Liverpool must be so tempting for Ashley Young. I can actually see him staying at Villa Park because he's regularly getting first team football there and seems happy in Birmingham:).

Internet was cut off like 5 or 6 days before our new internet came..

I have sky in my room now to :)

Internet was cut off like 5 or 6 days before our new internet came..

I have sky in my room now to :)

Ooh thats brill:D.

Omg another transfer embargo and another tax bill :bored: what the hell is happening down there?!

Plus who's Danny Drinkwater? We're linked with him, what a surname :laugh:

**** sake Torres better not leave.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Rafae van der Vaart.

Lol wouldnt you love that nate!

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.

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.

Monaco Keeper Ruffier, meanwhile, has been touted as a potential French star of the future as Laurent Blanc prepares to make wholesale changes to the national squad.

Wenger is willing to make an offer in the region of 10 million euros (£8.2 million) to secure the 23-year-old who is also interesting Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Monaco Keeper Ruffier, meanwhile, has been touted as a potential French star of the future as Laurent Blanc prepares to make wholesale changes to the national squad.

Wenger is willing to make an offer in the region of 10 million euros (£8.2 million) to secure the 23-year-old who is also interesting Bayern Munich and Juventus.

Chelsea midfielder Deco has already agreed personal terms with Fluminense, according to the president of the group that owns the Brazilian club.

The Brazil-born Portugal international has long been expected to leave Stamford Bridge and he said in the last domestic season that he wanted to return to South America.

That could soon become reality as Fluminense claim that discussions with Deco have reached a positive conclusion and that all that is left to address is a deal with Chelsea and the 32-year-old’s medical.

“As Deco himself said, the deal is well under way,” said Celso Barros, the president of the group which owns Fluminense, a club based in Rio de Janeiro.

Medical tests

“It depends only on him being released by Chelsea and passing the medical tests, because the salary and length of contract have already been agreed.

“We will not talk this Wednesday, but in principle Deco will go to London to try to expedite his release with Chelsea.

“That done, he has asked Fluminense for at least a week to be with his children in Brazil and then he will report for medical tests and to start training.” (Sky Sports)

Rafa Benitez hopes to take Glen Johnson or Gareth Bale to Inter Milan as a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Maicon.
The Italian champions are ready to cave in on their Brazil right back’s desire to be reunited with Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu and are expected to do a deal for about £25million with the Spaniards.

Inter had been hoping for nearer £30m – £10m more than Madrid’s valuation of the 28-year-old – but the European champions know that Maicon’s heart is set on following Mourinho.
Benitez sees his former Liverpool man Johnson as a like-for-like replacement as a defender who is comfortable getting forward down the right flank.
An alternative would be Tottenham Hotspur defender Bale, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, even though the Wales international operates down the opposite flank.
Argentina veteran Javier Zanetti and 19-year-old rising star Davide Santon have both played at left back but are equally comfortable down the right, opening the way for Inter to bid for Bale.
A move for either of the Barclays Premier League stars will be hard to complete. Bale, 20, is highly regarded in Italy and has also been tracked by AC Milan and Juventus.
However, Harry Redknapp is keen to hold on to the 20-year-old and reports in Italy claim that Spurs scared off Italian suitors in January by quoting an asking price approaching £20m. (Daily Mail)

Arsenal are set to sell Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo to make room for ex-Chelsea star Joe Cole, according to The Mirror.

As Goal.com UK exclusively revealed previously, the 28-year will move the Emirates on a three-year deal, for £80,000 a week imminently.

This expense will stretch the wage bill and manager Arsene Wenger will be forced to balance the books by selling some of his fringe players.

Both Eduardo and Rosicky have struggled for form and fitness in recent years, while their first-team chances will be threatened further by Cole’s arrival.

Aston Villa have been linked with the Croatia international, while a return to the Bundesliga could be on the cards for Rosicky. (Goal.com)

Arsenal are set to sell Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo to make room for ex-Chelsea star Joe Cole, according to The Mirror.

As Goal.com UK exclusively revealed previously, the 28-year will move the Emirates on a three-year deal, for £80,000 a week imminently.

This expense will stretch the wage bill and manager Arsene Wenger will be forced to balance the books by selling some of his fringe players.

Both Eduardo and Rosicky have struggled for form and fitness in recent years, while their first-team chances will be threatened further by Cole’s arrival.

Aston Villa have been linked with the Croatia international, while a return to the Bundesliga could be on the cards for Rosicky. (Goal.com)

Ignoring his age and the price, no other player can give us what Gerrard does. There might be other players out there that are more classy, but their heart wouldn't be in it like Gerrard's is. Look at Robinho at Man City, he's clearly an amazing player but he just doesn't care about the club and played ****e for them because of that, same happened with us last year with Aqualani. It's too much of a risk to sell our best player and bring in a foreign player that doesn't give a crap about the club.

