrid striker could have had a second moments later but Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar made a brilliant reflex save from his close-range header.
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The Inter Milan shot stopper was on hand again just after the hour mark to stop a low effort from Benzema with the French pouring on the pressure as Brazil tired.
In the end the hosts settled for a timely1-0 win ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Croatia.
Denial can be a difficult thing in football. The admittance of error is something we seldom hear in the Premier League and in an industry where mistakes often cost millions, perhaps it’s easier to skew our opinions and beliefs into believing what we’re witnessing is right.
There is always a nature of blind faith supporting any football club and Liverpool fans aren’t any different from any others in the league. Although there has to be a cut off point. A backdrop of cultural and ethical implications may have shrouded the support of Luis Suarez, but there are no blurred lines in the support of Andy Carroll’s place in the team.
If Brendan Rodgers wants him out, then that is the only stance supporters should be buying into – that of footballing principles. Because at the end of the day, transfer fees, bruised pride and idyllists aren’t going to win you football games. The vision of the manager and the way his players perform in his set-up, will. Nothing else should matter.
The Andy Carroll situation has fast turned into something of a burning dilemma up at Anfield. It’s been quipped a million times, but it wasn’t the Gateshead born striker’s fault he cost £35 million. He wasn’t worth that much and probably never will be. Although the fact is that it has played its part in his difficult last 18 months at Liverpool.
But there is also a fact that you don’t become a bad player overnight. Form is temporary; class is permanent, so they say. Some may be ready to ridicule such a statement, but his time at Liverpool doesn’t mean that he can’t still become a massive Premier League success.
Carroll showed enough at Newcastle to suggest this and towards the closing stages of last season at Liverpool as well. His overwhelming gift is of course an immense aerial prowess, but he has a decent ability to hold the ball up too and a sincerely powerful shot as well. What he needs is a team that is willing to base their entire side around him. Play to his strengths and there are rewards to be reaped. It might not be tiki-taka football, but what does it matter?
There is more than one way to play football and just because Carroll epitomises the strengths of a less favourable style in today’s game, it doesn’t mean that a Premier League team can’t be successful with him in their side.
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But that also decrees that Carroll’s game isn’t going to be suited to all set-ups. And the question has to be, does Brendan Rodgers have a need for an archetypal English number nine in his new Liverpool set-up? In the fluid, mobile system Rodgers will look to play, the emphasis is going to be all around possession; pass, pass and pass again. The ball is going to be kept on the deck, as opposed to launched into the air. His frontman is going to need to bestow intelligent movement and technically excellent hold up play. You can see where this is going.
You can’t force the shoe on if it doesn’t fit. If Brendan Rodgers doesn’t see Andy Carroll as part of his long-term plans, and unless he has some really quite drastic change of philosophy, then he has to be moved on. New managers arrive at clubs all the time and when they do, players who don’t fit into their conception of a team that will win football matches, are usually moved on. It doesn’t matter that it’s Andy Carroll, it doesn’t matter that he cost so much money and it doesn’t matter that Kenny Dalglish signed him either.
There is a school of thought that Brendan Rodgers is naïve in shifting Carroll without giving him a chance or looking at him in close quarters. Rodgers might learn the intricacies of Carroll’s game a bit better and there will be elements that may well surprise him.
But the bread and butter of Carroll’s game is there for the world to see. It’s not as if he is some shrinking violet with a hidden aspect of his game that has been restricted through playing out of position. Rodgers knows exactly what Carroll’s game is all about and if he doesn’t, it’s only going to be a stay of execution if he does.
This isn’t to say that there is any form of bad feeling around Carroll and not everybody wants to see the back of him. But if he was to stay, he needs to be backed to the hilt and have Rodgers craft his team around him. Rodgers has made the right noises about having Carroll in his team, but it’s difficult to tell whether the Northern Irishman is simply indulging in good PR. Luis Suarez will of course play a prominent part and the singing of Fabio Borini represents a tried and tested player for Rodgers. There’s no smoke without fire and if the club have indeed accepted a bid from West Ham then the gaffer must be happy to let him go. If that’s the case then Carroll is fighting a losing battle staying at Liverpool.
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When you cost your club so much money to acquire, the subsequent focus and expectation is unavoidable. Andy Carroll has become a victim of a transfer fee that he had no control over. One of the unfortunate sideshows has been the media’s continuous stirring of his situation and the added exposure certainly hasn’t done him any favours. It may seem like pedantic critique, but did a man as wily and experienced in the game as Kenny Dalglish not wonder what effect the title of most expensive British signing in history might have on Carroll? It’s academic now, but still food for thought.
But there is no more time for posturing and denial. Perhaps it’s time Rodgers made his intentions crystal clear. Because the current hesitation and indecision are only going to cost Liverpool and Andy Carroll dearly.
Carroll needs to play in a team that aren’t going to be afraid to back him all the way. Liverpool can’t pour any more time into something if their heart’s not truly in it.
Stick of twist with Andy Carroll? A simple question, but what would you do? Tell me how you see it all on Twitter, follow @samuel_antrobus and bat us your views.