got off that bot thing on yahoo eurosport Many of you have been asking about the chances of Rakitic to Liverpool this week and Bot has some bad news for you. The Daily Express carries quotes from the Croatia playmaker which indicate he will not be prepared to countenance offers from English clubs in January.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has dismissed rumours linking the club with a move for Porto midfielder Fernando. The 26-year-old has also been linked with switches to Manchester United and Liverpool having impressed for the Portuguese champions this season. Reports have suggested that Fernando was in talks regarding a move to the San Siro, but Galliani insists that this is not the case despite his admiration for the player. "There is nothing in particular," he said. "Many players are followed, but for Fernando, there aren't any open negotiations. Anyway, he's a good player." Galliani was speaking at Keisuke Honda's press conference as the Japanese star was unveiled to the media following his move from CSKA Moscow. Milan have also completed the loan signing of Valencia defender Adil Rami and Galliani admits that there will now have to be exits before there are any new arrivals. "Now we have a group of 30 players and we must sell. Honda and Rami have arrived," he said. "Let's see about letting someone leave because we have too much." Source: Sky Sports
rendan Rodgers was a phone-in guest on talkSPORT this morning, where he spoke on a range of topics – and we've transcribed the best bits for you to enjoy below… Brendan, first of all, squad-wise, how are you looking? Over the Christmas period we were unfortunate to have a number of injuries that brought the squad down in number. We only had about 15 players at one point, but thankfully over this last week or so, we're starting to get one or two back and they are very important players for us. Steven Gerrard came back into the fold against Oldham Athletic, which was great and obviously we've got Daniel Sturridge back training now, which is brilliant for us. It's some league at the moment. Manchester City are scoring goals for fun. They have one hell of a squad, Brendan... They've got an outstanding squad - one of the top squads in European football. The way they have pieced it together over a number of years is very good. They can mix and match, be really strong for each competition and it's a great credit to them how they've done that over the last number of years. What's it like to manage a player like Luis Suarez? What's he like in training with his enthusiasm for the game? I think the experience of working with Luis is something that is going to stay with me for a lifetime. To work with someone with that determination and desire and will to win - he's a real old-school striker. He's never, ever injured. He's never in the treatment room and he loves to train. He comes in every day to work. After a game, you sometimes do a first-day recovery, which is really low intensity. Then you'll do, for example, a second-day recovery, which is a more active recovery. But you're still recovering from the game. Luis just wants to train on that day. He just needs to be at it all the time. Sometimes, do you have to hold him back? Absolutely. When I first came in, I rested him in one or two of the cup games and I could see he didn't like it. I could see he wasn't overly keen on that. We spoke on it. But he's just a guy that wants to play all the time. Not for selfish reasons; he wants to help the team. What's been brilliant about these last four or five months has been his maturity as a man. It's a sheer pleasure to work with him; he's a real good man. His maturity on the field is there for everyone to see and his performances speak for themselves. Where are you at the moment in your plan for Liverpool's progress? Are you happy with where you are in the table at this moment in time? You're always striving to be better. In terms of the job I was asked to do when I first came in, I think we're well on track. Over three years we were given the objective to see if we could push to get back into the Champions League and we knew it was going to be difficult in the first year. But last year, as a calendar year, we made great strides. For us this year it was about being in the conversation. We were never talked about. When you listened to anyone talk, Liverpool were not even mentioned. So for us it was about defining how we wanted to play and how we were wanting to work, knowing that the longer we were here, the more success that would hopefully give us. We've started to work how I want us to work. We're on track, but when you're fourth, you always want to be third, or second and ultimately first. Stoke away coming up next and then two home games against Aston Villa and Everton. The latter will have that added spice with the Blues really doing well alongside Liverpool... We've got all the so-called 'top teams' to play now at Anfield, after a really difficult draw in the first part of the season, where we played them all away. Apart from Manchester United, we'll play them all at home. Everton over the last few years have been very strong. When I was at Swansea, they were still one of the best footballing teams that we played. David Moyes deserves a huge amount of credit for the work that he did there because they were fluent in their structure and their movement was good. Roberto Martinez has come in and done an outstanding job. He's made that extra pass and made them play with a bit more patience and we're starting to see his principles. They've been excellent and that bodes well for this part of the world. In terms of the title race, does it surprise you that no-one seems to talk about Arsenal being champions this year? Well, I've certainly heard it talked about. I think there's just so many teams in the mix. There's no way you can disregard them. They have top talents there, they have been reasonably consistent and they've still got a number of players to come back in from injury. So they've got a strong squad. I just think that when you move into this second part of this season, the teams who have that sort of squad are going to be really strong. We're fighting to be up there and we'll continue to do that.
Top top post and interview. Hope to the bejezus that Suarez's malfunction days are properly behind him now.
De Bruyne looks like he's on his way out of Chelsea, want's to go play football to get into the Belgium squad for WC. I'm sure there are quite a few players like this that may want to move to give themselves a better chance in the summer
WHERE ARE OUR SIGNINGS!!! WHAT THE **** IS GOING ON!!!!! **** this, I'm making a banner and heading to ****ing lime st. right now.
ok. But why have we not signed Falcao? He is the player we need right now! Or maybe Gareth barry as izz der besst in derrr wrrrllllddd lad.
If he was not damaged goods from being at Chelsea im sure a lot of clubs would be in for him but like Moses and countless other players he destroyed his career by moving to Chelsea.
13.10 GMT La Gazzetta dello Sport speculate that Southampton have joined Chelsea in the pursuit of Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin with Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri admitting his club would struggle to hold on to him, if the right offer were to arrive. "Of course I'd like it if he stays, but if you think that he could leave, then this just shows what kind of a situation the club is in," said the Nerazzurri coach after their elimination from the Coppa Italia by Udinese on Thursday night. Inter could use Guarin as bait in their attempts to lure Pablo Osvaldo back to Serie A. Man I would love us to have Guarin!!!!
12.20 GMT Reports from France say that Lyon have rejected a 10 million euro proposal from Arsenal for pacey French attacker Alexandre Lacazette. Arsene Wenger is keen to bolster his attack in the wake of Theo Walcott's long-term knee injury but he has been snubbed in his pursuit by former Arsenal player Remi Gaarde. The Lyon coach is not prepared to sell his key players in the January transfer window as the Kids look to make up lost ground on the Champions League places. A tricky winger and at about 7 mil pounds- 8 mil, not bad business. 12.10 GMT According to the Metro, Liverpool are preparing a bid for Rubin Kazan midfielder Yann M'Vila after the player's agent admitted that his client was keen to move to the Premier League. "I think many players dream of playing in the Premier League – Yann is no different," said Werner Baader. "I will not deny there is interest from many European clubs, including English teams." Finally, the Daily Mail are reporting that Liverpool have reignited their interest in Dinamo Kiev winger Andriy Yarmolenko. The Reds are rumoured to be in pursuit of Basel’s Mohamed Salah, but as the Swiss club continue to drive up the price, Liverpool have begun to look at different options. And Yarmolenko, who has scored eight goals in 16 appearances for Kiev this season, is building as a viable option.
