Juventus have agreed personal terms with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, it has been revealed.

The Independent on Sunday says Juventus have agreed terms with Liverpool manager Benitez for him to manage the Serie A club next season, according to authoritative reports from Italy last night.

La Repubblica newspaper reported that the club’s lawyers will arrive in England today for talks tomorrow about the release of the manager this summer. Benitez’s current contract at Anfield runs until 2014.

Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc is reported to have “already fixed everything with Benitez and has in his drawer a detailed agreement of his terms and length of contract”. Juve are keen to reach an agreement and begin making plans for next season.

Will Rafa betray Liverpool and join Juventus?  or Will he be sacked and then join Juventus?  Let’s see!  Personally, it is not the end of the world for Liverpool if Benitez will leave Liverpool.  If this is true, I hope that we can bring in an attacking mind and world-class manager.

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The Professional Footballers’ Association are hoping to create official fan pages on Facebook for every player in the country as a way of protecting their members against the pitfalls of social media, reports the Daily Mail.

A number of high-profile players have found themselves in trouble with their clubs after using social networking sites, most notably the likes of Liverpool’s Ryan Babel, Hull’s Jozy Altidore and Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who used Twitter to vent his frustration over his protracted move from Tottenham.

Now the PFA have stepped in with a plan to create official pages for all professional players.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “The PFA are constantly monitoring the way their members are represented in all forms of the media.

“With Facebook continuing to grow, the union are proud to enable the association to bring players and fans closer together in a monitored environment for each professional.”

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Rafael Benitez has confirmed Liverpool have held talks with Sunderland over a deal to sign striker Kenwyne Jones although he is unsure about the current position of the deal.

Liverpool have been linked with Jones for some time, and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce hit out at Benitez on Friday for unsettling the player.  And while Benitez insists he did nothing wrong in the pursuit of Jones, he has confirmed that the two clubs are currently discussing a potential deal.

“I was not dealing with this,” Benitez said. “(Managing director) Christian Purslow has been talking with (Sunderland chairman) Niall Quinn so they have to manage the situation because I was not doing anything.

“I prefer not to talk too much because we will create a debate so Christian and Niall will continue to talk if they need to talk. They were in contact but I don’t know what the situation is now.”

It is understood that Liverpool are privately angry at Bruce’s comments, particularly as preliminary talks have been taking place between the clubs since last month.

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Hamburg have signed Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The 33-year-old had been linked with a host of clubs recently as he looked to secure more playing time, with West Ham and Tottenham just two of the teams that were interested in the former Manchester United striker.

But HSV confirmed after their 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening that they had won the race for the player’s signature.

Van Nistelrooy quit international football after Holland’s quarter-final exit to Russia at Euro 2008, but recently expressed his desire to return and now has his sights firmly set on a place in Bert van Marwijk’s Oranje squad for South Africa.

“I would like to play well for HSV and be successful with them,” he told hsv.de. “And then I obviously hope that the national team coach gives me a call and that I can go to the World Cup.”

Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia was delighted to have secured the services of the prolific Dutchman.

He said: “Ruud has proved his qualities impressively at some of Europe’s top clubs. I am convinced that he will also score some important goals for HSV.

“It just emphasises the reputation of our club that a player like Ruud van Nistelrooy decides to join Hamburg.”

Van Nistelrooy was equally thrilled to have become a Hamburg player.

“I am really happy that it has worked out,” he said.

“I am also looking forward to Monday when I come to Hamburg. I had great talks with both Bernd Hoffmann (Hamburg president) and Bruno Labbadia and had a very positive impression from the very beginning.

“HSV is a great club with a strong team and big ambitions. I also have big ambitions.”

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Barcelona president Joan Laporta hopes to have an answer from coach Pep Guardiola in April over new contract talks.

Laporta insists there’s “no pressure” on Guardiola, despite press speculation he could stand down at the end of the season to take a 12-month break from the game.

