Cristiano Ronaldo: Buys 150,000 number plate

Cristiano Ronaldo: 150,000 on CR7 number plate

Cristiano Ronaldo

Demonstrating that age old adage of footballers having more money than sense, Cristiano Ronaldo has spent a massive 150,000 on a number plate!

Ronaldo coughed up the huge sum for the registration CR7 - his initials and shirt number at Old Trafford, says The Sun.

The new number plate takes his spending with luxury car firm Liquid 45 to a whopping £490,000 in the past month. A couple of weeks ago he placed an order for a black Rolls Royce Phantom - which costs a jaw-dropping £340,000.

But the number plate won't go on the new car - it is destined for Ronaldo's runaround, a silver £140,000 Bentley convertible!

Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly one for splashing his cash about. It's an obscene amount of money, but if you've got it flaunt it and Ronaldo certainly has!

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Gareth Barry to Liverpool

Reports coming in of a deal done for Gareth Barry to move to Liverpool

At long, long, last it appears the Gareth Barry move to Liverpool has happened. Reports are surfacing of Villa recieving 17.5 million plus Steve Finnan for Barry.

Rafael Benitez and all Liverpool fans will be pleased the longest running transfer saga of the summer will now be over. It certainly looks like a combination of Alonso, Pennant, and Voronin have played their last game in the red shirt of Liverpool. Personally I am disappointed in Pennant and that he must go. The guy has simply never fulfilled his promise, though he is still only 24.

Benitez I think is looking at Barry for his versatility and intelligence, plus he is better as a holding midfielder than Alonso, given the absence of Mascherano for a month. Given the price of Barry, Keane and Doessena, Liverpool's indispensables each week are starting to look like: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Doessena, Barry, Mascherano, Gerrard, Keane, and Torres. That leaves the likes of Skrtel, Babel, Benayoun, and Kuyt all fighting over one spot. Liverpool are certainly going to be very strong this year, but maybe just not quite!

Gareth Barry to Liverpool has proved to be the long yawn of the summer, and it's instructive how Liverpool have struggled to raise the fee. A sign of the credit crunch and Liverpool's parlous finances perhaps? Martin O'Neill will be glad Barry has finally moved to Liverpool, and he can get on with Villa's season!

DIC to take over at Liverpool?

DIC edging closer to a deal for Liverpool and Yanks looking likely to move on.

Dubai International Capital are looking likely to agree a deal before the end of March, with Liverpool's American owners. The Mirror says an outline agreement to transfer ownership of the Anfield giants from George Gillett and Tom Hicks, to Dubai International Capital is in the pipeline.

Sources in New York have confirmed that a £460million deal with DIC - the Dubai government's financial arm and headed by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum s now close to being sealed, with Liverpool set to change hands twice in a little over twelve months.

The price for Liverpool is well below the gambit claim of £1billion that was put on the club by Hicks in November (He and Gillett paid just £219m to take control of Liverpool from David Moores a year ago).

Despite leaving Liverpool with a £350m debt, they will be able to walk away having made a substantial profit. Liverpool's fans will be overjoyed at the news and on tenterhooks until it comes off. The Yanks are pretty well loathed by all Liverpool fans, so news of an impending exit will be joyfully recieved!

Liverpool forced into Crouch talks

Villa circling as Liverpool forced into Crouch contract talks

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has opened talks with striker Peter Crouch about a new deal to stay at Anfield.

The Mirror is reporting Liverpool have opened contract talks with Crouch, as there is strong interest from Aston Villa. Benitez is at last set to turn to the England striker to save their season, and give him a prolonged run in the side. It looks like at last, someone from his coaching staff has made him see sense!

Gangly Crouch only has 16 months left on his £40,000-a-week deal at Anfield, and shrewd Villa boss Martin O'Neill is planning a £9million summer swoop for the gangly star. That can only mean one thing then - O'Neill isn't planning on being at Anfield next year!

Alonso to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Athletico?

More speculation of an unsettled Xabi Alonso

Speculation is linking Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso with a summer move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.

The Times are reporting Alonso is unhappy with the lack of first team football at Anfield, having made just 13 appearances so far this season. Given the mounting speculation it seems Rafa Benitez is willing to part with the midfielder and the big three of Spanish football appear to be leading the chase for the 26 year old.

Footy Focus remembers an odd quote from Alonso a few months ago, when he was out injured. He complained of a lack of football at Anfield and the article hinted he was unsettled. It was the first we'd seen of anything linking him with a move away. Seems to us the briefings are starting, and that a summer move is a done deal.

Liverpool have sorely missed him this season, and we have long argued Liverpool's best midfield is Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard and one of Kewell/ Babel etc

Dirk Kuyt to Newcastle?

