Southampton

Crouch completes Liverpool move
England striker Peter Crouch has completed his £7m move from Southampton to Liverpool after passing a medical. The 24-year-old has signed a four-year deal and will join his new team-mates on tour in Switzerland. "I am thrilled to be joining a club as prestigious and successful as Liverpool," he said. "Once I heard of their interest in me it was hard not to think about what it would be like to pull on the famous red shirt and play in front of the Kop." Crouch added on Stellargroup.co.uk: "I was also very aware of my responsibilities towards Southampton. "Southampton bought me from Aston Villa and allowed me to play regularly in the Premiership, resulting in an appearance for England in the summer. "This helped my career tremendously and has now given me the opportunity to move to Liverpool and play on an even bigger stage, something that no-one could realistically expect me to turn down." Crouch will also be teaming up with England colleague Jamie Carragher, who is delighted to welcome the striker to Anfield. Carragher said: "Besides Thierry Henry, Peter has been as good as any striker in the Premiership in the second half of the season. "He was outstanding even against the top teams. His performance against us at Southampton was probably sufficient to get him a move. "He was a nightmare to play against personally, and he scored at the back post. He got in behind me. It was my fault." Crouch is expected fly to Liverpool's training camp in Switzerland on Thursday and could make his debut on Saturday against Olympiakos in Liechtenstein. Liverpool previously had bids of £6m and £6.5m turned down for the 6ft 7in forward, while West Ham, Charlton, Middlesbrough and Manchester City were also very interested. But Crouch only ever wanted to join European champions Liverpool and will now return to the Premiership, following Saints' relegation last season, and taste Champions League football for the first time. Reds boss Rafael Benitez said: "I'm delighted we have signed him. He is a good player with a lot of qualities and his arrival will give me more options up front. "I think he will be ready for the game against Olympiacos on Saturday. "It depends on his physical condition but he has been training with Southampton so he should be OK." Crouch began his career as a trainee at Tottenham, but was allowed to join Queens Park Rangers for £60,000 in 2000 and, after scoring 12 goals for them in his first season, Portsmouth bought him for £1.5m. In 2002, Aston Villa paid £5m for him but the move did not work out and, after a loan spell at Norwich, he was sold to Southampton in 2004 for £2m. Crouch was only to spend one year at St Mary's, scoring 16 goals, before relegation and then a summer of transfer uncertainty, which was finally ended when Liverpool's £7m bid was accepted. In between, the striker made his England debut in the 3-2 win over Colombia on 31 May. Saints manager Harry Redknapp has now sold Crouch twice, for a combined £12m, having been in charge at Portsmouth when Villa bought him. But this time Redknapp had been desperate not to do a deal, believing Crouch could have helped Southampton back into the top flight. "I wanted to keep him, but it's a board decision, and £7m is too much to turn down," Redknapp told BBC Radio Solent. "I've now lost Henri Camara, Kevin Phillips and Crouch and a lot more. "We've got to strengthen the squad urgently if we're to have any chance at all of getting back into the Premiership." Redknapp admitted he was surprised at the fee Liverpool were prepared to pay. "I don't have a problem with Crouch being sold, I know the money was too good to turn down. "I can quite understand why the club sold him - £7m is a terrific fee for a player that not many would have given £700,000 for six months ago. "He was not getting a kick here then I put him in the team and he was excellent for us. He had a great six months and good luck to him." Crouch will become Liverpool's sixth summer signing with Jose Reina, Boudewijn Zenden, Momo Sissoko, Mark Gonzalez and Antonio Barragan also joining the European champions.

Lowe refuses to make cash pledge
Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has told manager Harry Redknapp he will not be given all the money from the £7m sale of Peter Crouch to Liverpool. "While people may think we have a lot of money after selling Crouch, it's only a lot if it's spare cash. "Any spare money will be reinvested in new players. "But we also have a duty to the next generation of fans and players to make sure we are financially stable and don't go into administration." Redknapp wants funds to bolster his squad and help steer the club back into the Premiership at the first attempt. But Lowe added: "The search for players always goes on but when you suffer the indignity of relegation, it becomes harder to attract players."

