[lfc-news] Reds to up bid for Real ace - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 30 Dec 2004
Reds to up bid for Real ace
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL hope to finally secure the signing of Fernando Morientes by
increasing their bid to £5m.

But reports in Spain today suggest Real Madrid are continuing to block
the striker's transfer by insisting on a £7m fee for the player.

Madrid are also determined to be given first option to sign Steven
Gerrard if he becomes available for transfer.

The Reds won't agree to this demand and continue to be frustrated in
their attempts to complete the Morientes deal.

Even if the clubs reached agreement, the 28-year-old wouldn't be
eligible until January 7 at the earliest, when Liverpool play against
Burnley in the FA Cup.

The Premier League announced yesterday players signing on January 1
can't play on New Year's Day or January 3.

Liverpool first bid £3.5m for Morientes before Christmas, but Madrid
rejected the proposal insisting other clubs had offered more. The Reds
have now lined up an increased offer.

Newcastle, who are still owed money for Jonathan Woodgate, said they
would value Morientes at £10m.

But the player swiftly made it known he had no wish to even talk to the
Geordie club, let alone play for them.

Morientes has pleaded with Madrid to only do business with Liverpool.
"Yes, I am going to England. I have decided," said Morientes.

Meanwhile, Southampton want to sign Liverpool duo Igor Biscan and
Stephane Henchoz when the transfer window opens.

Harry Redknapp expressed his interest following his side's 1-0 defeat on
Tuesday and the pair could be available at a combined cost of £500,000.

Both Biscan and Henchoz are out of contract in the summer, and Liverpool
will listen to offers now rather than lose the players for free at the
end of the season.

Biscan's performance this season have endeared him to The Kop, but he's
not part of Rafa Benitez's long-term plans.

Henchoz has only started Carling Cup games this season and has also been
tracked by Manchester City.

If he leaves in January, Benitez could bring in Valencia's Mauricio
Pellegrino as cover.

"I will go to Liverpool and for many reasons. The main reason is the
coach Rafa Benitez. He is Spanish and knows me perfectly, which is worth
a lot for a professional.

"We have asked Real Madrid to make a fast solution and I don't want to
expand any further, except to say I am already looking through the
English dictionary."

Having secured Michael Owen on the cheap last summer, Madrid seem
determined to try and squeeze as much as they can out of Benitez for
Morientes, even though he has just 18 months left on his contract.

The Reds won't match the £7m valuation, and won't agree to selling
Gerrard to the Spanish giants in the future.

* Leeds have rejected Liverpool's £250,000 bid for goalkeeper Scott Carson. Liverpool could sign him for a small compensation fee when the 19-year-old is out of contract in the summer.