Monthly Archives: May 2014

Suarez would find it difficult to reject Real Madrid, says lawyer

The Uruguayan has been linked with a switch to this season’s Champions League winners and his representative claims that he has a “predisposition for Spain”

Luis Suarez’s lawyer admits that the Liverpool striker would find it difficult to turn down a move to Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old has long been linked with a move to Carlo Ancelotti’s side but insisted earlier in May that he is happy to stay at Anfield.

Suarez, who finished as the Premier League’s top scorer with 31 goals this season, signed a new contract with Liverpool in December but the Uruguayan’s representative says that the forward would favour a switch to Spain if the opportunity arose.

“A year ago he was very likely to leave Liverpool,” Alejandro Balbi told Cadena SER of a summer that saw Arsenal push hard for his signature.

“Now I think it is very difficult because he is an idol, although clubs can offer a lot of money.

“If there is such a big offer from Real Madrid, it would be very difficult to say no. Luis Suarez has always had a predisposition for Spain.”

Liverpool make final £25m Lallana bid as Lambert arrives for medical

The Reds are keen to wrap up a deal as soon as possible and have told the Saints that they will not make a bigger offer, while team-mate Lambert should complete his move shortly

By Paul Clennam

Liverpool have made a final £25 million bid for Southampton forward Adam Lallana.

The Reds are keen to tie up a deal as soon as possible and are adamant that they will not return with more money should the Saints knock back their latest approach.

Tottenham are also in the race to sign Lallana but it is the Merseysiders who have shown concrete interest with two formal bids.

The first, worth around £20m, was made on the final weekend of the Premier League season but was rejected by the Saints.

The south-coast club are holding out for nearer to £30m for the England man, but Liverpool will test that resolve by making it clear that they will not stretch any further than £25m.

Lallana’s club and international team-mate, Rickie Lambert, will complete his Anfield move over the weekend after completing a medical on Saturday.

Both players will travel to Miami with the England squad on Sunday as they step up preparations for the World Cup in Brazil.

The Three Lions beat Peru 3-0 at Wembley on Friday evening thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.

Roy Hodgson’s men will play Ecuador on Wednesday and Honduras next Saturday, before opening their World Cup campaign against Italy in Manaus on June 14.

Hamann urges Liverpool to sign Lallana

The ex-Reds midfielder believes Brendan Rodgers should bring in the Southampton playmaker while Phil Thompson is adamant Steven Caulker would prove a good signing

EXCLUSIVE
By Farabi Firdausy

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes the club should secure the signing of England playmaker Adam Lallana.

As revealed by Goal, the Southampton captain has already been the subject of a £20 million offer from Brendan Rodgers’s side since the end of the season, but with the Saints valuing him at £30m, the bid was rejected by the St Mary’s outfit.

And with the Merseyside club closing in on a deal for Saints team-mate Rickie Lambert, Hamann feels Liverpool should push on and seal a deal for the talented midfielder as they look to bolster their squad ahead of a return to Champions League football.

“I think we can sign Lallana. If you see how we played last season, I think many players will be interested to play with us,” he told Goal.

“Liverpool have a great project for the future and we have a chance to sign him.

“Lallana will give us more balance in the depth of the squad. Next season we will compete in many competitions and probably will get more injuries and suspensions.

“His position is what we need at the moment and I think he will be suitable for us.”

Former Reds defender Phil Thompson, meanwhile, has called on the club to sign Cardiff City centre-back Steven Caulker in a bid to put a halt to their defensive issues.

The Reds conceded 50 goals on their way to finishing second in the Premier League last season, and Thompson believes the former Tottenham centre-back would prove the perfect fit.

“If Liverpool need a defender, I think the Cardiff City defender, Steven Caulker, would be the one. He also played under Rodgers’s guidance when at Swansea City,” he admitted to Goal.

“At the moment we have some British figures in the defensive line such as [Jon] Flanagan and [Glen] Johnson, but they are not players who play in Carragher’s position.”

Liverpool are also believed to be interested in Chelsea’s Ryan Bertrand and Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno.