Sport Liverpool Football Club

[Commander Jameson]

I feel real sorry for Barry. We've kinda fucked him around a bit.

He could have put in a transfer request and foregone his loyalty bonus, but (as far as I know) hasn't.

[redbloodcell]

Spurs could do with a decent defensive midfielder. Keane to Liverpool, Alonso to Spurs in a deal that would be more or less a swap. This frees up the money to purchase Barry at Villa's asking price. I doubt Alonso would be up for it though but then again Ramos is in charge there.

Keane's fee is already rumoured to have been used on a replacement, so I wouldn't hold your breath. Surely though you lot should be able to spend £38-40mil in a season, if not you're seriously getting done by your Yanks.

[ras el hanout]

He could have put in a transfer request and foregone his loyalty bonus, but (as far as I know) hasn't.

How would that work? We'd still have to pay for him, something it seems we can't, not with Alonso, and certainly not if we're buying Keane. I don't know, obviously Rafa thought Alonso was going, it's not anybody's fault really, but Barry is the victim, getting booed by his own fans.

[Guest]

Viewpoints

1) He's been loyal to Villa, he deserves the bonus, he's been at that place long enough

2) O Neill turned him back into a player, so he should be grateful/thankful

2a) Ahh but is it his fault he was lumbered with a lot of bad managers before?

2a1) Surely a player can be great without a bad manager?

2a1a) Often a good manager is needed to make a player great.

etc

[redbloodcell]

A lot of it is his own fault though, if he hadn't come out and said publicly that he wanted to leave it wouldn't be nearly as bad for him.

[Rev]

As far as Barry of Keane go I think we're paying mental money just because they happen to be British/UK. Plus I'd prefer us to buy a winger.

Facts: Don't allow them to get in your way!

[dogsout]

How would that work? We'd still have to pay for him, something it seems we can't, not with Alonso, and certainly not if we're buying Keane. I don't know, obviously Rafa thought Alonso was going, it's not anybody's fault really, but Barry is the victim, getting booed by his own fans.

I don't think we'll have much problem shifting Xabi back out to Spain for a decent fee. As far as I know we value Barry at £15m and they value him at £18m. Neither side is prepared to budge on that and as Commander Jameson pointed out, if Barry would put in a transfer request he'd bring the fee down by giving up his loyalty bonus. I'll be very surprised if he's still at Villa at the end of all this; it seems like a matter of time to me.

[nohsa]

Aren’t Munich supposed to be interested in Alonso? I read that the other day, but saying that they have a pretty strong midfield and they don’t really need him.

Hopefully it is just a rumour that Arbeloa wants to return to Spain as he is completely underrated.

[ryodi]

Viewpoints

1) He's been loyal to Villa, he deserves the bonus, he's been at that place long enough

2) O Neill turned him back into a player, so he should be grateful/thankful

2a) Ahh but is it his fault he was lumbered with a lot of bad managers before?

2a1) Surely a player can be great without a bad manager?

2a1a) Often a good manager is needed to make a player great.

etc

Even before O'Neill took over at Villa Barry was far and away their best player and only reason he was never picked for the England squad which has caused his valuation spike is because McClaren was in charge and he only picked the star names, only changing that viewpoint near the end of his time in charge.

[Guest]

Even before O'Neill took over at Villa Barry was far and away their best player and only reason he was never picked for the England squad which has caused his valuation spike is because McClaren was in charge and he only picked the star names, only changing that viewpoint near the end of his time in charge.

Let's be honest now. Whether he was or not their best player, he wasn't performing, end of. He wasn't anywhere NEAR the England squad. O Neill has certainly turned his fortunes around.

O Neill turns up, he's banging in goals and getting some quality assists. There's a direct correlation there.

[larrydavidsanger]

Robbie Keane is expected to complete his transfer from Tottenham to Liverpool later today.

According to reports, a £20m fee for the Irish striker has been agreed and Keane is on the verge of finalising his move to Anfield. The Guardian reports that 'Keane will undergo a medical today and his £20m move from Tottenham Hotspur may be completed in time for the forward to make his debut for his boyhood heroes in Liverpool's friendly in Spain against Villarreal on Wednesday.'

The player is thought to have been offered a five-year deal worth £80,000 a week. Rafa Benitez has made no secret of his wish to sign Keane - prompting Spurs to report Liverpool to the Premier League - and pair the diminutive Irishman with Fernando Torres.

[kimble]

I think Keane will be a great signing. He's a proven premiership goal scorer who's creative and works hard. Him and Torres should make quite some partnership.

[V3zna]

ROBBIE KEANE today completed his medical - edging the striker ever closer to sealing a £20m move to Anfield.

The Irish international arrived in Liverpool last night and was booked in for a series of tests at a Merseyside hospital.

A fee of £18m with add ons of up to £2m has been agreed with Spurs and terms have been agreed with the player

Liverpool had been looking to tie up the deal early last week but the transfer was held up as Tottenham looked to find a replacement for the White Hart Lane crowd favourite.

Keane, a boyhood Liverpool fan, is desperate to complete the move and once the formalities of the medical are completed the 28-year-old striker should get his wish.

Though Keane's arrival would make him the second most expensive player ever signed by Liverpool - only Fernando Torres has cost more - it will not stop Rafa Benitez from pursuing his interest in Gareth Barry.

Despite suggestions from Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill that Liverpool are losing interest in the England midfielder, Benitez's interest in Barry has never wavered.

O'Neill, who is demanding around £20m for Barry, said: "Having not heard from Liverpool for some time it is clear that we value him more than they do.

"We obviously don't want him to go, so the price we are asking for him is a fair and realistic one for a player who is so good. In fact, I think it is really cheap.

"My own view is that he should hang around for another year and see if we can make further progress."

