LIVERPOOL RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS TO FINANCE BARRY MOVE
The prospect of Xabi Alonso leaving Liverpool this summer has diminished significantly after Steven Gerrard damaged a thigh muscle. Gerrard's injury means that Rafa Benitez is desperately short of midfielders for the start of the season with both Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva away on Olympics duty.
Alonso will thus probably have to feature in Liverpool's Champions League qualifying tie next week - meaning he will be cup-tied for the competition and his value will fall accordingly. So much for the expectation that Alonso's sale would finance the capture of Gareth Barry. That deal is apparently no nearer completion - and doubts are growing about whether the club's American co-owners have actually agreed to underwrite the transfer in the form of a short-term loan.
On a related note, The Daily Mail reports that 'Liverpool's Rafa Benitez has missed out on another opportunity to finance his long-running move for Gareth Barry after Hamburg failed in a shock bid to sign Dirk Kuyt.
'With co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett still stalling over the extra cash needed to meet an £18million asking price for Aston Villa midfielder Barry, Benitez is urgently exploring ways of generating funds.'
Bad news for all the dirty kite "fans" here
RAFA: YOSSI AND DIRK ARE STAYING
Rafael Benitez today responded to speculation linking Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt with moves away from Anfield and insisted: "Neither player will be leaving."
Benayoun is reportedly attracting interest from Italian giants Roma while Kuyt has this morning been linked with a switch to Hamburg in Germany.
The Liverpool boss has spoken with both players over the past 24 hours and is adamant each has a big part to play in the club's quest for honours this season.
He said: "It is true that Roma are interested in Yossi. I was talking with him yesterday and told him I want to keep him. He is a player with quality and has shown that during pre-season. I have no more news about Yossi - he will be staying with us.
"I also talked with Dirk Kuyt this morning. I am really pleased with him and he will be staying with us."
LIVERPOOL RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS TO FINANCE BARRY MOVE
The prospect of Xabi Alonso leaving Liverpool this summer has diminished significantly after Steven Gerrard damaged a thigh muscle. Gerrard's injury means that Rafa Benitez is desperately short of midfielders for the start of the season with both Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva away on Olympics duty.
Alonso will thus probably have to feature in Liverpool's Champions League qualifying tie next week - meaning he will be cup-tied for the competition and his value will fall accordingly. So much for the expectation that Alonso's sale would finance the capture of Gareth Barry. That deal is apparently no nearer completion - and doubts are growing about whether the club's American co-owners have actually agreed to underwrite the transfer in the form of a short-term loan.
On a related note, The Daily Mail reports that 'Liverpool's Rafa Benitez has missed out on another opportunity to finance his long-running move for Gareth Barry after Hamburg failed in a shock bid to sign Dirk Kuyt.
'With co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett still stalling over the extra cash needed to meet an £18million asking price for Aston Villa midfielder Barry, Benitez is urgently exploring ways of generating funds.'