And when it comes to the money... Mascherano is supposed to be going to Barcelona for 25 million anyway. Benayoun already left and brought in 5 million. There's the 30 we're being offered. And I can't see Aqualani staying, or Babel. Probably not Ngog either.

Arsenal are expected to complete the £10million signing of Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny later this week.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been chasing the player for some time but only now is a deal on the verge of going through after Lorient found a replacement for their outgoing star.
Lorient are set to sign Bruno Manga from Ligue Two side Angers SCO and as soon as the deal goes through they will allow Koscielny to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are already thought to have agreed terms with the player and now just need to sort out the fee with Lorient, who want an initial £8.5million plus £1.5million in add ons.

Arsenal are expected to complete the £10million signing of Lorient defender Laurent Koscielny later this week.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been chasing the player for some time but only now is a deal on the verge of going through after Lorient found a replacement for their outgoing star.
Lorient are set to sign Bruno Manga from Ligue Two side Angers SCO and as soon as the deal goes through they will allow Koscielny to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are already thought to have agreed terms with the player and now just need to sort out the fee with Lorient, who want an initial £8.5million plus £1.5million in add ons.

At least that will be some good news for Liverpool fans.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is furious at losing out to Manchester City for David Silva.

The Sunday Mirror says Fergie saw Silva as an ideal successor to Paul Scholes and was planning to use the Spaniard as a creative central midfielder.

But United were blown away by the transfer fee City handed to Valencia and the £150,000-a-week wages that dwarfs anything currently on offer at Old Trafford.


150k :o

Spanish press: Ferguson reignites Benzema chase with £25 million offer

Spanish publication Marca are reporting that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is preparing a £25 million bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

The 22-year-old endured a torrid debut season at the Bernabeu, but Manchester United have maintained a strong interest in the France international even though the former Lyon forward rejected Sir Alex Ferguson advances last summer in favour of a move to Real Madrid. The striker’s peripheral role in La Liga led to his surprise omission from Raymond Domenech’s doomed World Cup squad, and Marca suggest the precocious Frenchman is considering a move to Old Trafford in an effort to reignite his flagging career.

The well respected newspaper intimates Manchester United will offer Real Madrid £25 million in an effort to lure Benzema to the Premier League, with Sir Alex Ferguson desperate to alleviate the goal scoring burden currently shouldered by Wayne Rooney.

The form of Old Trafford’s latest recruit, Javier Hernandez, during the World Cup finals will have encouraged Ferguson, but Manchester United’s fans will be desperate to see their beleaguered owners respond to the influx of world stars at their bitter rivals Manchester City.

Raymond Domenech has assumed at least partial responsibility for France’s dramatic World Cup exit in South Africa, conceding that he picked the wrong players for the task in the first place.

Eyebrows were raised when Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Sevilla’s Julien Escude and in-form Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri were all omitted from his squad of 23 players to travel to the competition, and now Domenech has accepted that some of his critics may have been right in the first place.

The former coach — who has made way for Laurent Blanc, whose appointment is expected to be formalised on Friday — spoke in front of the National Assembly regarding the debacle on Wednesday. Though his words were behind closed doors on that occasion, he has since told the media that errors were made.

“The portrayal of France is unacceptable,” he confessed.

“I do not know the bond between the individuals and I assume my responsibilities. I regret that I was mistaken in choosing the players I took in the list of 23.”

Les Bleus embarrassed themselves on and off the field in South Africa as a series of debacles, including a strike from the players, led to their elimination from the group stages.

Raymond Domenech has assumed at least partial responsibility for France’s dramatic World Cup exit in South Africa, conceding that he picked the wrong players for the task in the first place.

Eyebrows were raised when Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Sevilla’s Julien Escude and in-form Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri were all omitted from his squad of 23 players to travel to the competition, and now Domenech has accepted that some of his critics may have been right in the first place.

The former coach — who has made way for Laurent Blanc, whose appointment is expected to be formalised on Friday — spoke in front of the National Assembly regarding the debacle on Wednesday. Though his words were behind closed doors on that occasion, he has since told the media that errors were made.

“The portrayal of France is unacceptable,” he confessed.

“I do not know the bond between the individuals and I assume my responsibilities. I regret that I was mistaken in choosing the players I took in the list of 23.”

Les Bleus embarrassed themselves on and off the field in South Africa as a series of debacles, including a strike from the players, led to their elimination from the group stages.

Reports are that Diego Maradona has quit as Argentina manager:hugesmile:.

Torres exit denied...

Chels.. Drinkwater is one of the upcoming players that United have:p.