Benitez's desire to snare Barry hasn't lessened one bit, however, and the Reds boss is determined to do everything in his power to ensure he ends up at Anfield.

But in the absence of any acceptable offers being made for Xabi Alonso, it is highly unlikely that Liverpool's American owners will loosen the purse strings to allow Benitez to splash the cash on Barry.

That is likely to mean the wheeling and dealing will continue at Anfield to bring in the funds needed to stand a chance of signing the Villa man.

Meanwhile, Philipp Degen is set to undergo minor surgery on a groin injury and is likely to be ruled out for a fortnight.

Steven Gerrard has returned to full training after a short spell on the sidelines, however. The Reds skipper is expected to join his team mates on the trip to Spain for Wednesday night's friendly against Villarreal.

tonybarrett@liverpoolecho.co.uk

[Chewylegs]

I've spent many years watching Spurs with my brother and I always used to get quite frustrated by Keanes sometime selfish manner when it came to a Spurs attack. However I think he is a brilliant player, with plenty of guile and skill that will improve our attacking options no end. His selfishness may actually help us kill games off more often.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do for us.

[tenrou]

I'm not convinced but I'd be happy for him to prove me wrong.

[dizogg]

Man compared to recent times our attacking options are looking great. Torres, Keane, Kuyt, Babel and Gerrard instead of Baros, Cisse, Pongolle and Mellor.

[hercules]

Robbie Keane is a top draw signing for you guys, i have to say the thought of torres and keane in the same team is frightening!

[AbZorba]

I just can't get excited about it. £20million for a 28 year old. Surely there were better ways to spend £20million?

[superpretend]

Robbie Keane is a great signing. Proven Premiership goalscorer, skillful, plus that silly goal celebration to go with it.

[Guest]

I just can't get excited about it. £20million for a 28 year old. Surely there were better ways to spend £20million?

28 this month mind, his birthday was the start of July.

I kind of understand mind - it's not like he's a Teddy Sheringham figure. He's a dynamic player who runs about like a flea [makes no sense]. Will he keep that up when he's 33?

[V3zna]

That transfer fee is a bit on the large side.

Anyway, I'm sure Dogsout is made up with this signing and there's no doubt Keane is quality. He should be flexible enough to play a number of different roles for us.

[a big boy]

I know its for totally different reasons, but this is like when some of you lot were refusing to get excited about Torres last season. The pair of them are going to be devastating.

[Sng]

Yep yep, him and Torres will be awesome. The price is a tad high thought but I guess if you buy English these days you tend to pay a tad over the odds.

No chance of Gerrard and Barry in midfield now though?

[Blackeyedangel]

Yep yep, him and Torres will be awesome. The price is a tad high thought but I guess if you buy English these days you tend to pay a tad over the odds.

No chance of Gerrard and Barry in midfield now though?

Eh?

Great signing though, wanted him at Liverpool for years, hopefully he'll do the Kuyt role with some actual skill.

[ras el hanout]

Man compared to recent times our attacking options are looking great. Torres, Keane, Kuyt, Babel and Gerrard instead of Baros, Cisse, Pongolle and Mellor.

Kuyt's a rubbish attacker, and Babel hasn't done anything yet, he's had more bad games than good. and who's this Gerrard chap we've just bought so that he goes on the now list rather than the then list? Mellor was a reserve player. I'm sure we have reserve strikers now and Pongolle was young, younger that Babel.

Where are Crouch and Morientes and Bellamy on that list? It's just you listed attackers not bought by Benitez for some reason.

Keane though, he's a bit old isn't he? I thought he was about 25. Good player though.

[Sng]

Eh?

Great signing though, wanted him at Liverpool for years, hopefully he'll do the Kuyt role with some actual skill.

I just mean it seems people always pay over the top if buying from another English club.

[Kelthink]

I just mean it seems people always pay over the top if buying from another English club.

Probably because of how the whole system works. Managers get a greater say over their team over here (I think) that they do abroad, so the likes of Barry will always cost the Earth because of his valuation to his manager (and whilst we're on the Barry subject, according to the stats from The Times he was technically the best player, so Rafa has been right to pursue). Plus the fact they're more likely to play in a similar manner to which they have been playing because they're already playing in the same country. Or something, I dunno.

But yeah, woo for getting Keane. Just hope that roly-poly celebration fucks off a bit.

[V3zna]

Has it been actually confirmed anywhere he's taking the 7 shirt?

[dizogg]

Kuyt's a rubbish attacker, and Babel hasn't done anything yet, he's had more bad games than good. and who's this Gerrard chap we've just bought so that he goes on the now list rather than the then list? Mellor was a reserve player. I'm sure we have reserve strikers now and Pongolle was young, younger that Babel.

Where are Crouch and Morientes and Bellamy on that list? It's just you listed attackers not bought by Benitez for some reason.

Keane though, he's a bit old isn't he? I thought he was about 25. Good player though.

I was talking about the squad Benitez inherited, basically. You know, the squad that he won the Champions League with. You might have heard about it? And he turned Gerrard into a support striker! You realise I was using a bit of artistic license for effect, but our front line has really got a lot more class these days.

Also, try telling Italy (the world champions) how rubbish an attacker Kuyt is. And Babel has shown more promise than our Le Tallec, Mellors and Pongolles or countless others of the Houllier era.

[dogsout]

I'm sure Dogsout is made up with this signing

Is right.

I know its for totally different reasons, but this is like when some of you lot were refusing to get excited about Torres last season. The pair of them are going to be devastating.

Is also right. I was about to make the 'remember when I was going mental about Torres last year...' post, only to find you'd beaten me to it.

I seriously couldn't be happier with this signing. There isn't a player (in the £20m bracket) I'd have preferred us to sign.