Liverpool FC Forum

Toffeehater wrote:I don't think that happen , it was not on any rumors page and the club have set his price at 16 million , if we had sold him , who could we have brought it on such short notice? Barry i would have guessed

Arsenal attempt to capture Alonso on hectic deadline day - Transfers, Football - The Independent

By Jason Burt and Michael Walker
Tuesday, 2 September 2008

Arsenal were last night desperately trying to sign Xabi Alonso before the transfer window closed after submitting an improved offer, thought to be around £14m, for the Spanish international midfielder. Earlier the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, had insisted Alonso was not for sale but it is understood that he was always prepared to do a deal if his valuation was met.

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, who rejected Cardiff City's attempt to take Aaron Ramsay back on loan, has played a delicate game of brinkmanship in trying to secure Alonso, whom he wants to partner Cesc Fabregas in central midfield. Wenger regards the 26-year-old as a player who can add the experience and steel which have been missing from his team. A bid of £12m was rejected last month as Wenger hoped to capitalise on Liverpool's attempts to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa.

It was a busy day as Benitez attempted to balance the books. Liverpool completed the £8m purchase of the Espanyol winger Albert Riera, who has signed a four-year deal, and also secured two teenagers: 18-year-old Brazilian striker Vito Flora on a free transfer from Botafogo and another 18-year-old, Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi from MTK Hungaria.

They sold Steve Finnan to Espanyol for just £1m, with the full-back signing a two-year deal while the Ukrainian striker Andrei Voronin returned to the Bundesliga with a season-long loan at Hertha Berlin. The German club also signed the Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo. Benitez was, meanwhile, trying to offload Jermaine Pennant, although the winger, who had hoped to switch to Blackburn Rovers, was resisting a £4m move to Stoke City.

lakes10 wrote:last night radio 5 live said the deal had been done to bring Vito Flora to liverpool a week ago byt liverpool held off till the last day to tell the liverpool fans so it looked like liverpool was also trying to bring new players to the club right up untill midnight.

well i not sure how much truth there is in that but i would not be that shocked if it was true.

samurai3000 wrote:Do any of you guys think man city will break into the top four. Alot of dramatic changes are happening over there. I feel they musr break into the top four and get into the champions league next season if they want to attract top talent. Since the abromowich buying chelsea time this club takeover business is becoming typical. Would be good if rich w@nkers bought all top clubs in the premier league. That would make an interesting season.