Liverpool FC

[The Baron]

http://www.guillembalague.com/rumore...terest+in+Mata









09/05/2011

Liverpool, City and Manchester United show interest in Mata


After a very interesting trip to Valencia, a clearer picture of the finances and futures of the stars at the club have emerged. Valencia still has to service debts in the region of €500 milion. It is manageable as long as the team qualifies for the Champions League, but even when they do, they will still need to produce and re-pay around €20-25 milion in interest and debt: and the easiest way to do that is to sell players. Basically, that means everybody at Valencia is for sale, including Juan Mata. If a club comes in with a bid of 25-30 milion for Mata, Valencia are willing to sell, but nobody has lodged a bid with the club yet.


Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have contacted Mata`s representative (his father) and the trio have all expressed varying degrees of interest in the player`s situation. Mata`s new contract contains a buy out clause of €60 million, but that will always be negotiable if both the player and the club are willing to listen to offers.
What is clear is that Valencia expect an offer at some point and so far City and Liverpool seem to have shown the greatest level of interest in him (more visits from their scouts to Mestalla or more contact with his agent, for instance). At The moment it is agame of poker, but City and Liverpool are both under the impression that the transfer depends, not so much on the player - as they think they can convince him - but on Valencia and the final fee they will demand for him. Valencia plan on approaching Real Sociedad for Griezmann if it looks like Mata is leaving.

PEPE REINA
As I Tweeted last week, Pepe Reina has decided to stay at Anfield because he believes in the new project. Liverpool are trying to buy a left back (Jose Enrique and Jose Angel of Sporting have been followed, but there are doubts over the defensive qualities of one and the maturity of the other, so no decision has been made), a centre back, a central midfielder and two wingers. Juan Mata could be one of those if Liverpool make an offer that is accepted by Valencia and if city abandon their interest in him. And at the moment, with no offer on the table from either club, that is a big if.


THE OTHER BALAGUE
By the way, it seems the `other Balague` has been inventing names and stories– he`s the Balague that exists in the imaginations of the least reliable forums where the fantasies related to what they dream they heard him saying are published (the forums where they just make it up in other words). I guess the idea is to create illusion and hope for a better season but instead what they are managing to do is to reduce the little reputation those forums have left. Good luck with that! If you cannot find my words on this site, on my Twitter, in one of my columns with my name on the byline, then I have not said it. Not that it matters much in the big scheme of things, but at least let me say what I say and not what others claim I said.

[77dave]

The best thing about a good rivalry is when both sides are at the top of their game and pushing the bar

Utd have raised the bar, time for us to improve and match them.

[The Baron]

I know it's the mirror but they do get some information right from time to time.

"The Premier League will pay out record sums in TV money this season with the bottom club guaranteed at least £37million and the champions earning more than £57million.

The bumper new overseas television deals will see top-flight clubs earning on average nearly £5million more a year than last season.

Although the Premier League have never confirmed the overall value of the overseas TV rights, it can now be calculated that they have doubled from £625million during 2007-10 to around £1.2billion over the next three seasons."

With all that money flying around for transfers the summer could be an interesting off season


http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle733928.html

[77dave]

The Reds team is: Reina, Flanagan, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Spearing, Lucas, Meireles, Kuyt, Suarez, Maxi. Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Cole, Shelvey, Poulsen, Robinson.

[The Baron]

So many starting to turn up under an attacking manager. Johnson Maxi Kuyt Lucas.

Chuffed for Shelvey for his assist.

[relaedgc]

I had a bet on us to win 3-0. Definitely didn't see 5 goals coming!

[The Baron]

Joe Cole now has to be sold. Gotta be tempted to keep Maxi

[Horneris]

King Kenny is incred.

[boldie]

incred performance...and Kuyt also delivers again.

[kinboshi]

King Kenny is incred.

So very this.

The players look like they're enjoying themselves, and the passing and movement was so sharp and crisp.  Flanagan has come into the first team and shown he can deliver, but I bet he's been helped immensely by coming into a side that's playing like that and high on confidence.  Probably would be a different story if he'd been drafted in to the first XI at the start of the season (and that's not a slight on him).

I was at a gig last night, so recorded the match and settled down at midnight to start watching it.  I'd managed to avoid the score, and thought that I'd probably watch some of the game on fast-forward.  I ended up watching pretty much all of it at normal speed.  Obviously a great start and then just a joy to watch the players doing the 'pass and move' under Dalglish.

