We don't know what the fee was for Defoe, but we are sure he will prove to be an excellent buy for Harry Redknapp.
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He added “But in the same breath, Aston Villa are a strong team this year, Manchester City have done exceptionally well and Portsmouth, Blackburn and West Ham can do it. If we can make fourth it would be outstanding, but I don’t think there’s any point in me talking about that until a month to go in the season if we are still there." While neighbours Liverpool are weighed down by the millstone of expectation (and so they should given their resources compared to the teams around them) Moyes is happy to keep working quietly away, as Everton have steadily climbed the table.
Bianchi cost the Blues £8.8m from Reggina in the summer, but has scored just four Premier League goals and is no longer an automatic first team pick.
Bianchi's representatives are discussing his future with Sven Goran Eriksson and anticipate the go ahead to negotiate a move back to Italy to end his City nightmare.
Lazio are also believed to be closely monitoring the situation and could step in if Torino fail to close the deal.
Earlier the Tyneside rumour mill was saying that former Liverpool, Lyon and France manager Gérard Houllier had had discussions about taking over at Newcastle, with a partnership with Alan Shearer being mooted. However, Houllier now looks to be ruled out of the race, after FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said Houllier had told him he wouldn't be going to Tyneside.
Shearer was asked about the Newcastle job when he arrived back on Tyneside from his holiday "Am I wanting it?" he replied. "One day, hopefully." Questioned further about the possibility of him linking up with Keegan, he said: "I haven't spoken to Kevin for a long time. We will have to see." (The Guardian)
Football Focus thinks Shearer has no chance of getting it now, as Ashley maybe a football romantic, having bought his own club, but he's also a hard-nosed businessman, who won't be risking it all on someone with no track record. It's Deschamps or Hughes we think.
Benitez lifted as Liverpool cruise past Luton
Rafael Benitez will be lifted by this result, and will be hoping his team can now carry it on, and turn it into much needed Premier League victories, starting with the home game against Aston Villa. Asked about the Klinsmann saga afterwards, Benitez played a straight bat, deflecting any real comment. He knows only one thing can really put this story to bed - results.
Rafael Benitez's position at Anfield was looking ever more untenable last night, as Liverpool's American owners admitted to meeting Jurgen Klinsmann, with a view to him taking over at Anfield.
Trying to portray it as an act of insurance, in case Benitez left, this latest revelation further undermines Liverpool's beleaguered manager. Benitez has no intention of resigning at Liverpool, however his only hope of surviving beyond the summer would appear to be if the Americans quit first and sell up to the now circling DIC group.
It all must be so frustrating for Liverpool fans as a season that started so brightly, has unravelled so quickly and is in danger of ending in farce. Despite only being beaten twice, Liverpool are way off the pace in the Premier League and all the uncertainty surrounding the manager is clearly affecting performances and results.
It's hard to see this being resolved without a parting of the ways, the only question being who goes first! Footy Focus thinks the Americans might just be the first to go!
Portsmouth are denying they are to sign Lassana Diarra from Arsenal for £5.5 million.
When will Middlesbrough learn? Fred the Lyon striker has been unable to agree personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain, or Tottenham, so guess what his next mooted destination is? Yes thats right, the home of the overpaid, non-scoring, foreign big-time charlie, Middlesbrough! Footy Focus reckons 80 grand a week and eight goals a season (3 of which will be against Halifax in the Carling Cup) is coming right up.
Talking of eight goal a season strikers, Tottenham Hotspur are willing to offers of around £12.5 million for Darren Bent. Bent has scored three goals in 14 appearances, half made from the substitutes' bench, since he moved for an initial £15.5 million from Charlton Athletic in the summer. To be fair to Bent, he hasn't really been given a chance at Tottenham and would certainly represent better value than Fred.
Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid have entered the race to sign Momo Sissoko, the Liverpool midfield player, who is also wanted by Juventus
Sunderland manager Roy Keane, will finally get Stephen Hunt with an improved bid of £5m bid. So says the Mirror.
Blackburn Rovers are trying to sign Amdy Faye, the Senegalese midfielder currently on loan to Rangers from Charlton Athletic as a replacement for Robbie Savage. They are also tracking Wigan's Jason Koumas. This again from the Daily Mirror.
The Sun is saying Portsmouth are set to spend for them what is big money, and sign Tiago, the Portuguese midfielder, from Juventus for £8m. Also The Mirror is reporting Harry Redknapp is interested in Jermain Defoe and is trying to offload Matt Taylor to fund the deal.
Stoke City have spent some Premiership small change, and broken their transfer record to sign Leon Cort's on a permanent deal from Crystal Palace for a £1.2m fee.
Middlesbrough, continuing their penchant for ridiculously expensive foreign big-time charlies, have hit a snag in their attempt to sign Afonso Alves. The £12 move from Heerenveen, of Holland is being held up as he is struggling to get a work permit due to his lack of international caps. (Daily Mirror)
Birmingham City have stunned the football world by bidding £3 million for James McFadden, the rejecting of which by Everton, has further nonplussed us at Footy Focus. We would have bit their hand off. Alex McLeish is also after Gary Cahill, the Aston Villa defender, submitting a 4m bid.
Over at Anfield the news is that the Momo Sissoko supposed Juventus move is becoming a bit of a yawn. The player says its all go and he expects agreement soon, while the club through it's mouthpiece, the local rag, The Liverpool Echo, says its recieved no contact from Juventus. Footy Focus thinks its a done deal and as Reds' fans will be sorry to see him go. You may well regret this Rafa!
