Roy confirms Masch wants out,but not Fernando

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed that midfielder Javier Mascherano has said he is keen to leave Anfield this summer, although the manager is convinced Fernando Torres remains committed to the club.

Mascherano is believed to have been unsettled at Anfield for some time but on Monday made his position clear to Hodgson when meeting the new manager upon his return to the club.

It is now expected that former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will attempt to bring Mascherano to Inter Milan. The player's agent recently said Mascherano is keen to join the Nerrazzuri and reunite with his former boss.

As for Hodgson, he is adamant that while Mascherano has expressed a desire to leave, the Argentina captain will only do so on Liverpool's terms.

"Yes, he wants to leave the club,'' Hodgson said. "He has made that perfectly clear. I think he wanted to leave a year go. He wants to leave now but he is contracted to Liverpool so whether he leaves or not will be our decision.''

Torres has also been the subject of sustained speculation, with Chelsea believed to be preparing a bid and Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini expressing an interest on Monday, but Hodgson insists the striker is committed to the club.

"As far as I know he is looking forward to coming back here; he is back on Monday,'' Hodgson said. "He is enjoying a holiday - a well-deserved break as he has not had one for three years.

"He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to anyone.

"But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous.''

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Masch wants to quit Liverpool

Javier Mascherano has reportedly told Liverpool he wants to leave the club following a meeting with new manager Roy Hodgson.

The Argentina midfielder returned for pre-season training on Monday after being given an extended break following his involvement at the World Cup finals.

Hodgson had previously admitted that he had been unable to contact the 26-year-old whilst on holiday, casting heavy doubts over whether he would stay at Anfield this season.

The Reds boss met with Mascherano and the player's agent Walter Tamer to discuss his future and widespread reports claim the tough-tackling anchor man has expressed a wish to leave.

Inter Milan, now coached by former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, have been heavily linked with a £25million bid for Mascherano before the transfer window closes.

His representative Tamer has previously suggested a move to the European champions would be a 'dream' for Mascherano.

Any departure for Mascherano would leave Hodgson in need of a replacement and reports have claimed Sulley Muntari could be included in part exchange.

West Ham United's influential midfielder Scott Parker has also been mooted as a potential target for Hodgson, who is keen to bolster his squad.

Mascherano joined Liverpool from the Hammers in January 2007 after just six months at Upton Park and he has made almost 140 appearances during his time on Merseyside.

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Cole admits he has signed for the best club in the country

Joe Cole has described Liverpool as the "biggest club" in England after finalising his free-transfer move to Merseyside on Wednesday.

Cole was available as a free agent following his release by Chelsea and spurned interest from Arsenal and Tottenham to sign a four-year deal worth a reported £90,000 per week.

Liverpool are currently in pre-season training in Austria and in his first interview after joining the club, Cole expressed his belief that the Reds represent the pinnacle of English football.

"I set myself a deadline to make a decision and when I made it I sent a text to Christian Purslow and Steven Gerrard and then turned my phone off," Cole told the club's official website.

"I know I have made the right decision and I am looking forward to the challenge. This is a challenge for me. I have played in London all my life. I could have stayed at Chelsea because the fans loved me and I won things, but I wanted to challenge myself and when I knew Liverpool were interested it was a no-brainer because they are the biggest club in the country.

"This is a massive club. I tried to take everything out of the equation, take the financial and location side out and just thought in football terms. I thought about the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005 when I ran onto the field and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I was thinking about playing in that atmosphere every week and that swung it for me."

Cole's signing was warmly welcomed by Liverpool fans and also captain Steven Gerrard, who promptly indicated that his long-term future lies with the club. Gerrard had been linked with a move to Real Madrid but Cole is delighted his England colleague will remain at Anfield.

"That was the best bit of news I could have had," Cole said. "I know Stevie, he is Liverpool through and through and I know from playing with and against him for the last ten years what a quality player he is. I know how much this club means to him.

"I think players can play for other clubs but with Liverpool you have to live and breathe it. It's that kind of a place. I am excited by the challenge. I am moving my family and everyone is excited and booking their weekends up here. I am going to make it work.

