neill to the scousers?

manU4life · Post by **manU4life** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:10 am

Liverpool will sign the Australia international defender Lucas Neill in a cut-price deal from Blackburn Rovers next month with the Merseysiders' manager Rafael BenÃtez aware that the anticipated transfer funds from the takeover of the club by Dubai International Capital will not materialise until the summer.
Neill, who is out of contract at Ewood Park at the end of the season, will complete his move to Anfield having almost joined on deadline day in August only for the clubs to fail to agree a fee at the last minute. Blackburn had explored the possibility of taking the Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock in part-exchange, but they are close to signing a replacement with the Dynamo Kiev defender Andriy Nesmachnyi in Lancashire and due to take a medical last night. Rovers will hope to raise around Â£1.5m from the sale of Neill.

BenÃtez's move for the 28-year-old Neill reflects the reality that DIC's proposed takeover is unlikely to be completed until nearer the end of January, thus denying him a chance to exploit the winter transfer window. The state-owned private equity firm is still scrutinising the books at Liverpool with both club and company confident that a deal can be struck which will see the chairman of 15 years, David Moores, sell his 51.6% stake at Anfield.
Company takeover law then dictates that DIC must make an offer for the rest of Liverpool's shares, an offer which would remain open for 60 days. Should they ultimately secure a stake of 90%, they would be able to make the club a private business, in the same way that West Ham were recently bought by Eggert Magnusson, though Moores and the current chief executive Rick Parry are likely to retain roles at Anfield in the future.

BenÃtez still hopes to benefit from significant transfer funds in the close season though, having met the chief executive of DIC, Sameer al-Ansari, after the recent victory over Fulham, he is aware that he will not be offered a blank cheque to plunder the market. As Parry and Al-Ansari have been at pains to insist, DIC's interest in Liverpool is considered an investment - such as their recent purchase of Madame Tussauds and the Travelodge chain of hotels - with the group attracted to the club partly because the playing squad would not require a radical overhaul.

The Blackburn manager, Mark Hughes, said he became aware of Nesmachnyi's qualities when he was in charge of Wales. "I know of him as I have come up against him at international level and was impressed with him. He can play wing-back, he knows the game and has good football intelligence. Not only that, he has great experience with 60-odd caps for Ukraine. It was made known to us that he may be available to come in and have a couple of days' training with us.

"We have taken up that option and will have a look at him. We may well do a medical anyway as it makes sense. It is always helpful if you can see someone at first hand rather than on videos. But it is no more than that at this stage"

nachoman · Post by **nachoman** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:34 am

mixed feelings on this
arguably the best all round defener australia has produced and he wants to go to liverpool ???

would of rather of seen him be picked up by one of the top clubs
in spain or italy
dare i say real madrid need a better defender to partner cannavaro

Juventino · Post by **Juventino** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:44 am

themachine wrote:mixed feelings on this
arguably the best all round defener australia has produced and he wants to go to liverpool ???

would of rather of seen him be picked up by one of the top clubs
in spain or italy
dare i say real madrid need a better defender to partner cannavaro

That's why they aren't looking at Neill, they need someone better.

nachoman · Post by **nachoman** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:49 am

someone better ?
he can play anywhere across the back
i wouldnt rate him as high as cannavaro but he hsi better than some of the other they have there

yogi · Post by **yogi** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 8:55 am

i think his form in the world cup, was brilliant, barr the infamous penalty.
he will do well at liverpool with better players around him.

Pinturicchio · Post by **Pinturicchio** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:24 pm

i think hes been overrated a bit.... a bit of an el hadji diouf maybe?

come on.. no chance hes better than roberto carlos, michel salgado, sergio ramos, francisco pavon and even ivan helguera.

look at the defenders they have on loan...diogo and woodgate and they are both better than neil.

the REAL one · Post by **the REAL one** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:32 pm

themachine wrote:someone better ?
he can play anywhere across the back
i wouldnt rate him as high as cannavaro but he hsi better than some of the other they have there

sorry machine... i think he is good but he aint better than sergio ramos!!!

Daintree13 · Post by **Daintree13** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:37 pm

another good aussie to a shit club

BillShankly · Post by **BillShankly** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:45 pm

*Del*Piero* wrote:i think hes been overrated a bit.... a bit of an el hadji diouf maybe?

come on.. no chance hes better than roberto carlos, michel salgado, sergio ramos, francisco pavon and even ivan helguera.

look at the defenders they have on loan...diogo and woodgate and they are both better than neil.

no one is as over rated as el hadji diouf

BillShankly · Post by **BillShankly** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:45 pm

B27 wrote:another good aussie to a cabernet club

10 · Post by 10 » Fri Dec 22, 2006 1:57 pm

would slot into the back 4 nicely imo.

goal_scorer · Post by **goal_scorer** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:10 pm

staying in the premiership i think is the best thing for him it is the most tightly contested league in the world, therefore the only place he can improve.

Fred Goldstone · Post by **Fred Goldstone** » Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:47 pm

Neill should do well at Liverpool and should fit into Benitiz's style with ease.

I expect him to excel in the Champions League.