Sam Allardyce has parted company with Newcastle via the age old 'mutual consent' route. Seems Newcastle have in their time honoured tradition bowed to the pressure from fans and local media and pulled the trigger in double quick time. That makes it 6 managers in the 11 years since Kevin Keegan left. Stability and continuity bring success and Newcastle have left themselves in turmoil yet again.
One of these years, they will get a chairman who is prepared to ride it out, believe in his manager and give him time to get it right. There are those who believe they have done it now in the hope of getting their man before Liverpool pull the plug on Rafael Benitez in the summer.
Harry Redknapp has emerged as an early favourite.
The Liverpool Echo is reporting that the Zenit St Petersburg star arrived on Merseyside for a medical and to complete a deal over the next couple of days.
Skrtel is rated as a major emerging talent in European football and Liverpool have had to fend off some of the continent's top clubs to seal the deal.
Rafael Benitez's problems continued to mount as a disjointed, listless Liverpool were held 1-1 in this third round FA Cup tie.
After a bright start Liverpool degenerated into what they have so often this season - lots of possession but absolutely punchless upfront. When they did create chances their two forwards showed what 7 to 9 million buys you. Kuyt and Crouch simply should have done better, both missing respectable chances to give Liverpool a lead from which to go on and win the game.
Luton were spirited throughout, belying their lowly status they took the game to Liverpool at every opportunity. Talbot in particular was a stand-out performer for the battlers from Kenilworth Road.
Against the run of play, Liverpool took the lead in the 73rd minute, Crouch sliding home after a series of defensive errors from Luton. However just three minutes later Luton were level. Talbot again was the tormentor, with Riise knocking the ball into his own arm, and it then cannoned into the net.
For Luton another windfall waits as they limp along, hoping to stay in existence, though when you're losing 400k a week it must be doubtful. For Liverpool, a season that is threatening to completely unravel in a storm of over-expectation from owners and fans, political in-fighting and a punchless attack, limps onto into the next frenzied scrutiny of their manager. It's rapidly becoming death by a thousand cuts for Rafael Benitez.
You can't help feeling though, that Rafa Benitez has made two fundamental errors. He attacked the owners thinking he was in a stronger position than he was, and this has been undermined further by poor results. Secondly he has not bought invention to ally with Torres' ability. Kuyt and Voronin are workmanlike and thats it. Both (Kuyt particularly) and Voronin have no pace and are not penalty box predators. Two years ago he often used Luis Garcia with Crouch upfront - a classic target man and nippy front man partnership. Oh how Liverpool need a front man with his invention now to go with Torres. Also what has Crouch to do to get a game - how can he be on the bench with what Kuyt and Voronin offer? Moreover and more worringly for Liverpool fans is that of the midfield two years ago, you would Mascherano for Sissoko apart, play that same quartet again (Kewell, Alonso, Mascherano for Sissoko and Gerrard). This despite spending 32 million on Gonzalez, Benayoun, Pennant and Babel. Its all getting the feel of those last dark days of Houlliers regime.
Frank Lampard has told the London Evening Standard he would like to stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career. He has 18 months to go on his contract and would like to sign another one to keep him at Stamford Bridge, despite talks being put on hold until the end of the season.
Sunderland have failed with a bid for Blackburns Robbie Savage. Mark Hughes has said a bid has been received but does not match the clubs valuation of the player. Savage has been left out by Hughes in recent weeks and Blackburn are prepared to let him go.
Bolton manager Gary Megson has denied they are in talks with Chelsea over a move for Nicolas Anelka. Anelka was quoted in the French paper L'Equipe as saying talks were underway. Megson dismissed it as pure speculation.
New Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has said only a British record fee of over 30 million will prise Berbatov away from White Hart Lane. Chelsea are rumoured to be preparing a 26 million pound bid. Describing him as the only great player not in the Champions League, Ramos said he expects him to stay at Spurs.
Ronaldo to Real Madrid rumours abound again. This time its a 45 million pound bid from President Calderon and speculation has it that he's made up his mind to go!
That other alledged fan of brown envelopes, Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce maintains he has recieved no brown coloured mail for the sick-note that is Michael Owen. The Telegraph again on that.
To end with Sunderland manager Roy Keane, the beacon of true football values in the Premier League, is hoping to secure Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell on a loan deal, says the Mirror.
The pressure mounted further on Rafael Benitez as his stuttering Liverpool side stumbled to a draw at home to Wigan. Hopes of a Premier League title seem laughable for Liverpool, and a more realistic proposition is the struggle for fourth place, as Manchester City continue a great season under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Liverpool started brightly enough, but again didn't quite convince, as they struggled to breakdown a newly resolute Wigan. Steve Bruce's team seemed to be winning every vital tackle and interception as Liverpool tried to prise a way through. Michael Brown in particular was a thorn in the side of Liverpool, as he continually broke up attacks and very nearly opened the scoring with the best effort of the first half.
Gerrard cleared poorly from inside his own penalty area, the ball cannoned off Mascherano to Bramble, who belied his comic status to finish superbly from the edge of the box.
Rafael Benitez was as animated as he's ever been on the Liverpool touchline and soon threw on Crouch and Kuyt in a desperate attempt to force a winner, however it was not to be. The result really leaves Liverpool's outside hope of a Premier League title looking dead and buried, and will greatly increase the pressure on Rafael Benitez and his relationship with the club's American owners.