Manchester City are targeting an amazing summer move for Liverpool’s Luis Suárez

According to the newspaper MARCA, Manchester City are targeting a sensational summer move for Liverpool’s Luis Suárez. The citizens have been keeping a tab on the Uruguayan hit man since a while now.

It will not be so easy for them to attract Suarez as Real Madrid is also been said to be interested in the striker. Liverpool have already shown their intentions of keeping Suarez at Anfield by offering him a new lucrative contract, which the player signed early this season.

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Gerrard signs Liverpool contract extension

Liverpool veteran Steven Gerrard has signed a contract extension with a view to ending his career at Anfield.

The Reds icon, 33 years old, is set to enter his 16th season in professional football with the Reds in 2013-14.

"I think everyone knows what it means to me," Gerrard told the club's official website. "I've been here that long and so, to extend, it's a big day for me and I'm really happy for myself and my family. It's great news.

"It lets me know the club thinks an awful lot of me and want me here.

"I'm glad it's all done and it's happened at the right time before the season, so I can just focus on playing as well as I can."

Managing director Ian Ayre is delighted to have secured the Anfield hero's future for what he hopes will be "until the end of his career", adding: "It's fantastic for everyone - the club, Steven and the fans.

"He is - and always has been - such a big part of Liverpool. Particularly in this day and age, it's rather unique to find a local player who has given his whole career to his club.

"We're pleased today to add an extension to his existing agreement and that keeps him here until the end of his career.

"We've said what we'll do in two years' time is review it again and see how happy Steven is. We seem to always be happy with him, so hopefully we'll just continue in that vein."

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De Boer opens door to Eriksen exit

Ajax coach Frank de Boer has admitted he would not prevent Christian Eriksen from leaving the club this summer.

The Danish playmaker, who has just one year left on his contract at the Amsterdam Arena has been heavily linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool amongst others.

And De Boer says he would let the 21-year-old move to Anfield if he chose to do so. 

"It is up to Christian what he wants," the Dutchman told reporters.

"If he feels good going to Liverpool, then it is up to him. I would want nothing more than having him with us for a few more years.

"But we realise the interest in this kind of player is huge. And I can also understand that he wants to make another step in his career. I can't stop him."

Eriksen first moved to Ajax as a teenager back in 2008.

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Liverpool gunning for the top four - Coutinho

Coutinho insists last season's impressive finish to the Premier League season has left Liverpool feeling confident of mounting a top-four challenge this term.

Brendan Rodgers' men lost just one of their last 16 matches in the league campaign, with the Brazilian No.10 and fellow January signing Daniel Sturridge at the heart of the revival.

And Coutinho is adamant this form means the Merseysiders will head into the new season full of belief in their ability to return Champions League football to Anfield.

"Some new players have arrived to help us and the team finished well last year, so we hope to be able to finish within the top four," he told the club's official website.

"That's what we have always fought for, but we should think on a game-by-game basis because the competition is very long and we have to sustain good performances throughout the whole season."

Coutinho wowed the Anfield faithful with some dazzling trickery and vision last season, and the 21-year-old revealed the secret of his success is his laid back nature on the pitch.

"I always try to be relaxed, always play football and enjoy myself because what I like doing most is to play football, so I'm not concerned with pressure or such things," he added.

"I just try to enjoy myself on the field and always do my best to help the team.

"I'll work as hard as I've always done, always trying to improve each day as much as I can and always trying to learn from the more experienced players and the manager. Always working hard is what is most important."

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Suso joins Almeria on loan from Liverpool

Liverpool have announced that midfielder Suso has joined Almeria on a season-long loan deal.

The 19-year-old, who shone with Spain at the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey this summer, has fallen down the Reds pecking order following the arrival of countrymen Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas.

He will now seek to gain regular first-team experience with the newly-promoted Liga side.

Suso moved to Anfield from Cadiz in the summer of 2010 and went on to make 20 appearances in all competitions under Brendan Rodgers last season.

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Arsenal prepare €40m Suarez bid

Arsene Wenger's main focus has now switched to the controversial Liverpool forward, as the Gunners continue to struggle to agree a fee with Real Madrid for Gonzalo Higuain.

Arsenal are preparing a €40.7 million offer for wantaway Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

The Gunners will make a concerted push to sign the Uruguay international after contacting the Merseyside club last week about his availability.

There were reports on Monday that Arsenal had made a €34.9m bid for Suarez but the the north London outfit are ready to pay up to €40.7m for the Reds attacker.

It is understood that Arsene Wenger has switched his main focus to capturing Suarez because Arsenal are still struggling to agree a fee with Real Madrid for Gonzalo Higuain.

The Gunners do not anticipate making any signings before they depart for their pre-season tour of Asia on Thursday, but they are actively trying recruit a marquee striker.

Suarez is regarded by Wenger as an upgrade on Higuain, who came close to joining Arsenal at the end of last week after they made an improved offer of €26.9m.