Suarez = different gravy
Kuyt = Has now scored in 5 consecutive league games, and was all over the park as usual.  Showed again why he's such a vital player for Liverpool
Maxi = is that the twin-brother of the player who was playing for us before Dalglish was in charge?  Showing the class we'd expected from him before he signed
Lucas = imperious
Spearing = loving the chance he's getting, and grabbing it with both hands
Mereiles = very versatile and made for the style of football Dalglish has got the team playing
Johnson = when he plays like that, he looks good value!  More please
Flanagan = even better at left-back than right back? Problem solved - probably far too early to tell
Carragher = 666 games, take a boo son
Skrtel = looking far better in the current defensive line-up (no coincidence Carragher is there alongside him)
Pepe = not at fault for either goal, and one of the best around
Shelvey = Always looked like he was star potential, if a little raw.  Showed he's maturing and going to do big things at Liverpool
Cole = I saw him come on as sub, but then didn't see him again (I hear he might be the change in a deal with Spurs for Lennon)

Dalglish =

Seriously buzzing after that performance against a side who have been on form, especially at home.  Gerrard and Carroll still to come back into the side as well.  Bodes well for next season...but first we've got the small matter of Spurs at Anfield this weekend.  Should be one hell of a game.

[millidonk]

King Kenny is incred.

So very this.

The players look like they're enjoying themselves, and the passing and movement was so sharp and crisp.  Flanagan has come into the first team and shown he can deliver, but I bet he's been helped immensely by coming into a side that's playing like that and high on confidence.  Probably would be a different story if he'd been drafted in to the first XI at the start of the season (and that's not a slight on him).

I was at a gig last night, so recorded the match and settled down at midnight to start watching it.  I'd managed to avoid the score, and thought that I'd probably watch some of the game on fast-forward.  I ended up watching pretty much all of it at normal speed.  Obviously a great start and then just a joy to watch the players doing the 'pass and move' under Dalglish.

Suarez = different gravy
Kuyt = Has now scored in 5 consecutive league games, and was all over the park as usual.  Showed again why he's such a vital player for Liverpool
Maxi = is that the twin-brother of the player who was playing for us before Dalglish was in charge?  Showing the class we'd expected from him before he signed
Lucas = imperious
Spearing = loving the chance he's getting, and grabbing it with both hands
Mereiles = very versatile and made for the style of football Dalglish has got the team playing
Johnson = when he plays like that, he looks good value!  More please
Flanagan = even better at left-back than right back? Problem solved - probably far too early to tell
Carragher = 666 games, take a boo son
Skrtel = looking far better in the current defensive line-up (no coincidence Carragher is there alongside him)
Pepe = not at fault for either goal, and one of the best around
Shelvey = Always looked like he was star potential, if a little raw.  Showed he's maturing and going to do big things at Liverpool
Cole = I saw him come on as sub, but then didn't see him again (I hear he might be the change in a deal with Spurs for Lennon)

Dalglish =

Seriously buzzing after that performance against a side who have been on form, especially at home.  Gerrard and Carroll still to come back into the side as well.  Bodes well for next season...but first we've got the small matter of Spurs at Anfield this weekend.  Should be one hell of a game.

Lennon at Liverpool would be amazing!! I think Carra has past it though. Too slow and gives away too many freekicks imo. Have and will always love him, but i would prefer some fresh blood, someone with pace who you can always rely on for start of next season.

Hope we carry this form over and keep it going for the duration.

[kinboshi]

Carragher was never the quickest, and I'd like to see the stats on the number of free-kicks he gives away - compared to other central defenders.  It's something that comes with the territory isn't it?  His reading of the game is exceptional and that's why he's in the right position to make the last-ditch tackle or interception so many times, and in addition to that is the marshalling of the defence that he provides.  Skrtel looks like a lost lamb with Tourette's when Carragher isn't playing.  I think he has another season at the top level well within him, and then he'll be 'phased out'.

Who to take over?  Kelly and Wilson are young and waiting in the wings (although they are better suited to the central positions ), and if Agger can stay fit he'd be a first choice there of course.  Do we need to sign someone, or do we have the personnel already at the club?

[MANTIS01]

I think it's essential Liverpool invest in central defenders over the Summer. It's clear there's been a big upturn since Dalglish took over but people shouldn't get carried away. What Dalglish has done is lift the malaise around the club and he's been able to do that because he's Kenny Dalglish. Just like Kevin Keegan could do at Newcastle. The honeymoon wont last forever though. Last night's performance was exceptional but it was against Fulham. If Liverpool want to be top 6 they should be dispatching Fulham. But if Liverpool want to be top 4 however it's a different kettle of fish with much tougher games to be won away from home. Sorry but Kyriakos, Carra on his last legs, Skrtel, sick note Agger, and a couple of kids just wont cut the mustard at the highest level in the toughest games consistently enough. Now that Liverpool look classy going forward again I think it's optimistic to think the back line is sufficient if you have CL aspirations. I expect Cahill to arrive some time soon.

[TheChipPrince]

Whats the expected war chest for the summer?

[kinboshi]

Whats the expected war chest for the summer?

No figures have been mentioned yet, and I guess they won't until the main signing is done and Dalglish is made the permanent manager.