“It is a reasonable time, it would give us time to seek alternatives, but it is something that we’re not even contemplating because Guardiola has a huge influence in Barcelona. But at Easter it would be good to know who will be our coach,” said Laporta.

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GUUS HIDDINK would happily take the Liverpool job should the beleaguered club dispense with Rafa Benitez.  The former Chelsea boss, who is currently in charge of the Russian national team, has been identified as a possible replacement for the Spaniard after a rotten first half of the season.

The Reds have already blown any hopes of winning the Premier League, while their Champions League and FA Cup hopes were both ended at the first hurdle.

Should they seek a change of direction at Anfield, Hiddink would be interested in taking over.

But he would first seek the approval of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who was instrumental to his appointment as Russia coach.

He said: “I have to speak to the federation president before making any decision on my future, but it is true that I would like to coach in England again.

“After all the support I’ve received from Roman Abramovich I owe it to them to discuss anything with them first.’

Source: The Sun

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Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is being linked with Rafa Benitez’s job at Liverpool. Former Birmingham City chairman David Gold is backing Brum boss Alex McLeish to be a success at Liverpool.

The Sun says calls for Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish to step in as an emergency caretaker intensified yesterday.

Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett must re- finance the debt they accrued buying Liverpool so cannot promise a huge transfer kitty for any new boss.

They believe Birmingham manager McLeish would be the ideal manager to get the best out of the current squad and operate within a limited budget.

The Scot has 18 months left on his Brum deal, worth around £800,000 a year.

Liverpool believe they would have to pay around £1million compensation to get their man now but a lot less if they wait until the summer.

Big Eck has led the Blues on a record-breaking unbeaten 14-match run.

And McLeish, who will be 51 on Thursday, could be handed an early birthday present if Liverpool decide to replace Rafa Benitez.

Gold told The Sun: “If the moment came when Liverpool were to make a move for him, I know he would be a huge success.

“If he were to go to Liverpool, I know he would do a fantastic job – he has everything going for him. The man is pure quality and within 20 minutes of meeting him I knew he was the right guy to follow Steve Bruce.

“His results spoke entirely for themselves, so once that had been looked at there were two other essentials – TV appearances and how he interacted with the chairman.

“On both fronts he scored 10 out of 10. He’s calm and composed on the box and it became very clear from a 20-minute conversation that he would be an ideal person as far as a chairman/boss relationship was concerned.

“People underestimate the effect of TV but I consider it very important and Alex handles it very well. He is entirely at home with big-name players after managing Scotland and is a very resolute individual who has tremendous faith in his own ability.

“The big thing is he can handle failure and setbacks. Any fool can manage a football club when things are going well. It’s when the surprise defeats come along that you realise what they are made of and we had a few of those at Birmingham.

“But Alex doesn’t panic and start going off in different directions. He is totally single-minded and, as he has now shown, given the time he can produce the goods. You ask if he could manage Liverpool and the answer is of course ‘Yes’ but in fact I have no doubt he could manage Manchester United were Sir Alex Ferguson to make a sudden retirement.”

However, can Alex Mcleish manages big star names at Liverpool? Steve, Torres, Kuyt, and etc.

Source: Tribal football

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Liverpool have signed Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid.  The 29-year-old winger has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with Rafael Benitez’s side after spending four years in the Spanish capital.

After passing a medical and agreeing terms Maxi put pen to paper on the deal, which is subject to international clearance.

Reds boss Benitez told his club’s website: “We were looking for players with character and a good mentality. He has played for Argentina and Atletico Madrid and is a player with personality.

“He can play in three positions – on the right, left or as a second striker – and is someone with a very positive mentality, which is what we are looking for.

“He is comfortable on the ball, can pass and keep possession. He is good at getting into the box and scoring goals and a good finisher. Every year he gets five to 15 goals from the right side of midfield.

“I know he was not doing as well as he did in the past at Atletico Madrid, but he is doing really well with Argentina and wants to impress for the World Cup.”

