When Liverpool despatched Jan Kromkamp back to his native Netherlands prior to the closure of the summer transfer window, Benitez was confident in bringing in Lucas Neill from Blackburn to provide some protective cover for right back Steve Finnan.
But Blackburn Rovers, the Australian’s club, refused to do a deal at the right price with Liverpool even with Neill’s contract entering it’s final 9 months. Rafa held firm and didn’t do the deal, describing Blackburn’s valuation as ‘over-priced’. (They wanted £2 million and Stephen Warnock). So here we are approaching the January window and Blackburn will have to either let their defender go for a nominal fee or lose him for nothing next Summer.
Steve Finnan has played 24 games for the reds already – Rafa resting him in the League Cup and in one Premiership game. Reports today suggest that Liverpool’s inability to reach a deal in August may cost them as several clubs are now believed to be interested in the Aussie.
Spurs and Newcastle are said to be interested with Barcelona of all sides monitoring the player. Today’s Daily Mirror suggested that AC Milan are also following the progress of the right back who can also play in the centre.
The valuation of the player will be expected to be around £1.5 million in January – within easy reach of all the clubs mentioned. If Rafa is serious with his interest then it looks like he will no longer be able to hold out until the summer to ensnare the Australian.
SO NEGATIVE ALL THESE COMENTS. RIISE ONLY A YEAR AGO WAS WANTED BY MADRID AND ROMA AND LYON. SO I DONT SEE A PROBLEM WITH HIM, BELLAMY HAS COME GOOD, YES I DONT THINK HE IS THE MAIN ANSWER, HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO BE REALISTIC TOTTS WONT LET DEFOE GO NEVER MIND LENNON, LENNON IS OVER RATED WITH BAD PASSING AND POSSITIOONAL SENSE. DEFOE IS GOOD BUT ID RATHER KUYT, CROUCH THE DEFOE, FOWLER IS GONE FOR FREE IN SUMMER AND WE NEED ANOTHER PACY STRIKER DAVID VILLA HAS MORE CHANCE TO COME TO ANFIELD THAN DEFOE, VILLA IS BETTER THAN ANY STRIKER IN THE PREMIERSHIP AND THAT IS CASE CLOSED, LIVERPOOL NEED 3 MORE TOP QUALITY PLAYERS AND THEN ITS REALLY GAME ON FOR THE REST OF THEM ,,,,,
first of all riise is anazing for us and second of all so is peter crouch.
i think that Rafa should get rid of Bellamy and Pennant and should bring in Jermain Defoe instead of Bellamy, and should either buy Shaun Wright Philips or Aaron Lennon instead of Pennant.
Frosty you wanker.You son have got it all wrong!First Riise is probably one of the best left backs in the world!Secondly Pennant is just getting in to form for us and thirdly Robbie is a all time liverpool legend and he always will be so I agree that we need to let go of a forward and get a better one andthat person to go is Peter Crouch is is useles!!!!
First priority is a left-back, Riise is too easily beaten…can Neill play there?
Pennant hapless and no real punch up front. Should have put at least six past possibly the worste team in the premiership. Get rid of Robbie and find an aggressive striker from somewhere.
The back line would be a lot stronger with agger in the center and thank god rafa is playin stevie G in the center of midfield again
No need to panic, Lucas has stated his desire to come to Anfield, he seems to be settled in this country, let alone up North. Let’s be honest – Spurs ? Newcastle? or Liverpool – I think that’s an easy choice to make and he doesn’t have to relocate.
Barcalona are only monitering the situation, and well The Daily Mirror (Man Utd paper of the North) must obviously be right again with AC Milan. Rafa wants him, and Rafa will get his man.
IF RAFA IS TO SUCCEED THIS SEASON THEN HE HAS TO GET RID OF THE DEAD WOOD (BELLAMY!!!!)
I think Neill will do a job at Anfield, no fuss cover for Finnan for a season or two until we get a proper young RB. There will be plenty of games and opportunities for him although playing alonside Carra might get him accidentally kicked 😉