"I had a chat with the gaffer about football and was impressed with him. The club has had Spanish and French managers over the years and I think it's a breath of fresh air to get an Englishman in. The club finished seventh last year, which wasn't good enough, and he explained where the club wants to go.

"I jumped on board because with the players we have here and the players we are looking to bring in, it's definitely going in the right direction."

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Liverpool sign young talented defender from Rangers

Defender Danny Wilson has penned a three-year deal with Liverpool from Rangers after passing his medical.

The Merseyside club will pay £2million up front to the Ibrox side for the 18-year-old centre-back, with a further £3m dependent on appearances and add-ons.

Wilson, the Scottish Football Associationand Football Writers' Young Player of the Year, insists he is ready for the Premier League move.

"This is a massive challenge for me. This is one of the best leagues in the world and I will be playing for one of the biggest teams in the world," said Wilson.

"Coming here from Scotland, people may say I might not be ready for this, but that is a challenge I want to put on myself and that's the reason I came here.

"It wasn't a difficult decision to come here as Liverpool are not a team who come in for you every day, so I can't wait to get started.

"There were other clubs interested in me who are in the Champions League, but once Liverpool came in for me there was only one team I wanted to go to."

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Captain Fantastic commits his future to Liverpool

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has ended speculation around his future by admitting that he is impressed with Roy Hodgson's plans for the club.

Real Madrid had made no secret of their desire to lure the England vice-captain to the Bernabeu after a disappointing campaign that saw the Reds falter to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League and crashed out of the Champinos League at the group stage.

Despite the La Liga giants publicly withdrawing their interest in Gerrard last week, question marks still remained over his final destination at the close of the transfer window.

However the 30-year-old has now broken his silence on the matter after refusing to speak about it during the World Cup and insists that he is looking forward to the new season as a Liverpool player.

He said: "I made it clear that I simply needed to concentrate on the World Cup and then have a decent holiday with my family.

"I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and having done so I'm very impressed with his plans for the future of the team.

"I've only returned to training today at Melwood with some of the other World Cup players, but I can't wait for the new season to start."

Gerrard also hailed the signing of former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, who penned a four-year deal with the club yesterday, and admits that he cannot wait to team up with his international team mate.

"It's a great signing for us. I know Joe well through the England set-up and have seen first hand just how good a player he is," he added.

"He's proved his ability over many years in the Premier League, sometimes against us - so it will be fantastic to play alongside him in a red shirt for Liverpool.

"I've told him what a great club this is and I'm sure Joe's the sort of exciting talent our fans will love to see."

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Liverpool sign Joe Cole , the best free transfer available

Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has agreed sign for Liverpool on a free transfer, subject to a medical.

It has been reported that Cole, 28, was offered wages of £90,000-a-week to stave off interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Cole left Stamford Bridge at the end of last month after Chelsea decided not to offer him a new deal.

Cole will head to Liverpool for his medical in the next 48 hours when his move to Anfield will be rubberstamped. It may be seen as a statement of intent from new manager Roy Hodgson, who was expected to make few major signings this summer due to the club's financial constraints.

With Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard thought to be considering their futures on Merseyside, supporters will hope the signing of Cole will indicate an ability to challenge for a place in the top four this season.

It essentially means that Cole and Yossi Benayoun are swapping clubs, with a payment of £5 million in Liverpool's favour.

Cole is the second summer arrival at Liverpool after Serbia forward Milan Jovanovic joined following the expiration of his contract with Standard Liege. Hodgson is still on the look-out for a new left-back with Fabio Aurelio having left and Emiliano Insua on the verge of completing his move to Fiorentina.

Liverpool's record goalscorer Ian Rush believes the signing has only enhanced Hodgson's reputation - even before a ball has been kicked.

''Liverpool might not have been successful as we would have liked to have been recently but this shows we can still attract top name players, whether that's an England international or a foreign international,'' he said.

''We've got a great new manager in Roy Hodgson and he knows what he wants and he can talk these players into signing for our club. This is the signing supporters wanted and it's a big boost for them.

''You look at last season when we went into it not hoping but thinking we were going to win the league. This season people are thinking, 'Are we going to finish in the top four? I think this sends a sign out to Liverpool supporters that the club do mean business.''

