Anfield Red

 Marseille have said they are still confident of completing the move for Djibril Cisse.

Despite being injured, a loan move is on the cards for Cisse to join Marseille, but a move has yet to be agreed.

Speaking on the club’s official site, Marseille president Pape Diouf said:

He gave us his word well before his injury and we were delighted. Unluckily, this injury has intervened. Our desire to sign Cissé hasn’t changed. When you sing a player for four years, it is easier to wait for him to return.

We are in a position to accept the player on loan but with an option and have taken the duration of his injury into consideration. We were given early guarantees by the player than he will be back soon. With this, we believe that he will be back playing in October, which is not a problem in our eyes.

He has always shown a desire to join Marseille. We wanted to respond to that confidence with another by assuring him that we ware doing everything to bring him here, which is why I travelled to Liverpool two days ago.

The situation is that there is no pressure, no time delay to finalise a transfer because he needs time to heal and to get fit again.
We will renew the contact with Cissé and Liverpool in the coming hours or days. We are reasonably confident because we are dealing with sensible people."

If Cisse was to return by october/november, a loan move will happen with a view to make the move permanent

  Benfica winger Simao Sabrossa has been priced at £14million in a bid to fend off offers from other clubs.

Simao nearly moved to the reds in January, but at the last minute a halt was called on the deal, and have now put at £14million price tag on his head, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Man utd reportedly after him.

Benfica president Luis Vieira said : "We have already received several offers for other Benfica players, but only one of our players will be able to leave the club and that is Simao."

Despite allowing to leave, they are not going to let him go on the cheap, and with Liverpool already going for Daniel Alves, a deal for Simao may not happen

Craig Bellamy has today signed a 4 year deal at Liverpool after agreeing personal terms.

Bellamy cut short his holiday to complete the move, and speaking on the club’s official site, he said

" Just to get the transfer completed today was an unbelievable moment for me. I just got married last month and that was obviously one of the highlights of my life but this is on par with that – I know the missus might not be happy with me saying that but it’s true! It’s a dream come true to sign for the club I supported as a boy and to actually play for Liverpool will be an enormous honour. I’m a very proud person at the moment,  I just hope I can play a part in this already brilliant football team and hopefully make this great club even more successful.

Being a Liverpool supporter myself, at the start of every season it’s the league title that you’re looking to win. Being top of this league is something that Liverpool grew used to in the 70s and 80s but it hasn’t happened for a while, and that has to change. Even from the outside looking in, you could tell that things were heading in the right direction under Mr Benitez and if we can improve on what we did last year and move two steps on, hopefully we can win the title."

I could never turn Liverpool down. You get the chance to play for Liverpool and it’s a lifelong dream come true. I had a lot of friends at Blackburn – the players, the coaching staff, the chairman are all great people – and I owe them a lot – a hell of a lot to be honest. They helped me improve and they were there at an awkward time for me but I’ve spoken to a lot of the players and they know the situation. I’ve had no problem from any player at Blackburn and I’m sure if any of them got the chance to join the team they love with all their heart, they’d do exactly the same thing. It’s sad in a way to leave Blackburn but this is too good a chance to turn down."

 It’s going to take a lot of work, a lot of focus, a lot of discipline – everything – to make it at a club like this. Because I want to be a hit. I don’t want to just be remembered as a Liverpool player, I want to be remembered as a good Liverpool player. That’s my motivation."

Bellamy completed a £6million move and will be officially a Liverpool player on July 1sts. 

 Getafe striker Riki has been priced at £4million by his club.

Liverpool were linked with the Getafe striker in January, when Rafa was after a cheap striker.

Riki is a product of the Real Madrid youth team, and when Liverpool were thought to be interested, no offer was actually made.

Now that a price has been put on his head, Rafa may or may not go back in for him.

Getafe President Angel Torres said : "At this moment, we have not received any formal propositions for our player and we really don’t want his exit because he is key to our play," The club that is interested in Riki will have to pay €6 million (£4 million). That is the price.

"Riki is happy in Getafe and our project is very attractive compared to an adventure at another Spanish club."

Whilst there has been no talk of a move for Riki for some months, if the Kuyt deal does not happen, then the reds could face competition to sign the striker if they go in for him.

 Craig Bellamy is at Liverpool’s training ground to undergo a medical.

Bellamy is also there to meet Rafa for an interview , for Rafa to see if Craig has the right attitude for the club.

Speaking earlier this week, Benitez said "

"I will be talking to him to express my ideas. He has the ability, the pace and the talent we’ve been looking for and now we need to talk about other things."

Bellamy is on the verge of a £6million move from Blackburn

 Feyenoord have yet to receive any offers for Striker Dirk Kuyt.

The British media has been speculating for some time about a move to Liverpool, but Feyenoord have still not received an offer for the striker, who is away on international duty with Holland.

AnfieldRed recently reported that Feyenoord Chairman Jorien Van den Herik had said there were no offers, and this is still the case, according to reports in Holland.

AnfieldRed will keep you updated on this story should anything happen.

 Check out this video of Liverpool target Dirk Kuyt’s top 10 goals from last season.

 Liverpool face competition for  the signature of Alberto Zapater.

Zapater has been recently linked with a move to Liverpool, however, Valencia are now reportedly interested, and could use Pablo Aimar as bait for the deal.

Zapater was linked after reports emerged saying Hamann was on his way out of Anfield, where a move has failed to happen. Zaragoza apparently want £4million for the youngster, but Real have been after Aimar, so a swap could happen.

 Rafa Benitez has confirmed the Bellamy deal is on and that he is preparing to discuss terms with the Blackburn striker.

Speaking earlier today, Rafa said

"We have an agreement which allows us to talk to the player,  
He is on holiday, but we will talk over the next few days. I know the player’s qualities very well. He is a very good footballer and now we need to see if he has the passion to play for our club.
 
"I don’t think this will be a problem because he is a Liverpool fan, so I think it will be easy for him.
 
"I will be talking to him to express my ideas. He has the ability, the pace and the talent we’ve been looking for and now we need to talk about other things.

If Bellamy impresses Benitez, then the deal will happen very shortly.

 Blackburn Rovers have confirmed they have received a bid from Liverpool for Craig Bellamy.

On the club’s official site, an article titled "Rovers confirm Bellamy bid" with an article that reads :

"Rovers have confirmed receiving an official bid from Liverpool for Craig Bellamy. After a conversation between manager Mark Hughes and the Welsh striker yesterday, the club has now reluctantly given Liverpool permission to speak with Craig – the bid from Anfield having met certain contractual conditions".

Speaking about the news, Blackburn chairman John Williams said

" We have made it crystal clear to Craig and his advisers that we want him at Ewood Park.

"We made him an improved offer before Liverpool declared their interest, that was consistent with our ambition and determined to build on last season’s success. The decision now rests with the player"

A move has been talked about for some time now, and surely it will be only a few days before this deal is concluded.

Come back to AnfieldRed for updates on this and other news.