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 3 - 22 of 82

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  1. What a crock of $h!t. Typical Sun trying to stink­ things up even further in Anfield.
    Mourinho will NEVER­ be Manager of LFC. Parry is out, Rafa is here to stay­ and the only job the Special One might have a sniff at­ is Old Trafford or Villa when Sir Alex leaves and­ Martin O'Neill considers a move to Old Trafford. Go­ on Rafa, sign the contract and lets bring No.6 home!!

    From shane, on Fri 27 Feb 1:43PM

  2. #17 - martinp(ondlife) - do you work for the Daily­ Mail?

    From purple_hatstand, on Fri 27 Feb 1:39PM

  3. Martin P wrote.....
    "why on earth would jose want­ to go to liverpool only to­ have his house robbed when­ he travels to europe for an­ away CL match? he has­ class liverpool has none,­ trophies galor, no class.­ jose wants a vibrant club he­ would never go to­ liverpool he's to smart for that.­ chelsea or man u­ if not, he'll stay at inter until­ he decides to­ take the portugal job"

    Oh dear,­ martin..........do I detect a hint of jealousy ? How­ many European cups have your team got ?

    From AndrewT, on Fri 27 Feb 1:38PM

  4. what you on about mourinho would have his house robbed­ that means he wont go to utd then wasnt flecthers house­ robbed when he was he italy ur just anti liverpool we­ dont want mourinho ieave fafa alone

    From marty.mccauley, on Fri 27 Feb 1:35PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    if rafa is given a fair chance. hahaha. 5 years and a­ limitless suply of money just about is quite­ fair.

    liverppol fans are very amusing

    From yip, on Fri 27 Feb 1:32PM

  6. Talking about HENRY (IGWE) romancing england, it will­ certainly be the home coming of the GREAT KING,but­ remember a dead lion is better than a living dog

    From m.dickson1974, on Fri 27 Feb 1:24PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I thought Jose would go to be chealsea manager not­ f*****g liverpool

    From tal2001, on Fri 27 Feb 1:22PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    why on earth would jose want to go to liverpool only to­ have his house robbed when he travels to europe for an­ away CL match? he has class liverpool has none,­ trophies galor, no class. jose wants a vibrant club he­ would never go to liverpool he's to smart for that.­ chelsea or man u if not, he'll stay at inter until­ he decides to take the portugal job

    From martin, on Fri 27 Feb 1:21PM

  9. let jose stay were he is not good enough for liverpool­ couldnt lace rafas shoes

    From marty.mccauley, on Fri 27 Feb 1:12PM

  10. Typical Sun gutter reporting - this "rag"­ has always been detested by decent people after their­ obscene comments after Heysel & Hillsborough, and ­ it isn't even fit for using a bog-roll in an­ emergency - the Sun & Murdoch will always be­ synonymous with the brown stuff on the floor in a­ pigsty. Rafael Benitez, if given a fair chance, with­ get his knowledge of the Premiership English League­ game at the same high level as his supreme knowledge of­ the Continental game.

    From Madrileno, on Fri 27 Feb 1:11PM

  11. ATTENTION YAHOO SPORTS WRITERS: Do your research.

    No­ Liverpool 'insider' would EVER, EVER speak to­ that so called 'news' paper.

    Once again, going­ with the stories that try to ruffle the feathers of­ liverpool fans, players and staff alike.

    YOU PATHETIC­ EXCUSES FOR JOURNALISTS.

    From mozer69, on Fri 27 Feb 1:09PM

  12. Salomon kalou should stop dreaming of playing for­ arsenal, already he knows that chelsea is fast­ nosediving in the premiaship and all the players are­ fast loosing interest in the club or age is telling on­ them, so if he is looking for a place of refuge or­ sanchuary he should consult other clubs

    From m.dickson1974, on Fri 27 Feb 1:08PM

  13. omar kalou will suit Arsenal he"ll go well amongst­ your strikers that dont score goals

    From fitzrovia.site, on Fri 27 Feb 1:07PM

  14. BLA BLA BLA, LIVERPOOL FOR LIFE; WE HERE TO­ STAY..

    HALLO HATERS

    From fred, on Fri 27 Feb 1:07PM

  15. ha ha ha Kalou wants to play for Arsenal!? GOOD, Im a­ chelsea fan and that would be the best thing for us,­ he's @#$%, just like Malouda!! Also Kalou says­ 'arsenal are doing good things' ??? Has he­ failed to even glance at the premier leagure this­ season!!??

    From unsignedmusicsite, on Fri 27 Feb 1:05PM

  16. Kalou want to play for arsenal, he's good. ohh and­ that's how much unstability u chelsea players have­ in your dressing room

    From Omar F, on Fri 27 Feb 12:59PM

  17. jose couldnt handle it. hahahaha.

    and you think rafa­ is good. amazing.

    From yip, on Fri 27 Feb 12:53PM

  18. let sign kalou.. up gunners.

    From Toks, on Fri 27 Feb 12:50PM

  19. It will be very nice to have mourinho again in england,­ because he will bring the
    glamour back to premiaship­ with his usuall controvasial and questionable­ character.but can he truelly deliver in liverpool if­ placed on the HOT SEAT?

    From m.dickson1974, on Fri 27 Feb 12:47PM

  20. if it was in the SCUM then it must be true(BULL@#$%)the­ scum paper would only ever print lies about­ LIVERPOOL,and i doubt very much the special one would­ be asked to the job,he couldnt handle.
    RAFFA the GAFFA­ will still be here next season.to hold up the treble

    From steve c, on Fri 27 Feb 12:41PM
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