Liverpool

Kewell out of Confederations Cup
Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell will miss Australia's Confederations Cup campaign in Germany after undergoing surgery on a torn groin muscle. Kewell, who has struggled for most of the season with the injury, only lasted for 23 minutes of the Champions League final against AC Milan last week. Liverpool won the final on penalties but the 26-year-old is expected to be out for around six weeks. "The surgery has been a success," said Australian team physio Les Gelis. "People have underestimated how hard Harry worked just to be in a position to be able to play but it was just a matter of time until the tendon snapped. "There was no way he could have played on in the final. It's a problem that has been around for a year and the groin just kept getting tighter and tighter and then it had enough and snapped. "Harry's disappointed that he is missing the Confederations Cup but he realises that it is more important that he gets his injuries fixed and has a strong pre-season. "That way he can be a key part of Liverpool's team for next season and be in good shape for Australia's World Cup qualifiers." Australian coach Frank Farina will name his Cup squad next week before their final warm-up game against New Zealand at Craven Cottage on 9 June. The Confederations Cup takes place from 15-29 June.

Liverpool renew sponsorship deal
European champions Liverpool have extended their deal with shirt sponsors Carlsberg by two years. "We have enjoyed an excellent relationship and look forward to continuing that in the future," said Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry. "The partnership has been enormously successful over 13 years and we were delighted to extend it into what we hope will be a new era for the club." The deal was finalised before the club's Champions League final triumph.

Hamburg set sights on Hamann deal
German outfit Hamburg have revealed they are keen on signing Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann. The 31-year-old's contract at Anfield runs out this summer and Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer said they were keen to capture him. "I have spoken to Hamann, I can imagine him playing for us. But several English clubs are offering him three-year contracts," said Beiersdorfer. "We don't want to offer him that length of deal. We'll have to wait and see." Hamburg have just completed a deal for Ajax's highly-rated young midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. Hamann helped Liverpool win the Champions League in sensational style in Istanbul last week.

Teenager Roque in Liverpool claim
Spanish teenager Miquel Roque has claimed that Liverpool have signed him. The 16-year-old, who plays for Spanish Second Division side Lleida, would become the sixth Spaniard to sign for Rafael Benitez at Anfield. "It is my big chance, anyone who loves football dreams of something like this. I'm not going to let the chance pass me by," he told Spanish newspaper Marca. "My parents believe in me and want the best. Of course they are worried I am leaving but there again so am I." Benitez has already used his Spanish connections to bring Josemi, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Antonio Nunez and Fernando Morientes to the current European champions. "When my agent told me, I didn't believe it," added Roque. "It is more normal for them to say a scout from Barcelona or Real Madrid has been watching you and the chance that can happen does enter into your mind. "However, when they say someone from Liverpool has come to watch you, then it is hard to believe."

Premiership pair chasing Smicer
Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer says he has had offers from Charlton and Birmingham after being told he would be allowed to leave Anfield. Smicer, 32, celebrated winning the Champions League with Liverpool last week but is now out of contract and available on a free transfer. "Charlton and Birmingham are interested and Lens and Bordeaux in France have the same interest," he told The Mirror. "But I have to admit my family would prefer to stay in England." Smicer was signed by former Reds boss Gerard Houllier for £4.2m from Lens in July 1999.

Hamann played on with broken foot
An X-ray has shown that Dietmar Hamann played in Liverpool's Champions League triumph with a broken foot. Hamann, 31, who launched Liverpool's penalty shoot-out, sustained the injury in extra-time against AC Milan. The German international told the Daily Mail: "I can remember when I did it but not how. I was determined to shake it off, despite the discomfort. "Running on sheer adrenalin wasn't a problem and by time I walked up to the penalty spot I'd forgotten about it." Hamann discovered the injury while on duty with the German national squad, whose doctor ordered the Liverpool midfielder to undergo an X-ray. The team doctor ordered Hamann to rest for a month, scuppering his hopes of making an international comeback in a friendly against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and ruling him out of the Confederations Cup tournament later this month. Hamann said: "About five minutes from the end of extra-time this sudden pain told me there was something wrong. "When I took my penalty, all that mattered was that I scored. "I remember the Liverpool team doctor putting some ice on it afterwards but we were walking on air by then. "It was only in the following few days that the swelling got worse and by time I showed it to the German team doctor it had turned blue. "He arranged a scan and it turns out there is a small fracture."

