There Is Only One Sinnacle

It may of taken two years but it looks like the divorce of Rafa Benitez and Liverpool is about to take place as Liverpool have offered Benitez 3 million to walk away from the current 4 years 16 million dollars left on his contract.

Typical of Liverpool who have messed this one up as well blindsiding Rafa who was on vacation with this offer. I wonder if Rafa regrets not making a serious move for the Real Madrid job last year? There was no denying Rafa truely loved being the Liverpool coach but aside from hitting a home run signing Fernando Torres his transfer record was spotty at best. Rafa timing of putting heat on the owners when Liverpool were misfiring was also another trick he often pulled out of his sleeve.

I have no problem with Liverpool getting rid of Rafa and deep down I’m sure some Liverpool would also feel the same way. Champions League victory aside, Rafa was given the job to take back the league title and Liverpool are no closer to doing that now as they were six years ago. What will have Liverpool fans in a state of panic is who will replace Rafa Benitez? Which top coach is going to want to come into Anfield with the club for sale, owners who either have taken away the chequebook or don’t have anything in the bank to spend? There is so much up in the air at Liverpool right now and for all his faults Liverpool fans have seen Benitez as a steady influence and now he seems to be gone.

I know it’s a friendly but it makes me happy to see my country play well. Nice little chip there Nani for the 3rd goal. You carry that end of season Manchester United form to the World Cup.

Germany defender Jerome Boateng confirms he will complete a £10.46m move to Manchester City from Hamburg before departing for the World Cup in South Africa. (Press Association)

This deal sure is dragging for along time. Most expected this move to be done a month ago.

Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Lyon’s defensive midfielder Jean Makoun this summer.
Full story: caughtoffside.com

Most people know how I feel about Arsenal defensive midfielders. Jean Makoun would be an improvement in this area for Arsenal.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is plastered across the front of today’s Marca, with the paper claiming that new boss Jose Mourinho has identified the England international as the man to lead his Real Madrid revolution. Daily Mirror

Steven Gerrard would be easier to sign than Frank Lampard would be. Plus in the back of Jose Mourinho’s mind I’m sure he’d love to win a league title with Gerrard just to rub it into Rafa.

Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy could be given to Arsenal on loan in order to lower the price of Cesc Fabregas, who the Catalan side have targeted as their chief summer signing. Daily Mirror

Dmytro Chygrynskiy is a good player but he couldn’t justify his price tag last year for Barcelona and he wouldn’t be able to justify being the player brought back in any Cesc Fabregas deal.

Inter Milan right-back Maicon is top of Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini’s summer wish list, according to the Brazilian’s agent. skysports.com

It’s either Real Madrid or Inter for Maicon, don’t see him wanting to leave a European champion for Manchester City.

City have reportedly made a 35m Euro bid for Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic , although the offer doesn’t appear to be high enough to land the Swede. imscouting.com

I do think however Manchester City can offer enough money and enough of a challenge to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Aston Villa will make a £5m move for Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha. Daily Mirror

A year or two under Martin O’Neill and Onuoha could find himself as an England international (if he doesn’t decide to play for Nigeria first)

Chelsea’s Slovakian World Cup winger Miroslav Stoch is ready to sign for Turkish giants Galatasaray in a surprise £2.5m deal. Daily Mirror

Stoch may turn out to be a good player but Chelsea won’t even know he is gone.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is apparently considering a move for Palermo’s impressive young centre back Simon Kjaer this summer. caughtoffside.com

For the last 12 months been waiting for some big club to finally sign Kjaer.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is apparently considering a move for Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz and could offer midfielder Yossi Benayoun in part-exchange. caughtoffside.com

Torres and Roque Santa Cruz could make an interesting one-two punch for Liverpool.

Fulham are in talks to sign former Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio on a free transfer. The Brazilian recently failed to agree terms with Liverpool on a pay-as-you- play deal. Daily Mail

When a team offers you a pay as you play deal it means they really don’t want you back. Can’t blame Liverpool too much however as Aurelio was hurt for long periods of time.

Celtic have won the race to sign Hull’s Jimmy Bullard after the midfielder agreed to join the Scottish giants on a 12-month loan deal. Daily Mirror

Jimmy Bullard and Celtic make sense. Hope Bullard can stay on the field and prove his worth to the Parkhead faithful.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed his anger and frustration after being told by the Anfield board there will be no money to spend in the summer. Daily Mirror

If this is true the Liverpool owners are basically telling Rafa to quit. Sadly why would they bank roll Rafa with more money when he hasn’t done a great job spending it in the past plus they are looking to sell the club.

The seven players Fabio Capello has sent home are as follows

Leighton Baines
Michael Dawson
Tom Huddlestone
Scott Parker
Adam Johnson
Theo Walcott
Darren Bent

For all the stupid questions the English media lobs at players I’d love them to ask Michael Dawson how does he feel about Jamie Carragher today? Four years ago Theo Walcott didn’t earn a World Cup spot and four years later Theo Walcott still hasn’t earned a World Cup has Capello has sent the pacey Arsenal winger world. Having all the speed in the world is a great thing to have. Not being able to gasp the game isn’t. Elite players think one or two moves ahead of everyone one. With Walcott you always felt he was one to two moves behind everyone and that isn’t going to fly with a tactial coach like Capello.

ENGLAND’S 2010 WORLD CUP SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney

Bordeaux midfielder Yoann Gourcuff would prefer a move to Arsenal, despite Lyon’s willingness to meet the £21m release clause in his contract. goal.com

Unless a player as an issue with his current club it’s pretty hard to convince him to join another top club in the same league. Not sold on Gourcuff work rate for English football but the talent is sure there.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly prepared for a record breaking bid from Real Madrid for England international Wayne Rooney as newly installed Real boss Jose Mourinho looks to bring in a new set of Galaticos this summer. caughtoffside.com

Ronaldo could leave cause everyone knew he wanted to go plus the price was right. Rooney can’t leave because he is the face of Manchester United football and Real Madrid would be fools to pay a higher transfer fee for Rooney than what they bought Ronaldo for.

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport has suggested that Inter Milan will make a move for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres if their own forward Diego Milito is lured to Real Madrid by Jose Mourinho. imscouting.com

Milito is not going anywhere. Inter Milan will reward Milito with a new contract and that will be that.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed speculation linking striker Emmanuel Adebayor with a summer move from Eastlands. mcfc.co.uk

Doesn’t exactly help the transfer fee by signing yes I want him gone does it?

Manchester United are ready to make an audacious swoop to sign Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta, who is struggling to make progress with the Merseyside club over an extension to his contract, which has two years still to run. The Daily Mirror

I know why clubs doesn’t jump to sign Arteta last summer because of his knee injuries but aside from that it’s curious why Everton haven’t had to face a serious offer for such a talented player.