However, Madrid are holding out for €29.7m for the Argentine, and, although Arsenal's interest in Higuain is still alive and a deal has not been ruled out, Wenger has decided to explore other elite options.

With the biggest transfer kitty in Arsenal's history available to him this summer, the Frenchman sanctioned the shock move for Suarez last week.

The Gunners' enquiry was met with a 'hands-off' warning by Liverpool, who are fighting to hold on to a player who has spoken frequently this summer of his interest in a move, most specifically to Real Madrid.

Arsenal will now make a concerted push for Suarez after learning from the Uruguayan's camp that he is interested in a move to the Emirates as he pursues his ambition of playing Champions League football next season.

In an interview given to the Uruguayan radio station Sport 890 on Tuesday, Suarez claimed that "two or three clubs" want to sign him and that he values interest from Arsenal.

He laughed off reported interest from Chelsea but admitted he is prepared to interrupt a holiday in his native Uruguay should a potential transfer develop.

"Are there any concrete options? No, so far there hasn't been any. There are two or three clubs who I think are willing and the club knows that.

"I have to present myself on the July 21 with Liverpool for their tour of Australia but no one knows what could happen. I've already said what I have to say, and initially I have to be there on July 21 but maybe a phone call one day can change all your plans.

"For now everything is going well. I am very calm but initially I am meant to present myself on July 21 but, like I said, no one knows what can happen."

There is understood to be a clause in Suarez’s contract that allows him to ask for permission to speak to other clubs if they make a €46.5m offer. However, Liverpool are believed to want €58m for their prize asset.

Intriguingly, Suarez’s stance on wishing to leave England has appeared to have softened in the wake of the interest from Arsenal and the absence of an official move from Madrid. 

"I have to value that; despite everything that's happened, [English] clubs still value players for what they can do on the field," he said. 

"That makes me think that I can come back and do well over there. It's good that the English clubs still want me."

Wenger plans to use a warchest of up to €116m to make at least two marquee signings this summer, most likely in the striker and central midfield positions.

Source : Goal

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Alonso dismisses Premier League speculation

The 31-year-old has been linked with a move to Chelsea, now managed by ex-Blancos boss Jose Mourinho, and former club Liverpool, but he has played down reports of a transfer

Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has refuted rumours linking him with a return to the Premier League.

Former club Liverpool has been mooted as a potential destination for Alonso, while Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who managed the 31-year-old at the Bernabeu for the last three seasons, is thought to be interested in luring the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho oversaw his first training session since returning for a second spell as Chelsea manager on Tuesday, but Alonso appears unlikely to join him in London.

"The Premier League? No. No way no chance," Alonso is quoted as saying by AS when asked about the prospect of working with Mourinho for a second time.

Specualtion over Alonso's future at Real is unlikely to go away, however, with the Spain international out of contract in June 2014 and able to leave the Santiago Bernabeu for free at the end of next season.

A mainstay of Mourinho's Madrid side, Alonso made 47 appearances in all competitions last term, but a possible move for Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi could see his playing time limited next season.

Source : Goal

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Tottenham refuse to pay £25m for Benteke

Tottenham are unwilling to meet Aston Villa's £25 million asking price for wantaway striker Christian Benteke.

The Belgian requested a transfer on Monday as he seeks to force through a move away from Villa Park, but the Midlands club are determined not to be held to ransom for their star attraction.

Spurs have stepped up their interest in the 22-year-old after missing out on David Villa, who has completed a move to Atletico Madrid, but they are not willing to offer more than £15m to get their man.

As revealed by Goal last month, Liverpool have also made an enquiry for Benteke, who is seen as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez.

Spurs are considered favourites to land Benteke, but Villa will hold out for maximum return on the €8.1m they paid to sign him on deadline day last summer, while he also has three years remaining on his contract.

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Chelsea preparing bid for Benteke

Chelsea are preparing a bid for Aston Villa star Christian Benteke as Jose Mourinho seeks a solution to the club's pursuit of a new striker, Goal understands.

The returning manager has been thwarted in his attempt to sign Edinson Cavani and has thus far been unable to convince Robert Lewandowski to choose English football over a future move to Bayern Munich.

Benteke fits the coach's preferred profile of a physically powerful striker capable of leading the attack alone, and is more readily attainable as a result of Villa's fragile financial state. 

At 22, the Belgium international is attracted by the prospect of playing Champions League football and competing for the domestic title after a first Premier League season in which he scored 19 times for a club fighting relegation.

With Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis refusing to back down on his demand that Cavani's £54.2 million [€63m] release clause be met in full, the Uruguay international is near to joining Paris Saint-Germain instead after the Ligue 1 outfit's director of football Leonardo revealed that negotiations are taking place between the clubs. 