Uefa chief dampens Reds Euro hope
Uefa committee member Dr Joseph Mifsud said rules cannot be changed to allow holders Liverpool to enter next season's Champions League. Mifsud, president of the Malta FA, has been a committee member since 1994. "While the English FA can do something in this regard, I believe as the rules stand at present at Uefa we cannot do anything," he told BBC Radio Five Live. "Unless of course the regulations are changed. But I don't agree they can be changed midway through the season." Pressure has increased on Uefa in the past week to include the Reds in next season's competition following their dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premiership, missing out on an automatic qualification for next season's Champions League - and Uefa rules do not allow automatic entry for the competition winners. English Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson, who is also a Uefa vice-president, has lobbied for five English clubs in next season's tournament. Liverpool will have to wait another three weeks before the issue is resolved by Uefa's 15-man executive committee at its meeting in Manchester on 17 June.

Liverpool have Zenden in sights
Middlesbrough's Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden is reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool. Zenden, 28, who is out of contract in July and would be available on a free transfer, is said to have been contacted by Reds boss Rafael Benitez. The approach was confirmed by the player's father and agent Pierre. "Liverpool have achieved great things but he has also had a great time at Boro," said Pierre Zenden. Zenden has turned down an initial contract offer from Boro but boss Steve McClaren is keen to keep hold of the utility man, who was voted the club's player of the year. "Yes, I am confident of keeping him. I was talking to the chairman about the necessity to make sure we keep our best players this year - and he is one," McClaren said recently. "We must do everything possible to make sure he stays." Zenden joined Boro on a permanent basis last summer after a successful season on loan from Chelsea.

Reina nearing switch to Liverpool
Villarreal goalkeeper Jose Reina has given the strongest indication yet that he is on the verge of joining new European champions Liverpool. Reina, 22, was quoted by The Sun as saying: "If I end up signing for Liverpool it is because they want to sign me and want me to play. "The question of starting places is for the boss. "You have to earn your place. I am going there to work and to win my place - and win over the fans." Reina, who played against Liverpool for Barcelona in the Uefa Cup semi-final in 2001, admitted it was the end of an era for him at Villarreal, who finished third in La Liga last season. "It has been a tremendous year. I think I have completed a chapter, a very important period in my career at Villarreal. "But ask any player and they say the most important thing is to keep improving both in terms of ability and finances. "I have to be patient to see the talks come to fruition but I am not having any trouble sleeping at night. I am very relaxed about it all. Just playing for Liverpool will be good enough for me." Liverpool already have three goalkeepers on the books in Jerzy Dudek, the hero of the Champions League final penalty shoot-out, and youngsters Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland.

Redknapp asks Crouch for loyalty
Southampton manager Harry Redknapp has pleaded with Peter Crouch to stay at the club with Liverpool reportedly close to signing the striker for £5m. "I can understand someone like Peter if they get a big club coming in for them," Redknapp told BBC Radio Solent. "It's hard because the money he'd earn in the Premiership would far outweigh what he'll earn in the Championship. "I'm hoping he will stay with us," said Redknapp of the 24-year-old Crouch who made his England debut on Tuesday. "In an ideal situation, if come January we're mounting a challenge, he will stay with us, give us a bit of time and see how it goes," added Redknapp. Crouch scored 12 league goals for Southampton despite the club being relegated to the Championship. The 6ft 7in striker made his international debut as England beat Colombia 3-2 in the United States. Liverpool already have five strikers on their books - Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes, Neil Mellor, Milan Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

Raul quit hint alerts Liverpool
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Raul after the Spain striker hinted he may be ready to leave Real Madrid after a glittering 11-year career. The 27-year-old may favour joining Liverpool's Spanish contingent under Rafael Benitez, which includes former Real team-mate Fernando Morientes. He said: "If I listen to polls in papers it looks as though I should leave. I want what is best for Real. "If at some time I have to sacrifice myself for Real to progress I will." Liverpool boss Benitez is determined to rebuild his squad, despite their dramatic Champions League final win against AC Milan in Istanbul. Raul believes he has yet to peak, but has called on the Bernabeu club to tell him if he still has a future there. He said: "If the club calls you up and says you have to go, then as a player you have to be prepared to look for a way out that benefits everyone. "I still feel useful to the club and believe I have not reached my peak, but I don't want to be in the way. All I want is for the club to be clear with me."