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Hodgson confirms Torres not for sale

Roy Hodgson has reiterated that Liverpool have no intention of selling Fernando Torres after holding talks with the Spanish striker.

It is reported that Torres is considering his future at Liverpool following the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League and Chelsea are believed to retain an interest in the World Cup winner.

However, Liverpool are reluctant to lose any of their leading players this summer and Hodgson has firmly stated that as far as he and the club are concerned, Torres will not be leaving Anfield.

"I have met with Fernando. I found him to be a very pleasant man and we had a nice conversation," Hodgson told reporters.

"As far as we are concerned he is a Liverpool player and we want him to remain a Liverpool player. He is not for sale and we don't welcome any offers for him.

"We want to keep him. My conversation with him was only short because I had to leave to come to the training camp in Switzerland. We spoke about football, the World Cup, his injury, and I told him how much I am looking forward to working with him.

"[Managing director] Christian Purslow was also at the meeting and chatted to Fernando for a lot longer after I left but my chat with him was only about football matters."

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Graham Poll answers to the question asked by Liverpool FC Forever on Coral Dugout

Liverpool FC Forever had asked a question to the Football expert Graham Poll about the England Team Poor Show at the World Cup.

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New manager eager to meet El-Nino

Hodgson has yet to meet is Torres due to the striker's World Cup commitments.

However, the Spain star announced over the weekend he was pleased with the appointment of the 62-year-old and eager to hear the new gaffer's plans for 2010-11 - and Hodgson admits the feeling is mutual.

"Fernando is a wonderful striker and I understand the fans' concerns about his future," he said.

"Unfortunately with the World Cup still on, I won't be able to meet him face to face for another few weeks. That's just circumstance and you won't hear me complaining about it.

"When I do meet him, I will be doing everything I possibly can to convince him that Liverpool is the place to be.

"If he sees progress, I am confident that he won't want to go anywhere else. I think he understands the club and the city."

Meanwhile, the manager is planning a new role for Dalglish under his Anfield reign.

Hodgson believes the Kop legend has a significant role to play in strengthening communication between the Academy and Melwood as the Reds look to develop new talent.

He explained: "I never doubted that Kenny would leave. He's been offered a role, which I believe is a crucial role for the club - not just in the short term, but in the long term.

"The club will benefit from Kenny's work long after I've left Liverpool and long after he's left as well.

"He is very aware of all the players at the Academy and I understand there are a few promising players emerging.

"He will liaise between Melwood and Kirkby and keep me updated with any developments that he deems necessary.

"There is a bridge between the Academy and the first team that needs to be created and I believe he can help build that bridge."

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Hodgson confident Gerrard won't quit

Hodgson met with Gerrard and Carragher - and later Academy Ambassador Kenny Dalglish - in his new office at Melwood.

And the tactician was left thrilled with the positive nature of the conversations.

"I think they went splendidly," Hodgson told LFC Weekly. "I was very happy to meet the players and, of course, Kenny who I already know so well.

"I was delighted to see how positive they are. Everybody is looking forward to the new season."

He added: "Obviously Steven and Jamie are the playing heartbeat of the club and it's very important we keep people like that with us.

"I anticipate there might be a situation where other big clubs will try and sign Steven, but he gave no indication that he wanted to leave.

"Nobody at the club wants him to go so I will be doing my utmost to make sure he stays. I am confident he will."

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Jovanovic arrives at Anfield

Roy Hodgson has made his first signing as Liverpool manager, bringing Serbian forward Milan Jovanvoic to the club on a free transfer from Standard Liege.

Liverpool have confirmed the Bosman signing of Serbia forward Milan Jovanovic on a three-year deal.
The 29-year-old joins the Merseyside club from Belgian club Standard Liege after weeks of speculation as to whether he would honour a pre-contract agreement signed when Rafael Benitez was still in charge.

Benitez has since been replaced by Roy Hodgson, but Jovanovic has kept his word and will now join the squad at their Switzerland pre-season training camp. The Serbian becomes Liverpool's first signing of the summer and the first under Roy Hodgson's reign.

