Liverpool FC Forum

by **ruskiy playmaker** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:01 am

Three Benitez buys already in the bag

By Joe Bernstein - Last updated at 21:13pm on 29th March 2008

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has already lined up three new signings for the summer to underline his belief he will remain in charge whoever wins the Anfield power struggle. Benitez believes he is fireproof whoever triumphs in the ownership battle involving Tom Hicks, George Gillett and Dubaibased investment group DIC.

As the manager prepares to take on Everton in what is virtually a Champions League eliminator at Anfield today, Benitez was unusually candid.

He has money available following a refinancing package agreed by Hicks and Gillett in February. Although Gillett reopened the war of words with his co-owner this week, branding their relationship 'unworkable', Benitez seems to think it will have little impact on his job of building a title-winning team.

"We have agreements with two young players and one senior player who will be a starting XI player. That deal is already done," said a bullish Benitez. "We are also making plans for our preseason tour and talking to players here about new contracts."

Benitez has been strongly linked in Germany with Schalke's Brazilian full-back Rafinha, who is known as 'Little Rafa'. The two younger players are believed to be from South America.

Sami Hyypia and young keeper Dave Martin are in talks about new deals as Liverpool try to prove they will not stagnate because of the impasse between the American co-owners.

Significantly, though, striker Peter Crouch will not discuss a five-year deal until the summer while Jon Arne Riise and Harry Kewell have not been offered anything.

Off-the-field, Hicks, who broke off takeover talks with DIC because of what he saw as smear tactics, thinks Gillett's comments are a crude attempt to force a sale to DIC. While currently committed to paying £28 million a year in interest, Champions League football is almost a financial necessity.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages....=549651

Not the best source, but they do have Rafa's quotes. I wonder who the senior player is? Maybe Rafinha?

by **LFC2007** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:06 am

I can reveal the name of the senior player we have lined up......

Robaldino

by **66-1112520797** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:33 am

I wish they'd just tell us who it is, their buying.

Just so we can start critising them now

Hey Igor lar, gis a pineapple ?

by **metalhead** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:10 pm

Anyways, anyone seen rafinha play? I have seen him once but couldn't judge.

Anyone with any feedback on him?

by **NANNY RED** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:29 pm

LFC2007 wrote:I can reveal the name of the senior player we have lined up......

Robaldino

You forgot his first name

Micky Robaldinho

:laugh:

by **metalhead** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:43 pm

GOAL

Its on goal.com now

by **JoeTerp** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:51 pm

its also on the official now

by **metalhead** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:06 pm

but why wouldnt rafa say who they are?

by **King Carra** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:59 pm

metalhead wrote:but why wouldnt rafa say who they are?

Incase they don't come off possibly? Nothing's signed...it's only in principle.

And maybe so that the players at the respective clubs that we've apparently got don't get unsettled (and their fans) as well as some of our players too.

by **metalhead** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:01 pm

King Carra wrote:
metalhead wrote:but why wouldnt rafa say who they are?

Incase they don't come off possibly? Nothing's signed...it's only in principle.

And maybe so that the players at the respective clubs that we've apparently got don't get unsettled (and their fans) as well as some of our players too.

Thats true, but he did say he signed lucas 2 months before the transfer window opened

by **neil** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:09 pm

heinze?

by **maguskwt** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:00 am

King Carra wrote:
metalhead wrote:but why wouldnt rafa say who they are?

Incase they don't come off possibly? Nothing's signed...it's only in principle.

And maybe so that the players at the respective clubs that we've apparently got don't get unsettled (and their fans) as well as some of our players too.

also because other big clubs might come and offer more money and swoop the player

by **sheikhmomo** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:22 am

well the player that has been signed has been signed to play on either the right-side of defence or the right-side of midfield (right-side of midfield is most likely). this is a player that doesn't often/usually play on the right, so it is most likely the player is currently playing as a striker or a left-sided player. rafa is looking to add a pair of full-backs, a winger (or 2 depending on money) and a midfielder to replace alonso (if he leaves). so, as i say it is either a right-midfielder or a right-back and the name will be a surprise to everybody.

by **stmichael** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:49 am

metalhead wrote:Anyways, anyone seen rafinha play? I have seen him once but couldn't judge.

Anyone with any feedback on him?

he was average last night for schalke on what i saw. infact the goal was his fault due to his poor positioning. that was only one game though. i really need to see more of him before making comment.

by **Croat23** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 9:01 am

Rakitic and Rafinha from Schalke.

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Three benitez buys already in the bag

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