Redknapp looking to bolster squad
Southampton boss Harry Redknapp feels he needs to sign "four or five" new players before the new season begins. "I've lost three left-sided players from last season in Olivier Bernard, Graeme Le Saux, and Jelle van Damme, who's out on loan," he explained. "Danny Higginbotham's also injured, so I had to play young Kyle Critchell at left-back at Bournemouth on Friday. "Neil McCann's injured so we've got no wide left player, while I've also lost Paul Telfer on the right-hand side." One potential recruit could be Polish international trialist Tomasz Hajto, who played the full 90 minutes in central defence as Redknapp's men drew 1-1 in their friendly at Bournemouth. The Saints manager added: "Hajto has done well this week, and he may be one I try to get in. "We need to look up front as well, as losing Peter Crouch and Kevin Phillips was a blow, but we've got to move forward and get some new players in."

Svensson progress boosts Saints
Southampton have received a pre-season boost by defender Michael Svensson's return to first-team training. Svensson, 29, has been out for 16 months with a series of knee problems which required two major operations. Saints will not rush the Swedish international and physio Jim Joyce does not expect him to be fit for the start of the season. Joyce told Saints website: "After so long out, we can't push him too quickly and risk setting back his recovery."

Woodward says 'I'm here to learn'
Sir Clive Woodward began his new role as Southampton's technical director insisting he will not undermine boss Harry Redknapp. Woodward dismissed suggestions that Redknapp would answer to him or that his arrival has caused a rift with the Saints boss. England's rugby World Cup winning coach told Saints' website: "Harry is the manager and I'm working for him. "I won't be doing anything at this club unless he agrees." Woodward's decision to join Southampton has been an open secret for some time. But Saints were only able to officially confirm him in his role following the end of the British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand where they were whitewashed by the All Blacks. Redknapp was forced to issue a denial that Woodward's arrival and role had created a rift which almost prompted the Saints boss to walk out. Woodward's role will see him initially involved in three areas, the medical aspect, team support and structure, and individual coaching with the club's academy players. The former England coach revealed he has been considering a switch of codes for some time. He said: "I have been talking to Rupert Lowe the chairman for some time about the possibility of moving to football and it's a huge challenge. "But I stressed that I would only make the move if the people I would be working with felt comfortable about it and I wouldn't have come here unless it was with the full support of the manager. "Harry is the boss. He's in charge, he's a big character and I've a lot to learn from him." Woodward stressed that his inexperience of football would mean he could only play a supporting role to Redknapp and academy director Huw Jennings. He said: "I was good at running teams with England, but now I'm part of a team. "I'll be looking at every aspect of the game but I won't be coaching any of the teams. "There might be areas where I think I can offer something and make suggestions. But I'll make them to Harry and Huw and if they decide it's not suitable, then nothing more will be said about it. "This is not a short-term project for me. I was successful with the England rugby team but that took seven years to build. "For the first few months here it will be a case of sitting back, watching and learning." Lowe told Saints' website: "We're delighted to welcome Clive on board as Technical Director. "He's here to concentrate particularly on our bright young players, who should be pleased to see him come in. "He will be able to provide support for them at a crucial stage in their development and help take our successful academy on to the next level."

Pompey demanding fee for Fuller
Portsmouth have told Southampton they want a fee for striker Ricardo Fuller, reports BBC Radio Solent. Saints manager Harry Redknapp is keen to be reunited with the 25-year-old Jamaican international he brought in when boss of Portsmouth in August 2004. "I think their first response was they don't have any money and they don't want to pay any money," said Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric. "We want to recoup money for him and they're not going to get him for free." Saints first made an inquiry for the former Preston forward as long ago as January during the last transfer window. More recently, Premiership new boys Sunderland were close to completing a move for Fuller only for the player to fail a medical. "There is more than one club interested in Fuller," added Mandaric. "I hope for the player's sake, and the club's, that we can find the right home for him."

Saints to take a look at Nomvete
Southampton have offered a trial to South Africa striker Siyabonga Nomvete. Nomvete has spent four years with Italian club Udinese but his failure to hold down a first-team place has seen him loaned to Salernitano and Empoli. The 28-year-old's goal against Slovenia in the 2002 tournament in the Far East earned South Africa their only win in the World Cup finals. Since making his debut in 1999, Nomvete has won 50 caps and scored 12 international goals for Bafana Bafana.

