EPL Gossip Wednesday May 19th
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits his dream is to coach Spain but reiterates his immediate future is at Anfield. “Right now I have four years left in my contract with Liverpool and I am very happy there,” he told www.as.com. “But, of course, in a few years, once [Spain coach Vicente] Del Bosque ends his work, I would like to be Spain coach.” (1329 BST) Full story: www.as.com (in Spanish)
Considering the events of the last two years coaching Spain would be a nice change of pace for Rafa Benitez. Also have a feeling it’s the Liverpool owners dream for Rafa to be coaching Spain as well.
Arsenal defender Sol Campbell wants to remain with the Gunners after returning to his old club on a short-term deal in January, but admits approaches from Celtic are flattering. “I worked very hard to get back to my best and to play in the Champions League again, and I would love the opportunity to continue at Arsenal,” Campbell said. www.espnsoccernet.com.
Sol Campbell didn’t do himself any harm during his time at Arsenal last season. Sign him up and make him play the role Mikaël Silvestre has the last couple of years.
Juventus will take Liverpool’s Alberto Aquilani back to Italy in a swap deal involving Felipe Melo (1300 BST). mirrorfootball.co.uk
Would be a transfer of two of the biggest transfer busts of the season. I do still like Aquilani, Melo not so much.
Manchester United are prepared to allow Anderson leave Old Trafford in a player-swap-plus-cash deal to land £38m-rated Benfica winger Angel di Maria. Daily Mail
Not going to happen. Anderson isn’t even better than the player who Benfica currently has playing in midfield. Ramires is a Brazilian international, Anderson is not.
Manchester City have entered the race to sign Bayern Munich’s £50m-rated winger Franck Ribery. Barcelona and Real Madrid have dropped out because of the player’s personal problems, thus leaving City and Manchester United as the only serious interested parties. Footylatest.com
As Mr T would say I pity the fool who pays 50 million for Ribery.
Ajax have told Manchester United that it will cost £35m to persuade them to sell Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez this summer. Daily Mirror
Quotes like these are why Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out on the transfer market yesterday. Can’t blame Ajax however for putting that value on Luis Suarez.
The potential stumbling block surrounding the return of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona could involve the transfer fee, with Arsenal not prepared to accept less than £50m. Footylatest.com
Nor should they. Hope Arsenal gets every penny coming to them.
Barcelona are ready to spend £70m to thwart Chelsea’s interest and bring Liverpool’s Spanish international striker Fernando Torres to the Nou Camp. Daily Express
Did some Arab Oil man take over Barcelona in the last couple of weeks? Ahhh no. it’s presidential election season.
Liverpool are preparing a double swoop for Manchester City’s Stephen Ireland and Chelsea’s Joe Cole. The Anfield club are confident they have sufficient funds to finance both fees, and hope to persuade Cole to take a lower wage. Footylatest.com
Keep liking all the players Liverpool are being linked with. Both Stephen Ireland and Joe Cole would be a great fit.
Owen Hargreaves wants showdown talks with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to know what he told England boss Fabio Capello about his fitness, after the midfielder was left out of the England World Cup squad. The Sun
Owen Hargreaves hasn’t played in nearly two seasons. Pipe down and start repaying the massive transfer fee Manchester United paid for your services.