Transfers - Gossip Shop: Jose's Liverpool link

Eurosport - Fri, 27 Feb 19:09:00 2009

Liverpool are understood to have sounded out Internazionale boss Jose Mourinho in case Rafael Benitez leaves Anfield.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Internazionale Mourinho - 0

Well that's what the back pages of the British tabloids reckon, with The Sun quoting a Liverpool insider as follows:

"The Americans had read Mourinho was interested in returning to the Premier League and wanted to know if he meant it.

"But it wasn't a firm approach or a job offer. It was more a case of testing the water in case Rafa did decide to walk out."

Okay, it makes sense. Benitez's relationship with "the Americans" (co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett) has been fractious at best, and all parties have been stalling over signing a new contract and securing the future of the Spaniard's assistants.

However, the decision of Liverpool to part ways with chief executive Rick Parry implies that Benitez has won his war to gain full control over transfers and development, and that he will now sign a deal to stay at the club for four more years.

And even if he does yearn for a return to England, why would Mourinho move to Liverpool from Inter with the Italians the dominant force in domestic football and one creative midfielder short of a Champions League-winning side?

Another complicated management situation has seen Guus Hiddink tipped to stay at Chelsea beyond the summer.

Temporary Blues boss Hiddink has constantly expressed commitment to his full-time role as Russia coach but friend, Chelsea owner and Russian FA bankroller Roman Abramovich is reported to have found a solution.

It involves Dick Advocaat, another highly-regarded Dutch coach plying his trade in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg.

Advocaat won the UEFA Cup with Zenit, but his cycle at the club is nearing its end and the national team job is a natural progression for the former Rangers and Netherlands boss.

Hiddink, meanwhile, is relishing the challenge of rejuvenating Stamford Bridge and has already identified the kind of creative talent Chelsea are lacking by recommending CSKA Moscow winger Yuri Zhirkov and Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery as summer targets.

Ribery is also a target for Barcelona, according to El Mundo Deportivo.

That would mean the end of someone at the Camp Nou, almost certainly Eidur Gudjohnsen and quite probably Thierry Henry who, despite finding form in Catalonia, misses his kid daughter and wants to come back to England. Madness.

Exclusive! Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou has his heart set on playing for Arsenal. Thing is, everyone knows Kalou supports the Gunners; hell, it even says so on Football Manager.

"Arsene Wenger said he thought of signing me? That is an honour. He is a very great coach and I know every single player in the world dreams of playing for him," the Ivorian told Setanta.

"I am still under contract with Chelsea but of course I have plenty of friends who play for Arsenal. They are achieving huge things at Arsenal and to watch them play is beautiful."

Yesterday GS told of Kia Joorabchian's dinner with Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic. While the Spanish press insisted the topic of discussion was Carlos Tevez, Joorabchian claimed he was in Madrid to watch Javier Mascherano play for Liverpool and that Mijatovic was just a pal.

Still, Tevez is no closer to being offered a contract by United and Madrid will bid for him if they fail again to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.

At the other end of the transfer hierarchy, Sheffield Wednesday have put a £2 million price tag on defender Tommy Spurr, with Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Bolton all eyeing the 21-year-old.

Spurr, who can play at left-back and centre-half, was the subject of two failed bids from Queens Park Rangers last season and is viewed as a potential international player.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 43 - 62 of 82

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  1. rafa is a racist, and a @#$% manager

    From paul, on Fri 27 Feb 6:32PM

  2. yahoo you take the piss

    From paul, on Fri 27 Feb 6:32PM

  3. 58 was a great year

    From leeroymaw, on Fri 27 Feb 6:31PM

  4. i want rafa sacked 2 and i am a city fan, he does not­ give british players a fair go!!

    From paul, on Fri 27 Feb 6:31PM

  5. RAFA OUT JOSE IN RAFA OUT JOSE IN!!!!

    copy and paste­ if you agree

    From calday1234, on Fri 27 Feb 6:28PM

  6. I HAVE BEEN A lIVERPOOL FOR 35 YEARS AND ALL I WANT­ (ANY ANY TRUE FAN WANTS)IS THE PREMIERSHIP, NEVER MIND­ RAFA SAYING EUROPE, LETS GET THE LEAGUE

    From MICHAEL, on Fri 27 Feb 6:25PM

  7. Hopefully most people can agree that the two most­ successful clubs in England are Liverpool and­ Manchester United. Liverpool have been champions of­ Europe more often and have won the old Div 1 (now­ premiership) more often. Manchester United can claim to­ have won the FA Cup more often, but must bow to the­ fact that Liverpool in historic terms are the most­ successful. That said, the force has recently been and­ continues to be with Manchester United and they are­ undoubtedly a stronger team than Liverpool at the­ present time.

