Midfielder Yossi Benayoun is set to seal a summer switch to Liverpool, BBC Sport understands. The West Ham playmaker and Israel international has long been linked with a move to Anfield and a £4m transfer will be finalised on Wednesday. Reds manager Rafael Benitez has made no secret of his admiration for the 25-year-old who he has been tracking since the end of the season. "It's clear he'd like to come and he's a player I like," said the Spaniard. Benayoun, Israel's national captain, moved to Upton Park from Racing Santander in a £2.5m deal in 2005. He has played 72 games for the Hammers and scored eight goals. The clubs have already done business this summer with striker Craig Bellamy moving to the capital from Merseyside in a £7.5m deal. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6289760.stm
more info.. looks like the two are set to sign. Good buys, yossi is a good proven player (although last season wasn't great) Babel good player aswell. 1 more left.
Chris Bascombe seems to be on the button most of time. Very close to our managers so with his relationship with Rafa i'd say those 2 deals are done so. No word on quaresma though which is weird.
also from skysports.com Sky Sports News understands Liverpool have agreed a fee to sign Yossi Benayoun from West Ham United. Benayoun has emerged as a target for Rafa Benitez's in recent weeks, despite agreeing a new five-year contract at Upton Park. But the delay in signing the deal has allowed Liverpool to steal in with a suitable offer for the Israel international. Benitez revealed last week that the Hammers had said 'no' to his club's original offer, but a fee now appears to have been settled upon. Reports have mooted a price of £4million for Benayoun, who has made 72 appearances for West Ham since joining from Racing Santander two years ago. His impending switch to Anfield follows the completion of the £7.5million deal which took Craig Bellamy in the opposite direction. When quizzed on Liverpool's interest last month, Benayoun admitted he was 'honoured' to be wanted by the UEFA Champions League finalists.
I have been shocked to see the amount of abuse this transfer has been getting on some forums... While Benayoun didn't have a great year last year he was playing in a very poor team The year before last he had a great season and there were loads of people saying we should sign him. The fact that we have a bit of cash now seems to make everyone think that we should be signing Kaka or Ronaldinho instead of a proven premiership player like Benayoun. I think he could be a really good signing for us
Why? Do you believe he is good enough to be an LFC player? What will he contribute to a team aiming to move towards/challenge for the PL title? Is he a CL class player? He has played 72 games for the Hammers and scored 8 goals. Not exactly a brilliant scoring record is it? He had an awful season last year, playing as part of a West ham team that just avoided relegation. He contributed nothing to the staying up. Tevez kept them up on his own. Thumbs down on this one im afraid. Tevez is/was the only West ham player from last season that could improve our squad.
To be fair reder he is more of a midfielder than attacker so judging his goal tally is unfair IMO. We have struggled alot in breaking down teams and Rafa obviously feels Benny has the talent to unlock these defences and provide competition for the wings. I think he will only be a squad player but that depth is very important, depth we've not had in recent seasons. Once Garcia went it's clear Rafa wanted Benny to fill that void. It's not like we're breaking the bank for the chap.
Yossi is a replacement for Luis Garcia. Same sort of player who has the ability to unlock defences with clever passes or a moment of inspiration. He had a great season the year before last more so than the one just gone. Can't believe our own fans are giving this one dogs abuse before he's even pulled on the shirt! Rafa wouldn't have perservered with this one unless he felt it would add strength to our title challenge. So Yes I believe he has the quality to be a Liverpool player and a good one at that, and is a snip for 4m.
The main reason I am happy with him coming is that he will improve the squad. He will give us more than either Zenden or Gonzalez gave us last year and that is improving the squad..... I agree that Tevez would also improve our squad but we are not going to go out and spend 20m every week, we have to take squad improvements at 4m... It just makes sense!
I think hes a great addition. Maybe not for the really big matches but most likely for the games away to sunderland etc. We can only put 11 players on the field at any one time ffs. lol
I see what your saying Gav but I just disagree with this idea of Benny replacing Garcia. Garcia was all about scoring goals on the big occassion and putting in the odd special pass to create something. His goal scoring record is: 1st team games: 121 (Source Liverpoolfc.tv) 1st team goals: 30 Benny's record for West ham was : 1st team games: 72 1st team goals: 8 I just dont see how this guy can possibly replace Garcia. Also, Garcia was pretty poor when he played against the likes of a Sunderland away. He generally got roughed up and gave away the ball alot! In truth it was frustrating as hell watching him play in those type of fixtures.
not having a go mate but either are any of these. Xabi Alonso-136 Appearances,12 Goals. Harry Kewell-83 Appearances,12 Goals. Momo Sissoko-let's not even go there..... if Lpool are to have any chance of winning the League then all these Players will have to chip in with a few more Goals
Of course, so the stats above justify replacing Garcia with a player with an inferior scoring record and overall poorer form.
I don't think we have replaced Garcia fully with Benayoun... Benayoun will not score the goals Garcia, those goals will need to come from other areas i.e. Torres, Babel, Kewell, Kuyt, Gerrard We have replaced Garcia's ability to open up a defence and his creativity though in Benayoun. That is the point being made
Must be just me but I think we are throwing 4 million quid away. Its like were buying just for the sake of it. Anyhow we will see come next season.
Speaking of throwing 4 million quid away- The Times have us link with Citeh's Michael Johnson!! WTF????
Thats one of the reasons I love football, everyone has different opinions.. Hope your wrong on this one but if not I hope we have enough in the squad to cope with Benayoun not performing