Redknapp wants focus on football
Harry Redknapp said he hopes the "media circus" surrounding Sir Clive Woodward at St Mary's will soon settle down. "It's become like a media circus, it gets on my nerves. It drives me mad," he told BBC Radio Solent Sport. "I've more imortant things to worry about. I've got the team to worry about. You ask football fans - the people who love this football club. "The only thing that they are interested in is they want to see a successful team on the football pitch." Redknapp said he expected Woodward to make a success of his time at St Mary's. "He's given himself a target of two years to learn the game - if he can do that then great," he said. "No disrespect to Clive, he's coming in and he's going to work at the club - but I am in complete control of the first team. "That's not going to change - Clive knows that he's not coming in to change that - he's not silly, he's coming to learn the game"

Kamara seals £1.5m West Brom deal
West Brom have signed Diomansy Kamara, who spent last season on loan at Portsmouth, for £1.5m from Modena. Southampton also had a bid accepted for the 24-year-old striker but he decided to stay in the Premiership and sign for boss Bryan Robson at The Hawthorns. The Senegal striker arrived at Fratton Park last summer from the Serie B club - as Pompey's record signing at £2.25m. But Pompey had an escape clause that ensured they recouped £1.5m if they did not keep him for two seasons. Kamara becomes Robson's fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Darren Carter, Steve Watson and Chris Kirkland. Robson said: "One of the big reasons we have brought Diomansy on board is because he is very versatile. "He can play in three different positions - wide left, wide right or through the middle as a centre-forward. "He's got loads of pace and on the times I saw him play for Portsmouth last season I thought he looked a real threat. "The sheer pace he has got makes him very dangerous and we are delighted to have him on board." Kamara struggled after his arrival on the south coast, scoring four Premiership goals in 29 appearances. He was not helped by being sidelined for almost three months by a medial knee ligament injury.

Saints cool over Livermore deal
Southampton boss Harry Redknapp is playing down reports that he is close to signing unsettled Millwall midfielder David Livermore. "I am looking around but it is not easy to get people and there is nothing imminent," he told the club's website. "But we do have a few possibles in mind - we need to bring in a couple." Millwall revealed earlier this month that Saints and Sunderland had targeted the 25-year-old - though the Black Cats' interest has reportedly waned. Meanwhile, Redknapp has denied being interested in ex-Coventry striker Jay Bothroyd following his release by Perugia. The Saints boss also dismissed reports linking defender Claus Lundekvam with Newcastle.

Southend 0-3 Southampton
Southampton swept aside Southend at Roots Hall to move into the second round of the Carling Cup. The Saints went ahead through Dexter Blackstock who found the net after Shrimpers keeper Darryl Flahavan pushed a Matt Mills header into his path. Nathan Dyer made it 2-0, prodding home after Flahavan could only parry a fierce shot from David Prutton. Brett Ormerod deflected in Rory Delap's 30-yard effort for a third to underline Southampton's superiority. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Pettefer, Maher, Smith (Eastwood 63), Cole (Bentley 62), Goater, Gray. Subs Not Used: Griemink, Edwards, Guttridge. Southampton: Smith, Cranie, Hajto, Mills, Higginbotham, Prutton (Wise 45), Folly, Delap, Dyer, Blackstock, Jones (Ormerod 45). Subs Not Used: Blayney, Fuller, Walcott. Booked: Dyer. Goals: Blackstock 44, Dyer 45, Ormerod 89. Att: 6,358 Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).

Redknapp snaps up Tejera/Kosowski
Southampton have signed Uruguayan Marcelo Tejera from Penarol and Polish international Kamil Kosowski from Wisla Krakow on season-long loan deals. Tejera, 32, is an attacking midfielder while Kosowski, 28, is a wide player, who has been on loan at Kaiserslautern. Kosowski has returned to Germany to link up with the Polish squad in Bremen as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Wales. Tejera was recommended to Saints by former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet. Redknapp told the Southampton website: "Gus has given him a great reference and talked him up so he might be worth a go." Tejera was recently recalled into the Uruguayan national squad, who face an uphill task to qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany.

