by adamnbarrett » Mon Aug 29, 2005 11:53 am
LIVERPOOL KEEN ON MADRID DEFENDER
KOP Talk 29 August 2005
Liverpool have made an inquiry regarding the availability of Jonathan Woodgate.
The former Leeds United and Newcastle United defender is yet to play a competitive game for Real Madrid following his £13.4million transfer from Tyneside last year. Out injured with a thigh injury since April 2004, Woodgate has played only 5 minutes for Real and that was when he came off the bench in a recent pre-season friendly.
Liverpool considered making a move for him last year when it became clear that Newcastle were prepared to sell him to Real Madrid but the board refused to make the funds available and cited his injury problems as a good enough reason not to get involved. He played just 37 out of a possible 128 games for Newcastle.
Speaking after the centre-back left Newcastle for Madrid, Rafael Benitez said: "Woodgate is a very interesting player. I asked for him for Liverpool because the reports on him were excellent. We wanted to sign him, but he was too expensive for our budget. What's more, he was injured for a long time and that made us think a bit"
Reports in Spain today (Monday) claim that Liverpool have offered to take the player on loan for the season with a view to a permanent transfer.
Like Owen, Woodgate was named in Real Madrid's squad to face Cadiz last night but unlike Owen, he was actually expected to play. However he was left out of the starting eleven and wasn't even named on the bench. He watched the match from the stand sat alongside Owen.
Real Madrid are desperate to strengthen their defence and have always rated Woodgate very highly so that could go against Rafa's chances of signing him.
Rafa, Rick Parry and David Moores are all at Anfield this morning trying to conclude various deals before the deadline on Wednesday.