    From chriscunningham92, on Fri 27 Feb 6:24PM

  8. I'll love it, just love it when Liverpool win naff­ all this season

    From Chilla Black, on Fri 27 Feb 6:21PM

  9. Only Manu,Chelsea,Arsenal fans want Rafa to be axed so­­ that their league positions wont be treatened by­­ Liverpool.Our 4th positions previous years, they didnt­ ask for his sacking.Shame to them as we know their­ plans

    From Michael, on Fri 27 Feb 6:20PM

  10. well known fact - if you read The Sun you are an­ imbecile. If you buy it - more fool you. It's just­ a comic and not much more.

    From Chilla Black, on Fri 27 Feb 6:14PM

  11. Police are treating a car they found in Liverpool as­ suspicious apparently the car has vaild insurance, tax,­ mot and a CD player

    From merrindavid, on Fri 27 Feb 6:10PM

  12. Ian RUSH RUSH RUSH

    From merrindavid, on Fri 27 Feb 6:06PM

  13. No need to be like that of course Liverpool are the­ best team in England thats why they aint won the league­ in 20 years, an never win anything kopites live in the­ past your living in the past, Liverpool wont win­ anything again this year but no your right there still­ the best team in England so calm down calm, go rob an­ old lady or kid thats what you kopites are the best in­ England at

    From merrindavid, on Fri 27 Feb 6:00PM

  14. No need to be like that of course Liverpool are the­ best team in England thats why they aint won the league­ in 20 years, an never win anything kopites live in the­ past your living in the past, Liverpool wont win­ anything again this year but no your right there still­ the best team in England so calm down calm, go rob an­ old lady or kid thats what you kopites are the best in­ England at

    From merrindavid, on Fri 27 Feb 5:58PM

  15. merrindavid u are one sad little man or what ever u r!­ get a life u sado! liverpool r the best team in england­ man u is the most overrated team ever i bet u support­ man u dont you? support the team thats top or winning­ then change ur mind everytime! typical people like u­ are bad 4 the game!!!!! so keep ur mouth shut and mind­ ur own business @#$%!!!!

    From kevin j, on Fri 27 Feb 5:45PM

  16. Have you all heard kopites its great news Liverpool­ have just signed Ian Rush, Shell suits are in again and­ Liverpool are gonna win the league straight up

    From merrindavid, on Fri 27 Feb 5:28PM

  17. busybee Thats a very good short to the point comment.­ Most papers are like that. Have u ever noticed that­ many Livercool matches aren't always aired on TV,­ sky, setanta, or terrestrial? Gee, I wonder why!!!

    From LFCool!, on Fri 27 Feb 5:02PM

  18. why believe anything in the sun ... the most pro man­ utd / chelsea rag going. is the next liverpool­ exclusive going to be 'as reported on MUTV'?

    From busybee, on Fri 27 Feb 4:50PM

  19. "But it wasn't a firm approach or a job­ offer"

    So it's journo rubbish trying to stir­ stories AGAIN...boring journalism.

    From john m, on Fri 27 Feb 4:03PM

  20. Don't you just get sick of hearing about the­ managerial-merry-go-round, he's moving here,­ he's going their and so on, we all know it's a­ certainty that most managers will lose their jobs­ eventaully either through a bad run of results,poaching­ or disagreements.

    Of late some managers have only been­ in the job for only a few months and they are either­ sacked or talked about been replaced, Uefa go on about­ capping the spending but at the same time they should­ introduce a ruling that says when a club employs a­ manager it should be for a minimum period of 2 years,­ they at least deserve some kind of security.

    I'm­ not a Utd fan and most of us know Fergie was on the­ verge of been sacked but they hung in their with him­ and years later are still sweeping the board, the proof­ is in the pudding......keep your managers.

    From JOHN, on Fri 27 Feb 3:57PM
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