Liverpool FC Forum

by **kazza** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:06 pm

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was put on red alert last night after reports spread that Manchester United were after the signature of Arjen Robben.

The Spanish tactician has been a long time admirer of the winger, and could go head-to-head with bitter rival Sir Alex Ferguson for the Madrid maestro’s signature.

  The Dutch international is believed to cost a fee in the region of £18 million, and Manchester United hold the aces with the Glazers prepared to back Ferguson with funds for a stellar signing before the window shuts in 8 days.

In contrast, Tom Hicks and George Gillett have spent the summer restructuring the clubs debts and, as a result, Benitez has been told he has no more money to spend.

However, the Liverpool boss knows the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid could work in his favour.

The Reds boss will want the funds from the Alonso transfer to be available for players if they become available, and reports in the Spanish press suggest Robben has.

Benitez was believed to be chasing Robben as recently as March, and Madrid were considering offering the player as part of a deal for Alonso before they completed the transfer in August.

The Spanish tactician could also raise funds by offloading winger Ryan Babel. Benitez has said in no uncertain terms that Babel is on his last chance to perform, although the player could bring in some much needed revenue with a possible £8 million move.

Arsenal and Turkish giants Galatasary have both been linked with the player in the past, as have former club Ajax, although they would only be willing to take him on a loan deal.

Benitez sees Robben as the world class winger he has been yearning for since moves for David Silva and Franck Ribery fell through.

The pacey wideman has expressed an interest to return to the Premier League after Real Madrid chiefs made it clear that he has no long-term future at the Bernabeu, although his father and agent, Hans Robben, ruled out a move to Tottenham Hotspur.  

by **Sabre** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:13 pm

Robben? I wish.

I know many fellow reds have problems with players that have played for archenemies, but football wise what he could give us is good enough to overlook that emotional aspect.

by **fergieisawhiskeynosedtw@t** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:45 pm

if this is true why the feck did he not insist on him as part of the Alonso deal???

by **Fauxy** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:15 pm

fergieisawhiskeynosedtw@t wrote:if this is true why the feck did he not insist on him as part of the Alonso deal???

Probably because our priority at the time was to buy a midfielder and not spend the money on Robben in case no more money was available to replace Alonso.

by **sixbuster** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:31 pm

not a hope, definitely would have being included in Alonso deal. Wishful thinking and us with no money:(

by **Ben Patrick** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:44 pm

Reports on SSN that he is goin to bayern for 24 million

by **Reg** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:06 am

I hope Robben's not waiting up for Rafa to call him, Rafa's in bed fast asleep wondering whether The Greek could be used be up front if Torres gets injured.

by **Toffeehater** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:20 am

The thing is if he's going to bayern , we can expect ribery to be goign to madrid next season . We can't afford robben anyway , pity he'd been a snip at 15 million , any other season and i bet we could have signed him.

by **Judge** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:58 am

im not sure pepe reina will relish robben at lfc

by **Sabre** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:00 am

Toffeehater wrote:The thing is if he's going to bayern , we can expect ribery to be goign to madrid next season . We can't afford robben anyway , pity he'd been a snip at 15 million , any other season and i bet we could have signed him.

The reports talk about 25M € which would be closer to 20M pounds, out of reach.

by **bigmick** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:30 am

Sabre wrote:
Toffeehater wrote:The thing is if he's going to bayern , we can expect ribery to be goign to madrid next season . We can't afford robben anyway , pity he'd been a snip at 15 million , any other season and i bet we could have signed him.

The reports talk about 25M € which would be closer to 20M pounds, out of reach.

Is that with "add-ons" or up front

by **JC_81** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:40 am

Don't think there's any chance of this happening...

1) If we were interested in the first place we'd have tried to get him as part of the Alonso deal

2) We clearly have no money left

3) This deal is blatantly a sweetener for when Ribery moves the other way next summer... nobody's going to hijack it now.

by **GYBS** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 11:44 am

bigmick wrote:
Sabre wrote:
Toffeehater wrote:The thing is if he's going to bayern , we can expect ribery to be goign to madrid next season . We can't afford robben anyway , pity he'd been a snip at 15 million , any other season and i bet we could have signed him.

The reports talk about 25M € which would be closer to 20M pounds, out of reach.

Is that with "add-ons" or up front

by **bigmick** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:40 pm

Yep, like that GYBS. Good response mate

by **GYBS** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:20 pm

just keeping myself involved in this light mickey taking that is happening

Liverpool FC Forum

Robben?

Who is online