Baros is transfer target for Lyon
Liverpool striker Milan Baros has emerged as a summer transfer target for French champions Lyon. Ex-Anfield boss Gerard Houllier, who signed the 23-year-old Czech Republic striker for the Reds in 2001, has just taken charge at the Ligue 1 club. And Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said: "I can confirm that Baros is definitely one of our objectives. "Our sporting director Bernard Lacombe and Gerard will watch the Czech Republic against Macedonia this week." Aulas has also not given up on keeping midfielder Mickael Essien at the club, despite reports linking him to Chelsea. He added: "As far as Essien is concerned we have agreed with his agent and we now just need to convince him to stay."

Uefa close to Reds Euro decision
Liverpool are set to find out in the next few days whether they will be in next season's Champions League. The Reds are the current holders after beating AC Milan in May but have not qualified to defend their crown after finishing fifth in the Premiership. "Yes, hopefully," Uefa director of communications William Gaillard told the BBC Today programme when asked if a decision could be made in a few days. Uefa want to resolve the issue before a 17 June Executive Committee meeting. Gaillard stressed that European football's governing body did not want to "clog" up the meeting with a debate over Liverpool's inclusion in the Champions League. He added: "It will depend on many telephone calls and the issue being discussed thoroughly with the executive committee members." Liverpool won this year's final in dramatic fashion when they came back from 3-0 down to win 3-2 on penalties. Real Madrid won the competition in 1999/2000 but finished the league season in fifth. But they were allowed to defend their title after the Spanish FA decided that Real Zaragoza, who had finished fourth in La Liga, would be relegated into the Uefa Cup. "There is a lot of sympathy for Liverpool's plight, at the same time we have rules," said Gaillard. "You strike a compromise between the sympathy and the rules. "The rule was applied five years ago in Spain, replacing the fourth-placed team with the winners of the Champions League. "So there is a precedent. At the same time we understand that in England - and probably outside, given the way they won the title - it provoked a lot of sympathy. "It is not just common sense, not as easy as it sounds because it may have an influence on other clubs. "It's important we get a consensus from our executive committee on the matter before proceeding."

Saints reject £5m bid for Crouch
Southampton have confirmed they have turned down a bid - believed to be from Liverpool - for striker Peter Crouch. Saints chairman Lowe refused to say whether it was the Reds who tabled the offer but he did reiterate the club's desire to keep hold of 6ft 7in Crouch. "There has been a lot of interest in Peter Crouch and we have had an offer which we have turned down," said Lowe. Crouch, 24, made his England debut in the 3-2 win over Colombia on 31 May and scored 16 goals for Saints last season. Lowe told the club's official website: "We want to keep the squad together and the relegation clauses in players' contracts mean we do not need to sell. Our destiny remains in our own hands." Southampton could struggle to hold onto their prize asset after they were relegated from the Premiership. But manager Harry Redknapp insists he wants Crouch to spearhead the club's immediate return to the top-flight and that a season in the Championship will not harm his England prospects ahead of the 2006 World Cup. "If we sell him it sends out all the wrong messages," Redknapp told BBC Sport. "I'm not going to get into any sort of fee we might accept for him as if I do people will think I want to sell him. "It would be better for Peter to stay at Southampton and play rather than go somewhere like Liverpool and be on the bench."

Deportivo wait on Reds Luque move
Deportivo la Coruna's 27-year-old striker Albert Luque wants his future sorted out with Liverpool believed to be interested in signing him. "Liverpool did make an offer but that was several months ago," said the Spain club's spokesman Rafael Carpacho. "They were very interested and we don't know if they will make another offer." The Reds are believed to have offered £8m for Luque whose club value him at £12m. He said: "I want a quick decision to know where I'm playing next season." Luque added: "At Liverpool I have friends like Luis Garcia and goalkeeper Jose Reina, who will arrive soon. "English football is excellent and I have no doubt that I could play in the Premiership. "My characteristics will suit English football and the supporters will be happy with my style and the goals I would score."

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