Benitez hopes Maxi will settle quickly with the help of compatriot Javier Mascherano and former Atletico team-mate Fernando Torres.

“He knows Mascherano and Torres and he can provide a lift for some players,” said the Liverpool boss. “I think he will adapt to English football because he is a clever player and takes up good positions on the pitch.

“It is a question of adjusting to the pace of the game and he will need some time, but with these players around it will be easier for him.

“Rodriguez will be a different kind of player for us and also competition for Dirk Kuyt on the right side, along with Nabil El Zhar and Yossi Benayoun.

“He will give us the opportunity to manage some of the other players and rest them if necessary to keep the level of the team.

“I have been talking with him and he is really pleased and ready to come here. I have told him what we are expecting from him and he is ready for the challenge.”

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Sol Campbell has confirmed to ESPN Soccernet that he intends to re-sign for Arsenal until the end of the season.   Campbell, 35, is available on a free transfer after leaving League Two side Notts County in September and has been training with Arsenal in recent months.

He is now in talks over a deal with the club and played for the reserves in the 4-2 win at West Ham on Tuesday night, coming off at half-time with his side 2-0 up. It appears the match at Upton Park was a form of trial, with Wenger seemingly keen to ensure that Campbell can prove his fitness and also regain his match sharpness before committing to even a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Campbell expects to play a couple of reserve games before that decision is made and he told ESPN Soccernet ahead of his comeback: “I shall be playing in the reserves at Upton Park tonight – it must be two years since I last played there. I cannot wait. I cannot tell you how much I’ve missed playing after being out so long since leaving Notts County.

“I need to get minutes under my belt, a couple of reserve games at least, before I can start looking any further ahead. I hope to sign for Arsenal until the end of the season. There are still a few technicalities to iron out, but I want to sign for Arsenal until the end of the season, and it’s fantastic, great, marvellous.

“The old enthusiasm is back. I’ve got to tell you it seems as though I have never been away. I’m ecstatic really to be back at Arsenal, and I have worked bloody hard to get there.”

He added: “Arsene Wenger has been an inspiration. He has watched me closely after letting me train at Arsenal for nearly two months now. He’s not stupid – he wouldn’t have taken me back if he didn’t like what he has seen, and I have worked and worked.

“I do believe I can contribute. I really have my confidence and fitness back and believe I can make a big, big contribution. There is fantastic quality all around the pitch within this Arsenal team and I want to be part of it, and will make a big push to try to do that, but it’s little steps at a time. First step is at Upton Park; the next step is more football.”

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp recently said that if Campbell returned to peak form and fitness, he could still be playing for England, but Campbell acknowledged that it is very early to be talking about a return to international duty in South Africa.

“First steps, first steps,” he laughed. “It is just a pleasure to be back on the pitch, and pitch-time is what I need. I am going to enjoy it, really enjoy it. I’ve been out far too long, and I have worked hard to get back on the field. I’ve been training hard, working hard, and I now want to be involved.”

Newcastle were among the clubs to have expressed an interest in signing Campbell, but he admits returning to a side with title ambitions will be a significant step-up.

“There have been a few clubs, quite a bit of speculation, but going back to Arsenal – well, that is serious, and I am serious about this,” he said.

“I’ve missed it and I’ve a gut feeling this is the right move. It’s no longer a hunger to get back – it’s turned into a craving. I am champing at the bit. I’m fresh, I’m raring to go. It’s unbelievable to be back at Arsenal.”

Wenger admitted last week that he was considering bringing the defender back.

“He has a fantastic attitude and good fitness,” Wenger said. “Of course he is not the youngest, but he is in a very good shape. He can still play in the Premier League – I’ve said that many times.

“He is important in the dressing room as well. He’s positive with the young players. Every year we have one or two like that and I think a Premier League club will sign him.”

Source: ESPN Soccernet

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