[lfc-news] Milito targeted as cup heroes rewarded for efforts - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 14 July 2005
Milito targeted as cup heroes rewarded for efforts
By Paul Walker, Daily Post

SAMI HYYPIA will be granted a new contract and fellow defender John Arne
Riise a wage rise as Liverpool continue to reward their European Cup
heroes while searching for reinforcements.

Central defender Hyypia is the latest to be offered a new deal, a
one-year extension to his current agreement which has 12 months to run.

This comes as Liverpool continue what has become a protracted chase for
Real Zaragoza's Argentinian centre-back Gabriel Milito, which despite a
new £7.5million offer is believed to be a long way from completion.

While manager Rafael Benitez insists he wants more players for what will
now be a lengthy season, last term's stars of Istanbul have not been
forgotten.

Riise, who has two years of his deal to go, is believed to be about to
receive a significant wage rise.

Milito, 24, is currently on holiday in Argentina and not due back in
Spain until pre-season training starts, and Zaragoza have already
offered him a three-year extension to his current package which has two
years to run.

Zaragoza sporting director Miguel Pardeza said: "There have been
contacts with Liverpool and they have made an offer for Milito. But the
player is not for sale, he is fundamental for us and we want to keep him."

Zaragoza will make Liverpool's quest as hard as they can, even though
the player said: "If Liverpool make a concrete offer then it would be
very difficult to say no. I am happy at Zaragoza but it is not every day
the champions of Europe are interested in you."

Liverpool are also busy on two other fronts, with Southampton boss Harry
Redknapp insisting the Anfield club "put up or shut up" over their
desire to sign Peter Crouch.

The striker played for the Saints in a friendly at Motherwell on
Tuesday, and it is believed Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry is
still trying to negotiate a deal. But Saints want £8m, and Redknapp
claims West Ham's cash offer of £6m is more than Liverpool have already
offered.

And while Benitez waits on transfer targets on several fronts, the move
for Luis Figo might yet be resurrected, despite the Spanish manager's
pessimism earlier this week.

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