Liverpool FC Forum

hawkmoon269 wrote:According to reports in the English media on Thursday, Juventus are ready to snatch Steven Gerrard away from Liverpool this summer. The Reds captain has been no stranger to close season transfer sagas over the past few years, and this summer is set to be no different.

Juventus may be striding away with the Serie A title, but their failings in Europe this year, brought to a head on Wednesday with their aggregate defeat at the hands of Arsenal, have prompted a rethink.

When manager Fabio Capello was asked after the match about rebuilding his squad for next season, he replied bluntly, "We are already working on that."

And one area thought to be in need of strengthening is the midfield, with talk of Patrick Vieira being offloaded rife around the Stadio delle Alpi.

But Liverpool would be very unwilling to let their star player leave Anfield having fought tooth and nail to repel the advances of Chelsea last summer, and Real Madrid the year before.

Gerrard signed a new four year deal with the Merseyside club last July.

WHOLESALE CHANGES

Capello is not likely to stop there in his recruiting though as the Old Lady looks to bounce back from a second quarter final defeat against Premiership opposition in successive years.

They already have an agreement to sign Parma's exciting right-winger Marco Marchionni and media reports suggest a similar arrangement could see Inter Milan midfielder Cristiano Zanetti move to the Delle Alpi.

Zanetti, who has been forced to the fringes at Inter, was a key part of Capello's championship-winning side at AS Roma in 2001 and would be a useful addition to the squad.

But if Juve are to mount a more intensive challenge to get back the trophy they last won 10 years ago, more radical and certainly more expensive purchases are likely to be necessary.

If the past is anything to go by, Juve will probably need to rid themselves of one or two of their big earners before bringing in any top-class signings.

There has been constant speculation surrounding their Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has looked irritated and unhappy in recent games and has come in for intense scrutiny and criticism from the media.

IN BRIEF

Inter owner Massimo Moratti could be ending his association with the club.... and Milan's Dario Simic is likely to leave the San Siro after an outburst aimed at coach Carlo Ancelotti.


=================

When are they going to fucking leave us alone?  Year-in-Year-out it's Stevie going here, and Stevie going there.  Ok, I know when you have argueably (most on here would remove the argueably!) best midfield player in the world, you might get the odd rumour - but come on, every transfer window?  He has committed to Liverpool for at least another 4 years (or is it 3.5) when will they start writing about someone else!