Steven Defour
Liverpool are reportedly set to make a bid for Standard
Liege midfielder Steven Defour.
The 22-year-old has been the subject of interest from Manchester
United, but the Daily Mirror suggests that the Merseysiders are set
to do battle with their great rivals for his signature.
Alex Ferguson is known to be a long-term admirer of the Belgium
international, and the United boss even sent the former RC Genk man
a personal message of encouragement after the playmaker broke his
leg last September.
Prior to his injury, Defour was regarded as one of the hottest
prospects in European football; reportedly catching the eye of
Arsenal and Real Madrid among others.
Defour is a versatile midfielder - equally as comfortable in a
free role or as a holding player - and has been compared to Paul
Scholes in his pomp. And, with Argentina captain Javier Mascherano
nearing the exit at Anfield, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is keen
to fill the void that will be left by the Inter Milan target.
Despite signing a new contract with Standard in March, Defour's
agent has offered his suitors hope in their pursuit.
"If a club agrees a fee with Standard and us, then it is
possible he will leave," said Paul Stefani.
Liverpool have been linked with an array of midfielders with
Defour and West Ham's Scott Parker recently added to the alleged
list of targets, which reportedly includes Christian Poulsen and
Stilyan Petrov.
Peter Crouch
Harry Redknapp is ready to sell Peter Crouch as he gears
up for some major wheeler-dealing at Tottenham.
Crouch has followed Redknapp to many clubs and been bought and
sold several times by him, but this latest potential exit will
come as a surprise to him.
Redknapp is looking for more strength in his attack and insiders
reveal Crouch was being teed up for a sale to Fulham before manager
Roy Hodgson left for Liverpool.
Successor Mark Hughes may be interested in the leggy front man,
who controversially turned down Fulham a year ago - he'll decide
this week.
Hodgson is a possible bidder for Crouch if the price is right
and a sensational return to Liverpool is not out of the
question.
And England star Crouch could be pitched into the Tottenham move
for West Ham midfield dynamo Scott Parker.
Maynor
Figueroa
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is preparing a
£5million bid for Wigan's Honduras star Maynor
Figueroa.
Hodgson will make a renewed effort to raid the Latics for
Figueroa after his snub from Luke Young.
Figueora appeared in all three of Honduras' games at the World
Cup and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez faces a fight to keep him.
Stoke have also registered their interest for the 27-year-old
left-back, who shot to Barclays Premier League stardom with his
stunning 60-yard goal against the Potters last season.
Scott Parker
Liverpool are set to make an £8million bid for Scott
Parker.
Anfield boss Roy Hodgson has pinpointed the West Ham midfielder
as the man to replace Javier Mascherano, who is set to join Inter
Milan in a £20m deal.
The Hammers hierarchy have insisted that Parker is the one
player they will not sell this summer.
"Not at any price," said chairman David Sullivan.
That has not stopped Tottenham declaring their interest.
And just as Liverpool allowed Spurs and Arsenal to make the
running in the pursuit of Joe Cole, before stealing their thunder,
they are poised to strike again with Parker. The key issue is
whether West Ham will relax their tough stance.
The Upton Park club have been boosted by the news that Robert
Green wants to stay and they are likely to start talks soon with
Matthew Upson about a new contract.
Upson's current deal expires at the end of this season and he
would qualify for a free transfer but West Ham want to avoid that
scenario.
Meanwhile, Hodgson's attempts to land Christian Poulsen have
been given a boost after the Juventus midfielder's agent said it
was an "honour" to be linked with Liverpool.
Joern Bonnesen, his agent, said: "There has not been any contact
and there is not much more that can be said until there has been,
but we know there's an interest from them."