Ipswich 2-2 Southampton
Dennis Wise starred for Southampton in a match that was delayed for 40 minutes after the floodlights failed. Antti Niemi made a double save from Sam Parkin and Owen Garvan, though Richard Naylor eventually headed Town in front. Darren Powell equalised, heading home a superb Wise cross, before Garvan put Town in front again from 20 yards. Tomasz Hajto forced a good save from Lewis Price and Nigel Quashie hit the post, but the pressure told as Wise equalised with a diving header. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ipswich boss Joe Royle: "It was a fantastically exciting game but I hope we have not used up too much of our luck. "Southampton are easily the best side we've played. If we are within five points of them at the end of the season I'll be delighted. "We have got a point and have ridden our luck. But Owen Garvan took his goal exceptionally well and at 17 years old we are quietly excited about him." Southampton boss Harry Redknapp: "I've never seen a team create and miss so many chances. If we still had Peter Crouch and Kevin Phillips up front we'd have won by seven. "It was not a great point. In fact it was very much two points lost so far as we are concerned. "We should have won comfortably. We played some tremendous football and three points were for the taking." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ipswich: Price, Wilnis (Richards 45), Naylor, De Vos, McEveley, Peters (Juan 54), Horlock, Garvan (McDonald 77), Currie, Parkin, Bowditch. Subs Not Used: Magilton, Supple. Booked: Garvan, Horlock. Goals: Naylor 36, Garvan 61. Southampton: Niemi, Hajto, Lundekvam, Powell, Higginbotham, Kosowski (Walcott 82), Oakley, Quashie, Wise, Ormerod, Fuller (Blackstock 90). Subs Not Used: Smith, McCann, Delap. Booked: Fuller. Goals: Powell 50, Wise 69. Att: 22,997 Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Prutton sidelined for six weeks
Southampton midfielder David Prutton will be sidelined for around six weeks with a metatarsal bone fracture. Prutton, 24, picked up a foot injury in Saturday's draw against QPR and scans have confirmed the break. There is better news for the Saints regarding midfielder Djamel Belmadi and striker Kenwyne Jones. Belmadi's thigh problem has improved and he should be fit to face Derby on Sunday, while Jones should also shake off an ankle injury to face the Rams. Defender Michael Svensson came through his third full reserve game on Wednesday. But the Swede, who has been out for 18 months with a serious knee injury, is thought to be not quite ready for a first-team return.

Derby 2-2 Southampton
Ricardo Fuller's superbly-taken lobbed volley earned Southampton an unlikely point in a frantic second-half. Derby appeared to have won it as they came from behind to lead thanks to Inigo Idiakez's twice-taken penalty and a point-blank Andrew Davies header. Brett Ormerod put Saints ahead after the break, coolly sidefooting home. Idiakez inspired the Rams comeback but Saints, who had seven players booked and Tomasz Hajto sent off, levelled through Fuller's late 40-yard effort. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby boss Phil Brown: "We've only ourselves to blame. We got into a winning situation with five minutes left. "It's a learning curve. We will get it right but if we keep shooting ourselves in the foot we'll be playing catch-up. "We want to be winning games at Pride Park and I think we played well enough, we've come away with a point but I look at it as two dropped." Southampton coach Dave Bassett (on referee Nigel Miller): "He's not on my Christmas card list. "There were a couple of incidents we'd say were bookings, but they (referees) are under pressure from assessors and everyone else and they go card mad. "Idiakez has taken advantage (checking his run the first time he took the penalty). It's gamesmanship - it's not in the spirit of the game." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby: Camp, Edworthy (Kenna 45), Davies, Michael Johnson, Seth Johnson, Bisgaard, Fadiga (El Hamdaoui 55), Idiakez, Whittingham, Smith, John (Peschisolido 76). Subs Not Used: Poole, Bolder. Booked: Idiakez, Davies, Seth Johnson. Goals: Idiakez 80 pen, Davies 85. Southampton: Niemi, Hajto, Lundekvam, Powell, Higginbotham, Kosowski (McCann 90), Wise, Oakley, Quashie, Ormerod (Jones 81), Fuller (Delap 90). Subs Not Used: Smith, Cranie. Sent Off: Hajto (86). Booked: Fuller, Ormerod, Higginbotham, Kosowski, Lundekvam, Hajto, Wise. Goals: Ormerod 58, Fuller 90. Att: 22,348 Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).

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