King Kev sets his sights on Dirk Kuyt in the summer

Reports are being bandied around of Kevin Keegan setting his sights on tempting Dirk Kuyt to join his revolution at Newcastle, with a 5 million pound fee being mooted. Its being speculated Liverpool will see this as a decent return on the 9 million they paid, given that the player has struggled to make an impression.

Footy Focus thinks Kuyt is a decent player, but completely lacks pace. He could get away with it playing in the hole, if he is surrounded by other players with pace, but at Liverpool he's not. When it comes to it, the yard-stick for Liverpool and others is whether he would get in the Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea teams, and the answer to that is clearly no.

Premier League News - Benjani move falters and Defoe signs in

Portsmouth - Benjani too late for City, while Defoe signs in

Things didn't go quite to plan for Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth yesterday. A deal was agreed for Benjani to go to Manchester City for a fee of 9 million. However the player bizarrely arrived too late in Manchester to complete the deal.

Meanwhile, a prompt Jermain Defoe arrived at Pompey to sign a four year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Footy Focus thinks Harry Redknapp will be delighted at being able to keep Benjani, and acquire a striker of Defoe's quality. However the Portsmouth money men may well be a tad upset at missing out on the Benjani fee.

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.

Premier League News - Spurs to swoop for Rangers Hutton

Spurs to swoop again and go for Rangers Hutton

Juande Ramos is set to further add to his defence, by paying 9 million pounds to Rangers for defender Alan Hutton. Hutton has long been the subject of speculation of a move to the Premier League and Tottenham have been prominent in those reports.

Sky Sports is now reporting that Ramos is to add to his recent capture of Jonathan Woodgate, by completing the long pursuit of Alan Hutton, after Tottenham upped their offer to 9 million pounds.

Ramos is doing the obvious - sorting out that Spurs defence, as there's not too much wrong with an attack that has Berbatov, Jenas, Lennon, and Keane to call on.

Moyes - Everton can finish fourth

David Moyes backs Everton to finish fourth in the Premier League

David Moyes, Everton manager, has been talking up his sides chances of finishing fourth in the Premier League, above rivals and neighbours Liverpool. With nine wins and two draws in their last 13 Premier League games, Moyes expects Everton to continue their good form and cement fourth place in the weeks ahead.

Acknowledging the month ahead is crucial to Everton's hopes of that fourth place Premier League finish, Moyes said "We've raised expectations and it'll be tough because the competition is tight.But there's a real sense of confidence through the group. If we play as we can, then we are more than a match for anyone" Everton face a tricky month of fixtures, starting with the visit of Tottenham, an away trip to Blackburn, a home game against Reading, followed by another tough away trip to Manchester City.

Footy Focus thinks Everton will finish fifth, but then we're biased! Having said that you have to admire their results, given their resources.

Premier League News - Mascherano deal close

Americans Back Benitez with funds for Mascherano

The Liverpool Daily Post is reporting that Javier Mascherano is 'finally poised' to make his stay at Liverpool permanent, which will delight all Liverpool fans, though they will remain on tenterhooks until it is actually signed, sealed and delivered.

The determination of Hicks and Gillett to win back the trust of the Liverpool fans has begun, with this immediate attempt to close the Mascherano transfer, now the refinancing has been settled, and more importantly the sale of Momo Sissoko is complete. However its' not likely in itself to pacify Liverpool fans, who are angry at the pair for going back on their word and loading the club with debt and massive interest payments.

Mascherano is truly an outstanding player and will hopefully become and a major part of the team for many years to come. Footy focus suspects the yanks have recognised any incoming manager would want him, so the funding of this transfer could well be a simple business decision on their part, rather than any real backing of Rafa Benitez.

Fifa And Uefa have a pop at the Premiership

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have being having a pop at the Premiership. Platini has been complaining there is not enough English players or coaches in England's top division. He's quoted as saying: "I don't like the fact that it is too open [in allowing in foreign players]." Well theres' not much love for Mr Platini in England since he's entered football politics. His recent attempt to give the cup-winners a Champions league place bit the dust and before that he had his eye on reducing the number of entrants from England too. I suspect the Premier League clubs will be doing all they can to undermine him given his hare-brained ideas. He neglects to mention what playing in England did for French players that ultimately won the 2000 European Championship and that got to the World Cup Final in 2006. Henry, Pires, Gallas, Petit, and Viera, to name but a few came of age in the Premiership.

That wily old coot Sepp Blatter has also been having a go at the Premiership, claiming its coverage stifles local leagues citing South Africas afternoon coverage of the EPL as a case in point. He admits that there is little he can do. You're damn right Sepp. This is the world we live in - you can watch what you want, when you want all over the world. If he thinks its bad now wait 5 years until we are all watching internet TV via super-fast broadband!! Leagues around the world will just have to adapt cause nothing is stopping the telecommunication juggernaut!!