Aston Villa winger Nolberto Solano is flattered to be a target for Liverpool, and has revealed he would jump at the chance of a move to Liverpool.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez is desperate to strengthen his right flank and enquired about the availability of Solano.
Reports had suggested that Benitez was hoping to tempt Villa into letting him have Solano as a makeweight in the Midlands club's bid to sign Milan Baros.
Villa are understood to have offered £6million for Baros, plus a further £500,000 in add-ons as manager David O'Leary is desperate to strengthen his strikeforce.
However, O'Leary has apparently been trumped by a bid of £8.5million from Lyon, with money burning a hole in the pockets of president Jean-Michael Aulas after the £24.4million departure of Michael Essien to Chelsea.
Although O'Leary is unaware of any offer from Liverpool for 30-year-old Solano, and Reds manager Rafael Benitez has conceded no bid has been made, the Peruvian has added fuel to the fire surrounding his future.
Villa manager David O'Leary gave the interest short shrift and insists Solano will not be leaving the club.
Solano has been an instrumental figure during his 18 months at Villa Park and the former Newcastle United man has not voiced a desire to leave.
But the 30-year-old concedes it is an honour to be wanted by Benitez, although he will leave a decision on his future in the hands of O'Leary.
"Anyone would be proud to be asked for by Benitez," said Solano.
"He is a coach that has won a lot with Valencia and now with Liverpool.
"But the decision does not depend on me, but the club, with whom I have a contract for the next year."
"It is fantastic when a big club comes in for a player," said Solano.
"Ask any player in the world if they would love to play for a big club, and everyone would love to.
"I won't say 'no, I don't want to go to Liverpool' because they are a big club who want to challenge to win titles, and any player would love to go to Liverpool.
"If you ask any player what they would do if a big club came in for them - Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool - everybody would love to go there."
Solano has less than a year remaining on his current contract, however, there has been no suggestion of Villa opening talks on a new deal, although O'Leary intimated yesterday the club were happy to wait until the turn of the year.
Solano, though, appears to be keeping his options open as he added in the Evening Mail: "I only have one more year left and as to whether I stay at Villa, nobody has said anything to me yet.
"To be honest, I just want to only play and we will see what happens. I do not have to renew my contract until the end of the season, until June probably.
"The club could go four or five months to decide what they want to do with me, whether to sign a contract or let me go somewhere.
"But for the moment I want to stay [in the Premier League] and to play here because the Premier League is very exciting for me. Everybody loves it right now.
"But it's not in my hands. It is down to the manager and the club. Of course, if I had the chance of another contract at Villa it would interest me.
"I was very pleased with this club when I moved here and you see the response when I still try to do my best for this club."
Though O'Leary is anxious to bring Baros to the club from Liverpool, he would be reluctant to allow Solano to head in the opposite direction, particularly as the Peruvian would be looked upon as the man to create chances for the Czech striker.
Friday, August 19, 2005
LFC v Sunderland Preview
Liverpool welcome newly promoted Sunderland to Anfield for the first home Premiership fixture of the season.
Mick McCarthy's side suffered disappointment in their first game as they went down 3-1 at home to a Danny Murphy inspired Charlton Athletic.
On loan Liverpool midfielder Anthony Le Tallec didn't feature against Charlton and was an unused substitute. Le Tallec won't figure at Anfield on Saturday as Premier League rules prevent him playing against his registered team.
Manager Mick McCarthy was dealt a bitter blow when it was confirmed that full-back Stephen Wright would be out of action for three months after suffering medial knee ligament damage in training.
Sunderland have suffered another injury blow with striker Kevin Kyle ruled out until the New Year after a second hip operation.
Wright misses out on a first return to Anfield since a £3million move three years ago and with left-back George McCartney just returning to full-time training, McCarthy will hand a Premiership debut to Nyron Nosworthy.
One of 10 newcomers to the squad, 24-year-old Nosworthy was signed on a free transfer from Gillingham and made his 200th career appearance as a substitute in last week's home defeat by Charlton.
"Stephen Wright will be a huge loss to us," said McCarthy. "His personality as well as his character around the place will be missed.
"He puts everything into his game and while it's disappointing for us, it's more disappointing for him after all the hard work he put in last season to get us into the Premiership."
Defender George McCartney and goalkeeper Ben Alnwick have resumed full-time training while utility defender Danny Collins is also making good progress.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is expected to field an unchanged side for the visit of the Black Cats.
Benitez still has long term injuries to Djimi Traore, Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch, and although Florent Sinama-Pongolle made his comeback from a knee problem in the reserves this week, it is unlikely he will be considered for first team action yet.
