"1 OR 2 MORE PLAYERS TO JOIN BY THIS WEEK"

Expect signings by end of this week, before the squad leaves for their training camp in Austria. It's always this time of the year when there are no football, the transfer rumours are all over the place and you don't really know which is truth and which are the smoke screens. But here, Rafa promised something. Taken from Liverpoolfc.tv:

Rafael Benitez is hopeful of adding "one or two" new faces to his Liverpool squad before the end of the week. The Reds continue to be linked with a number of players from home and abroad, but Benitez is adamant he'll only pay what he considers to be the going rate for his transfer targets.

"We are continuing to work to bring in more players, but it's difficult to say where we are at this moment, it depends on two or three factors," said the Liverpool manager.

"We are closer with some players, but I'm not the kind of manager who will say 'I want this player and I'll pay £20m to get him' if his value is only £10m. We don't have the money for doing this and we have a responsibility.

"We will try to sign the best players for us with the money we have.
"When you have experience, you know it's the same every year. Sometimes you have to wait until the last minute.

"I'm really happy with the squad now, but we will continue working and I think this week we can make one or two signings. If not, we can wait a little longer."

Alright, news were flying round saying that Birmingham City have accepted a £6 million bid for Jermaine Pennant and the deal will be done as soon as he passes the medical. But now, let's take a look at the 'POSSIBILITIES' and players that could join the ranks hopefully within this week, or maybe soon to come.

Jermaine Pennant (Birmingham City) - As mentioned, if the papers are right about it, it looks to me a dead cert to join us. £6million sounds a little too steep for my liking, especially for Pennant. But why not give him a chance, since he's a Liverpool fan.

Verdict: Most likely to join us among the lot.

Simao Sabrosa (Benfica) - He was due to sign last season, but then the deal went dead and he never came. But the speculation was on again recently as we desperately searched for the right-winger. Again rumour has it that he'll sign for us this week but I think it's just a smoke screen, to send a false signal to draw out the real target we are after, whom I think is Pennant himself.

Verdict: Quite unlikely I think. But the other team that was competing with us for his signature, Valencia, has already sounded out interest in Cristiano Ronaldo.

Daniel Alves (Sevilla) - Benitez admires this Brazillian a lot, and I actually wanted him to be at Liverpool more than anyone of the players mentioned. He's versatile (can play at right-back and right-wing) and his performance last season was consistant and shone in the UEFA Cup final match against Boro. But Sevilla are holding Liverpool to a ransom at £12million and Rafa doesn't like it.

Verdict: Seemed like the deal is dead. But let's hope he IS the one we're after instead.

Dirk Kuyt [Pronounce - Cowt] (Feyenoord) - Seemed like he's the only plausible striker that will sign for Liverpool now. There has been rumours about Trezeguet, but we have been watching the Dutch striker for quite a period of time already. Rumoured that the deal will cost around 5million plus a player exchange of Jerzy Dudek and Jan Kromkamp.

Verdict: Looks highly likely, let's wait and see.

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (PAOK) - Gosh, that took me quite a while to type that name out. A hah! Bet you didn't know about this. This striker actually rumoured to have left the club's training camp and actually came to Liverpool. Papers and net rumours saying that now his club, PAOK, will get Liverpool into the courts for 'tapping up'. But apparently, he chose to left himself and Liverpool offered a trial. He's a Greek (you shoul know this judging by his weird name) striker that has been pretty impressive in domestic front as well as scoring a few goals in UEFA Cup. Undoubtedly one of the most promising Greek prospect in recent years, according to reports.

Verdict: He has a 136k release clause and maybe Liverpool might want t activate it. But the tapping up matter might slow it all down a little. Again, wait and see.

No worry, guys. I'll keep you updated with the latest.

Tags: Liverpool, Transfer, Rumours