Speaking to the official club website, Jovanovic said: "It is an honour for me to sign for one of the biggest clubs in football.
"I cannot wait to start working with the manager and I'm looking forward to joining up with my new teammates on our Swiss training camp."

Jovanovic is predominately left-footed and can play on the left-hand side of midfield or up front. The club's well-documented financial problems mean Liverpool supporters may have to get used to several low-key signings over the summer.

But Jovanovic will be hoping to shake off any possible 'bargain basement' label; interest from several Premier League clubs, as well as AC Milan, Valencia and Real Madrid, suggest he has been brought to the club on merit rather than not commanding a transfer fee for his services.

Hodgson and Liverpool supporters will be hoping he can replicate his Standard Liege form for his new club. He won Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2008 and was the league's top scorer in 2009. He also scored the winner for Serbia against Germany at this year's World Cup in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

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Carra confident Gerrard and Torres wil stay put

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is confident star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will still be at the club next season.

The pair have both been the subject of speculation this summer following the Reds' failure to qualify for the Champions League and the departure of manager Rafael Benitez.

Some observers believe retaining their services is one of the first tasks facing new boss Roy Hodgson but Carragher expects them to stay at Anfield.

The 32-year-old told talkSPORT: "I think there is a lot of talk about this but the people who say these things, a lot of them are doing this to create a bit of pressure around the club. I don't think anyone knows these people personally to come out and say that.

"I am sure they will still be involved at the club next season and if they are the aim for the club will be to get back into the Champions League. We didn't just miss out, we finished seventh. That is a big disappointment.

"If we could get back in there that would be a great achievement for the club and the manager. It is going to be a tough season but if we keep the players we have got and get back to where we were a few years ago I am sure we will give everyone a run for their money."

Carragher is looking forward to working with veteran boss Hodgson, who led Fulham to the Europa League final last season. "I think it is a great appointment by the club," he said. "I am sure we can move on from this and it will go well."

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Benayoun makes stamford bridge switch

Chelsea have completed the signing of Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. And Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano could soon follow him out of the door.

As revealed by Soccernet two months ago, Benayoun had been made one of Carlo Ancelotti's primary targets for the summer. And now the Israel international has put pen to paper on a deal thought to be worth around £5 million.

"I am very excited to come to a club like Chelsea, it is a big club and I think it is a dream for every player. Hopefully we will be successful," Benayoun said on the club's official website.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti added: "We are happy to have this new player. Yossi has a lot of quality in midfield and can play in lots of positions. I like his behaviour on the pitch and he will do a great job for us next season."

The sale of Benayoun to Chelsea was completed personally by owner Roman Abramovich, who will now step up his efforts to capture Torres.

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Roy keen on keeping Kenny on board

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is keen to retain the services of club legend Kenny Dalglish.

Hodgson, 62, officially took over on Thursday after signing a three-year contract having impressed in a final round of interviews at the weekend against one other unnamed candidate.

Dalglish, who given the role of identifying candidates to replace Rafael Benitez, had wanted a return to the role he successfully undertook in the late 1980s and early 1990s but was not even considered by Liverpool's board.

The man generally regarded as the club's greatest player may see that as something of a slight but Hodgson, a friend of Dalglish, very much wants him to remain on board. Dalglish is currently involved in youth development at the academy and is an ambassador for the club.

"Kenny will play a very big part in bringing youth players through," Hodgson said. "If he is going to take on the role of head of football development, his role in making that bridge between Kirkby (where the academy is based) and Melwood (the first team training ground) is going to be a vital one.

"I think he has lots of other roles to play. With his position at the football club I compare him to Giacinto Facchetti at Inter or Bobby Charlton at Manchester United - they have such a role to play. When this club needs representing, especially on a foreign stage, who better to represent it than Kenny Dalglish?

"I am hoping that between those two roles, ambassador and head of youth development, and the advice and help he is going to give me in my job, we will get great currency out of Kenny if he wants to be part of that and I hope he does.

"I had a long conversation with Kenny before I got the job and we need to sit down together now to work out how it will work in practice. With goodwill on his side - and there is plenty of goodwill on my side - we should find a solution."

