Adam: I want to be a Red

DANNY WILSON has emerged as a potentially deciding factor in a deal to bring Charlie Adam to Liverpool.Blackpool captain Adam has told the Seasiders of his desire to leave for Anfield this summer but manager Ian Holloway is hoping to soften the blow by acquiring three players on loan.

After Stephen Darby and Jonjo Shelvey were proposed as two of the possible makeweights, 19-year-old Wilson is the third young Red to be linked with a move to Bloomfield Road as part of the package for Adam.
Blackpool would still be looking at an £8m fee for Adam’s signature but an agreement to release the Liverpool trio on season long loans would speed up the protracted transfer of the Scot to Merseyside.

Blackpool appear to have already found a replacement for Adam with yesterday’s signing of attacking midfielder Bojan Djordjic from Hungarian side Videoton on a free transfer. Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is understood to be willing to loan out Scotland international Wilson - a £5m signing from Rangers last summer - after his former club expressed a desire to have him back at Ibrox for next season.

Liverpool had hoped the signing of Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson earlier this month would have kick-started a rush of transfer activity but reported targets Phil Jones and Connor Wickham have gone elsewhere - the acquisition of Adam has therefore taken on greater urgency.

Ipswich striker Wickham, who emerged as one of the summer’s hottest properties and was on the Anfield wishlist, signed for Sunderland yesterday in an £8.1m deal with the fee potentially rising as high as £12m with various add-ons.

Meanwhile Liverpool youngsters Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom have earned call-ups to the England under-20 squad ahead of the forthcoming World Cup in Columbia. The Reds’ pair form part of Brian Eastick’s 21 man squad with their opening game on July 29 against Korea DPR.

Source: Liverpool Echo

Scott Dann Liverpool Latest Target

Birmingham City defender Scott Dann could be on his way back to the Premier League, with Liverpool seemingly leading the chase after failing to sign Blackburn's Phil Jones.

The 24-year-old is said to be despereate to stay in the Premier League after Birmingham were relegated after a miserable finish to the 2010-2011 season.

Arsenal are also reportedly thought to be in the running for his signature, with Arsene Wenger looking to reinvigorate his struggling defence next season; however, this looks unlikely as Dann is a lifelong Liverpool supporter and former season ticket holder, which could work in Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's favour.

It has been reported that Dann could command a fee of £10 million, somewhat of a bargain price given the big money transfers of Phil Jones [£16m to Manchester United] and Jordan Henderson [£20m to Liverpool].

The former Walsall and Coventry City defender, has made sixty appearances for Birmingham City's first team, and has garnered attention from a host of Premier League clubs despite injuring his knee in January's League Cup semi-final.

Liverpool Close in on Connor Wickham

 Liverpool are working quickly to secure the signing of Ipswich striker Connor Wickham this week, our sources understand. The two clubs were digging their heels in regarding their respective valuations of the player, but the signs are that negotiations are nearing an end as The Tractor Boys line up Cardiff’s Michael Chopra as a replacement.


Liverpool’s interest in Wickham is long-running but the Reds were reluctant the meet the £10m valuation set by his current club. However, David Ngog’s imminent departure has paved the way for an improved bid, while Ipswich are understood to have made a bid of around £1m for Michael Chopra as they look to plug the gap left in the wake of their star striker’s imminent departure.

Damien Comolli is likely to lead negotiations for the 18-year-old, and an fee of around £9m should be enough to secure a deal, although Ipswich are likely to demand future add-ons due to the player’s considerable potential. If that is the case the initial fee could drop by £1m or so.