Jamie Carragher, who needed an injection in his mouth because of an infected tooth before he could play for England in midweek, is expected to play.
The last time Sunderland were at Anfield they were in turmoil and relegation was stirring them in the face. That was in November 2002 and Howard Wilkinson was in charge of the team. Liverpool had so many chances but no matter how many they created they just couldn't put the ball into the back of the net. Sunderland goalkeeper Jurgen Macho had the game of his life.
Prediction
Liverpool 3 - Sunderland 1
Teams:
Liverpool: (from) Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Whitbread, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Cisse, Sissoko, Gerrard, Hamann, Zenden, Alonso, Morientes, Baros, Carson, Riise, Potter.
Sunderland: (from) Davis, Nosworthy, Arca, Breen, Caldwell, Whitehead, Robinson, Welsh, Lawrence, Miller, Gray, Stead, Brown, Elliott, J Murphy, Piper.
Mick McCarthy's side suffered disappointment in their first game as they went down 3-1 at home to a Danny Murphy inspired Charlton Athletic.
On loan Liverpool midfielder Anthony Le Tallec didn't feature against Charlton and was an unused substitute. Le Tallec won't figure at Anfield on Saturday as Premier League rules prevent him playing against his registered team.
Manager Mick McCarthy was dealt a bitter blow when it was confirmed that full-back Stephen Wright would be out of action for three months after suffering medial knee ligament damage in training.
Sunderland have suffered another injury blow with striker Kevin Kyle ruled out until the New Year after a second hip operation.
Wright misses out on a first return to Anfield since a £3million move three years ago and with left-back George McCartney just returning to full-time training, McCarthy will hand a Premiership debut to Nyron Nosworthy.
One of 10 newcomers to the squad, 24-year-old Nosworthy was signed on a free transfer from Gillingham and made his 200th career appearance as a substitute in last week's home defeat by Charlton.
"Stephen Wright will be a huge loss to us," said McCarthy. "His personality as well as his character around the place will be missed.
"He puts everything into his game and while it's disappointing for us, it's more disappointing for him after all the hard work he put in last season to get us into the Premiership."
Defender George McCartney and goalkeeper Ben Alnwick have resumed full-time training while utility defender Danny Collins is also making good progress.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is expected to field an unchanged side for the visit of the Black Cats.
Benitez still has long term injuries to Djimi Traore, Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch, and although Florent Sinama-Pongolle made his comeback from a knee problem in the reserves this week, it is unlikely he will be considered for first team action yet.
Jamie Carragher, who needed an injection in his mouth because of an infected tooth before he could play for England in midweek, is expected to play.
The last time Sunderland were at Anfield they were in turmoil and relegation was stirring them in the face. That was in November 2002 and Howard Wilkinson was in charge of the team. Liverpool had so many chances but no matter how many they created they just couldn't put the ball into the back of the net. Sunderland goalkeeper Jurgen Macho had the game of his life.
Prediction
Liverpool 3 - Sunderland 1
Teams:
Liverpool: (from) Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Whitbread, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Cisse, Sissoko, Gerrard, Hamann, Zenden, Alonso, Morientes, Baros, Carson, Riise, Potter.
Sunderland: (from) Davis, Nosworthy, Arca, Breen, Caldwell, Whitehead, Robinson, Welsh, Lawrence, Miller, Gray, Stead, Brown, Elliott, J Murphy, Piper.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Owen on verge of Liverpool return
The Times says Michael Owen's return to Liverpool is 'imminent' after 'his former club made official contact with Real Madrid.'
The papers adds, 'The transfer, expected to be for about £12 million, is likely to be financed by the departure from Anfield of Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros.'
Baros is set to join Aston Villa for £6.5m in the next week, while Cisse is an apparent target for Lyon. Their manager, Gerard Houllier, signed Cisse while at Pool, and has money to spend after the sale of Michael Essien.
Considering their lack of forward resources, Newcastle have also inevitably been linked with Cisse after admitting defeat in their pursuit of Owen.
The papers adds, 'The transfer, expected to be for about £12 million, is likely to be financed by the departure from Anfield of Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros.'
Baros is set to join Aston Villa for £6.5m in the next week, while Cisse is an apparent target for Lyon. Their manager, Gerard Houllier, signed Cisse while at Pool, and has money to spend after the sale of Michael Essien.
Considering their lack of forward resources, Newcastle have also inevitably been linked with Cisse after admitting defeat in their pursuit of Owen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)