Albert Riera may not be final Anfield arrival
ALBERT RIERA is expected to become a Liverpool player by the end of the week.
And the Spain international left winger may not be the final arrival at Anfield before the transfer window closes on Monday evening.
Liverpool have agreed a fee in excess of £8million with Espanyol after Riera expressed his desire to link up with Rafael Benitez.
Everton had attempted to hijack the deal with a higher bid, but talks between Anfield and Espanyol officials have since agreed on a compromise figure.
Liverpool are now hopeful of completing the transfer in the next few days, with Espanyol sporting director Paco Herrera revealing only a few minor details need to be ironed out.
"This is a sensitive time, and we need to make sure we reach a solution," he said.
"Everything is going well and a deal can be reached. The differences we have are ones we can solve and there has to be a solution because there is no more time."
With the Riera deal imminent, Benitez will consider further bolstering his squad in the coming days.
The Liverpool manager must sell before he can buy, and is willing to listen to offers for Andriy Voronin, Jermaine Pennant and Steve Finnan.
Xabi Alonso could also be allowed to depart, but interested clubs - which include Arsenal - would need to lodge a big-money bid.
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I am a bit disappointed we look set to buy Riera.We need a right winger also so I hope this is sorted out.Riera was nothing special at man city so why bother there are plenty of wingers better than this lad!We could buy duff and the Valencia winger Joaqoin for a few million extra I know people think duff is finishd but signing for Liverpool would reignite his hunger and he has looked sharp lately
Danny,
You are looking at a player with the eyes that knew him 2 years ago. I am sure Rafa knows at what level Riera is playing or he would not sanction the buy! Have more trust!
just been watching the lad on you tube from last season in spain, he looks a good player, not the same one i thought he was at man city, could be a good sgining, still need the right winger tho, swp would be worth a look at before he goes back to city or worse everton.
Reira might not be a bad signing, he has improved from his man city days and i'm sure when he gets to anfield he would improve more. As for Rafa, he should just leave Alonso alone, we love him, he's still a very good player with experience and can still take us to the promise land. There's no competition between him and Barry, he is better. Someone should tell Rafa not to shoot himself on the foot. A word is enough for the wise.
Reira might not be a bad signing, he has improved from his man city days and i'm sure when he gets to anfield he would improve more. As for Rafa, he should just leave Alonso alone, we love him, he's still a very good player with experience and can still take us to the promise land. There's no competition between him and Barry, he is better. Someone should tell Rafa not to shoot himself on the foot. A word is enough for the wise.
voroin looked good on youtube the lad is joke overweight gets one carling cup game a YEAR PROPERLY THE WORSE NUMBER 10 EVER
Hang on, we do need a left midfielder, the two we have out there are right footed! If Riera is left footed, get him in, hopefully he can do a job as an outlet, then we have Benayoun, Babel and El Zhar to play wide right. If im honest, id play Kuyt behind Torres at the moment, Keane has no confidence, its one thing saying you want to play for your boyhood club, its another doing it. Clearly the guy needs time and im happy for him to be on the pitch but if he not delivering then he cant be playing. Not when we are not playing very well.
Looks like a drab makeshift signing and definately not of the quality Liverpool could command a decade ago. As for "Trust Rafa" - there are lots of examples where that faith hasn't been repaid.