Lucas Neill, who a couple of months ago was proclaiming himself a ‘Liverpool fan’ appears to have decided that joining relegation-candidates West Ham United with the promise of a few extra thousand of pounds a week is a far more sensible footballing decision than joining us.
Many Liverpool fans will be breathing a huge sigh of relief is this is the truth, the last thing we need is another mercenary at the club. However, Liverpool still appear to be in negotiations with Blackburn over the transfer of Stephen Warnock to Ewood Park for a figure just under £2 million.
The English left back has found himself third in the pecking order behind John Arne Riise and Fabio Aurelio. Blackburn appear ready to offer the player a shot at some first team football, and nobody can deny Warnock the opportunity.
Intriguingly, Lucas Neill’s mercenary activities could have opened the way for long-time Benitez target Roberto Ayala to knock at the Anfield door. The player will be out of contract with current club Valencia and no contract appears to have been offered one of Rafa’s former stars. His agent has suggested that talks with another club are at an advanced stage and the player will sign a new deal elsewhere within weeks if Valencia continue to stall.
It may well be positioning on behalf of the player’s agent, but Rafa has made no secret that if Ayala fancied the move to England, that he would want to manage him once again.