Also, aware that Borussia Dortmund would sell to Chelsea this summer rather than see Lewandowski join Bayern in a year's time, Mourinho has attempted to persuade the Pole to join him at Stamford Bridge - so far without success. Jurgen Klopp, the Dortmund coach, has confirmed that a move to their Bundesliga rivals is likely.

Mourinho identified a striker as one of three key positions to reinforce before he accepted Roman Abramovich's invitation to return as Chelsea manager after five seasons managing Inter and Real Madrid. The Russian billionaire is on board with Mourinho's intention to sell record signing Fernando Torres after two-and-a-half campaigns under four different coaches.

January acquisition Demba Ba is also surplus to requirements in Mourinho's preferred squad make-up and has been permitted to seek an immediate transfer out of Chelsea. 

There is, however, room on the Portuguese's playing staff for Romelu Lukaku after the younger Belgian scored 17 goals in 35 Premier League appearances on loan at West Brom. 

Lukaku will be given an opportunity to prove himself as Chelsea's back-up striker in the belief that the 20-year-old has the fundamentals to improve further in the position.

Chelsea also retain an interest in Mario Gomez, who has been allowed to secure new employers by Bayern after losing a guaranteed starting berth to Mario Mandzukic during their treble-winning campaign. 

One of German football's best paid players, Gomez is looking to sustain an after-tax salary of £5.1m [€6m], while Bayern are asking for a significant transfer fee amidst competing interest from Fiorentina.

Goal revealed last month that both Tottenham and Liverpool have also monitored the Belgian's situation this summer

Source : Goal

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Simon Mignolet welcomes competition from Pepe Reina and Brad Jones

Simon Mignolet is ready for the battle to be named Liverpool's first-choice keeper next season, and welcomes the threat posed by long-standing custodian Jose Reina and deputy Brad Jones.

The Belgian, a £9million summer signing from Sunderland, has been impressed with the ambition Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has shown, and has no worries about the competition for the No 1 spot.

Mignolet faces a hotly-contested duel for the starting role for national side Belgium with Chelsea's on-loan stopper Thibaut Courtois, and spoke of his excitement at the battle.

'That's always what has happened when there’s competition,' he told espnfc.com. 'I've had competition in Sunderland and in Belgium with the national team.

'It’s not only Pepe - there’s a lot of good goalies at Liverpool, like Brad Jones for example - and it’s not only the position of the goalie where there is competition. It’s every single position on the field.

'There are only 11 players who can play and it is something that is normal with being a football player. You have to deal with that. Competition can only make you as an individual better and let you perform better. It can only be a positive thing.

'From the talks I had with the manager and the goalkeeping coach I felt they were very ambitious and the club wants to get forward.

'The signings they’d already done before July showed they really wanted to get going. They want to push on again in the Premier League. It was obvious that they are an ambitious club and a big club.

'I know how big a club this is but I think I’m only going to feel it once the games get going. The first few training sessions went okay. I’m very happy to be here and train.'

Source : Dailymail

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Lille's Lucas Digne wanted by Monaco and PSG

The highly-rated 19-year-old left-back and Liverpool target has been linked with a move away from Lille after catching the eye in Ligue 1 last season, and big-spending duo PSG and Monaco are both following his situation with interest.

Lille chairman Michel Seydoux says no decision has yet been made over whether to let Digne leave, pointing out they are under no financial pressure to sell.

He told L'Equipe: "It won't be done this weekend, but indeed there is competition between Monaco and PSG.

"However, nobody has mentioned a third solution. He could stay with us one more season.

"The club is not bankrupt. So it is a real possible solution."

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Liverpool reject £30million bid from Arsenal for wantaway star Luis Suarez.

Liverpool insist that the South American is not for sale, and the Arsenal valuation – believed to be less than the £35 million fee Merseyside club paid for Andy Carroll two years ago – has taken many by surprise.

Liverpool have been braced for such approaches since the end of last season, although it was expected that Real Madrid would lead the chase particularly given the player’s claims of unhappiness in English football.

Arsenal felt suitably encouraged to contact Anfield officials to register their desire to buy the 26-year-old Uruguayan. It has now emerge

d that it went beyond an inquiry, and although neither club is prepared to comment on the discussions or clarify the precise amount offered it is clear it was unacceptable to Liverpool.

Liverpool have never wavered from their position that they would not welcome any bid for Suárez, despite his recent proclamations desiring a move abroad.

[Source : Telegraph]

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Liverpool FC are interested in signing Xabi Alonso and could get him for around £10 million.

Liverpool are still the favourites to sign Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid in a £10million deal - as rumours of his sale to the club persist. 

Chelsea have also been linked with the midfielder, but Alonso seems to prefer a move back to Anfield, with the bookies making them heavy favourites over any other destination. 

Asier Illaremendi's imminent arrival at Madrid would also force Alonso out of the club, especially with next year being a World Cup year and Alonso's place in jeopardy.

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