Chairman Martin Broughton was somewhat dismissive when asked about how Dalglish's expression of interest in the manager's job had been received by the board.

"Kenny put his name forward for wanting the job and we appreciated the fact he was keen to do it but for us he was never a candidate and I explained that to him," he said. "We see Kenny as having an excellent long-term future at this club.

"He is happy in his current ambassadorial role but we would like to build on that role - although we haven't defined what that will be yet because it is for Roy and Kenny to work beyond that."

For his part, Dalglish has backed the appointment of Hodgson as the new Liverpool manager.

"I look very favourably on the appointment," he told the Daily Mail. "I have known Roy a long time and have a great respect for him. We've not had detailed conversations yet but my interests are in Liverpool."

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New Manager determined to keep star players

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hopes to persuade star players such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay with the club.

Hodgson officially took on the job vacated by Rafael Benitez on Thursday, and he will have to overcome the doubts of players and supporters ahead of Liverpool's first Europa League qualifier at the end of July.

Another player, Javier Mascherano, seems certain to leave with Benitez eager to take him to Inter Milan. Mascherano has already admitted to learning Italian.

First up for Hodgson was a meeting with experienced Anfield pros Gerrard and Jamie Carragher when he would outline his vision.

"It will be actions more than words,'' said Hodgson. "But my talk with them will be about how much I want to work with them, how much I want them to stay at the club, how much the club and fans want them to stay and that by staying at the club we can achieve as much success as they could find by leaving the club.

"That is all I can say to them. Then of course it is a case of making certain with your actions on the training ground and match days they see you are not just talking but are practising what you preach. I will be trying to persuade them that their future is with the club they love and have always played for.

"They are more than just Liverpool football club players, they are the heartbeat and very much the soul of this team. My hope will be is that they will give me the benefit of their services, just as they have given other managers the benefit of their services.

"I hope they won't be tempted, on the back of one disappointing year, to jump ship. I personally can't nail their feet to the floor. I'll try to convince them that if they stay here and have a good season then it's a good club to play for. It's out of my hands to an extent, but I do know the club is anxious to keep the players, I'm anxious to keep the players.

"We'll do all in our power to keep them. The fans are intelligent and know the situation. They can't expect me to give guarantees they'll stay on.''

Chairman Martin Broughton said of possible sales and thoughts star players may have of leaving: "I haven't personally had any conversations with them but conversations have taken place and we remain optimistic on that. I know there are rumours out there about the club needing to sell players.

"If I can just go on record again and say they are not for sale, we don't need the money. We don't have any desire or need to sell players in order to pay down the debt.''

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Liverpool have their new coach in Roy Hodgson

Roy Hodgson is their new Liverpool manager after agreeing a compensation deal with Fulham.

Hodgson, 62, has signed a three-year contract at Anfield and will be officially unveiled to the media at a press conference on Thursday, having overseen the first day of pre-season training at Melwood.

The former Inter Milan and Switzerland boss had been heavily linked with the post since Rafael Benitez left the club for Inter last month and Liverpool finally got their man after agreeing a deal with the Cottagers for Hodgson to be released.

Hodgson impressed at Fulham last season - guiding the Cottagers to the Europa League final - and was voted Manager of the Year by the League Managers' Association for his efforts.

"This is the biggest job in club football and I'm honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain's most successful football club," Hodgson told Liverpool's official website.

"I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at Melwood."

Hodgson is likely to be joined at Anfield by his trusted assistant Mike Kelly, although Sammy Lee - brought in by Benitez because of his coaching credentials and links to the club's successful past - is expected to be given a role somewhere in the new set-up.

In a bid to stave off any future interest from England, it is reported that there has been no get-out clause included in Hodgson's contract should the national team job become available.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has praised the appointment of Hodgson and believes that the former Fulham boss is "the right man for the job".

"The club have made a good appointment in Roy Hodgson,'' Gerrard said. "Rafa left a few weeks ago and I know the club were determined to take their time and get the right man for the job.

"Roy is hugely experienced and I believe he is the right man for Liverpool. "I think it's been worth the wait and I'm sure he's just keen now to get on with it and start to quickly put in place his plans for the new season.''

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