Liverpool to Splash Out £35m On Brand New Centre Back Pairing: Dalglish to Build New Anfield Generation

Anfield boss keen on talented defensive duo.

KENNY DALGLISH’S Liverpool are lining up a £15m summer move for Blackburn starlet Phil Jones.

Kenny Dalglish and director of football Damien Comolli watched the centre-back face Manchester City on Monday.

The club are searching for a top-class defender to strengthen the Anfield squad and Jones, 19, would provide perfect cover for Jamie Carragher, 33. (Daily Star)

Tottenham and Liverpool are in a straight shootout for Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

The England centre-half has been linked with moves to every side in the top five, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal also said to be in the running.

But Harry Redknapp and Kenny Dalglish are believed to be the only two managers chasing the £15million-rated 25-year-old. (Daily Mirror)

As Kenny Dalglish looks to put together transfer plans this summer he appears to have one eye on the homegrown regulations and is seemingly seeking to pick up talented English stars who can help in his attempts to build for a bright future.

The Liverpool boss is likely to be well backed in the transfer market by the club’s owners and FSG (Fenway Sports Group) are keen that the Anfield manager looks to bring in young players with great potential and good sell on value and this defensive pair meet those criteria.

Phil Jones has shown maturity beyond his years and is now a regular in the Blackburn Rovers first team and given that the Ewood Park side has struggled since Sam Allardyce was sacked the teenager may well be tempted by the prospect of a move to Merseyside, and clearly if the Lancashire club avoid the drop then the chances of a move increase significantly.

Gary Cahill could be a harder nut to crack. The England international is wanted by a number of big clubs and the good season that the Trotters have had may make it harder to sign the former Aston Villa man, however the financial problems that Bolton reportedly find themselves in may mean they have to sell their prized asset but are apparently looking to get at least £20m for the determined centre back.

Liverpool currently have a lack of strength in depth in the central defensive area and given the ages of Jamie Carragher and Sotirios Kyrgiakos, 33 and 31 respectively, and the injury concerns over Daniel Agger, it makes great sense to bring in reinforcements.

source

Read more...

Manchester City Plan Move for Brand New £100m Strike Force

Will Roberto Mancini be at Eastlands long enough to spend the money?

ROBERTO MANCINI has asked Man City owner Sheikh Mansour to bankroll a £100m summer spree to sign AC Milan hitman Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Napoli striker Edinson Cavani.

The Manchester City boss wants Sheikh Mansour to provide more transfer funds – even though the club owner has already spent £400million on players since the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover at Eastlands two-and-a-half years ago.

Former City boss Mark Hughes started the spending spree – and Mancini has continued it in spectacular style. But he still isn’t satisfied with his squad and is likely to want up to another £100m, depending on whether players like Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli stay at City in the summer.

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 29, will be a target as part of an exchange deal if Balotelli, 20, pushes for a quick return to Italy. The arrival of target-man Ibrahimovic would place a question mark against the future of Edin Dzeko, 25,who only arrived at City in January for £27m from Wolfsburg.

Dzeko is a similar player but has failed to impress. Mancini is also keen on £30m-rated Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who is being tracked by Chelsea. The Uruguay hitman, 24, could be a replacement for Tevez if the Argie striker renews his attempt to leave City, having done a U-turn after asking for a transfer before Christmas.

SOURCE: Daily Star

Clearly the chances of the Eastlands club looking to re-jig their front line will increase if Roberto Mancini fails to capture a top four spot, which could lead to Carlos Tevez and perhaps Mario Balotelli pushing for a move away from Man City.

One wonders however how this pairing could cost £100m? Zlatan Ibrahimovic at age 29 is not worth over £40m so not sure how the Daily Star came to that figure, perhaps they have a rounding up machine that helps make headlines appear more enticing?

Seriously though, Man City need to work out how best to resolve the issue of sacking managers and re-investing in new players every time a new boss comes in to the club. If Roberto Mancini does fail to land a top four spot it is very possible the Italian will be sacked, which would be a mistake as it would mean having to spend another fortune funding the next manager’s attempt to finance fantasy football.

source

Read more...