http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...799647,00.html Craig Bellamy will join Liverpool next week for £6m after Rafael Benítez chose to activate a get-out clause for that amount, due to expire at the end of the month, in the striker's contract with Blackburn Rovers. The Wales international, a Liverpool supporter as a child, has proved a controversial figure in recent years, not least after his very public falling-out with the then Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness when he was at St James' Park. He will replace the outgoing Djibril Cissé at Anfield, as talks continue with Marseille to loan the injured France striker to the French club with a view to a permanent move Bellamy's desire to leave Ewood Park since his £5m purchase from Newcastle after a season of relative resurgence under his former Wales mentor Mark Hughes will disappoint Rovers, who had hoped to persuade the 26-year-old to remain in east Lancashire. But the clause in the striker's contract was due to expire at the end of June, after which Blackburn could have demanded a higher fee for their leading scorer from last season, with Liverpool finally choosing to make a move after months of deliberation. The striker had made it clear he would favour joining Liverpool, who will offer him an immediate return to the Champions League, and Hughes was unable to persuade him otherwise. Even so, Benítez needed convincing that Bellamy, who scored 17 goals last season, was the right man to partner Peter Crouch on Merseyside. Indeed, Benítez's initial plan was to pursue the Charlton Athletic striker Darren Bent. But once it became clear that Liverpool could not sell Cissé for about £8m - as had been hoped until he suffered a double fracture to his right leg in a friendly for France - those plans quickly shifted. Although Bent has enjoyed only one season in the Premiership, Bellamy actually represents a cheaper option in terms of his transfer fee and undoubtedly offers more proven pedigree.
--- surely you jest. kuijt has stated he will stay with feyenoord and will report for training on 2/7/06
Bellamy on his way? Liverpool to sign Bellamy for £6m Dominic Fifield Saturday June 17, 2006 The Guardian Craig Bellamy will join Liverpool next week for £6m after Rafael Benítez chose to activate a get-out clause for that amount, due to expire at the end of the month, in the striker's contract with Blackburn Rovers. The Wales international, a Liverpool supporter as a child, has proved a controversial figure in recent years, not least after his very public falling-out with the then Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness when he was at St James' Park. He will replace the outgoing Djibril Cissé at Anfield, as talks continue with Marseille to loan the injured France striker to the French club with a view to a permanent move. Article continues Bellamy's desire to leave Ewood Park since his £5m purchase from Newcastle after a season of relative resurgence under his former Wales mentor Mark Hughes will disappoint Rovers, who had hoped to persuade the 26-year-old to remain in east Lancashire. But the clause in the striker's contract was due to expire at the end of June, after which Blackburn could have demanded a higher fee for their leading scorer from last season, with Liverpool finally choosing to make a move after months of deliberation. The striker had made it clear he would favour joining Liverpool, who will offer him an immediate return to the Champions League, and Hughes was unable to persuade him otherwise. Even so, Benítez needed convincing that Bellamy, who scored 17 goals last season, was the right man to partner Peter Crouch on Merseyside. Indeed, Benítez's initial plan was to pursue the Charlton Athletic striker Darren Bent. But once it became clear that Liverpool could not sell Cissé for about £8m - as had been hoped until he suffered a double fracture to his right leg in a friendly for France - those plans quickly shifted. Although Bent has enjoyed only one season in the Premiership, Bellamy actually represents a cheaper option in terms of his transfer fee and undoubtedly offers more proven pedigree. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1799647,00.html
Echo is reporting Kuyt for 10 million GBP after the Cup. Bellamy maybe Monday. Cisse on loan to purchase to OM.
what else was he supossed to say!?If no bid had come from any club. I think it very likely this move will happen, if we can somehow find the money to buy this player.Even though i think the alves deal must be our number one priority.
I'm happy about Bellamy coming over even though I share the opinion [ with the other old farts in the room ] that there are still doubts over his attitude. He won't be the big fish in the small pond here and I'm pretty sure Gerrard, Carra, Hyypia have enough clout to shut him the f- up. If not he'll have to enjoy getting the shit kicked out of him in training! I'm still holding out hope for Kuijt. Even though this is still a bit of a stretch, I hope it does go through.
if you think bellamy is a worse football player than cisse then you know nothing about football and have picked the wrong game to support. Bellamy is more of a goalprovider ,works the channels ,works hard for the team but since he's moved to blackburn and played solely as a striker he's been a revelation. His ability is what we need ,6 m for him or 14 for cisse ,its enough to make me weep. the major question marks are over his character and attitude but don't confuse this with his ability which is very good. bellamy will be at a world class club ,world class players and world class manager ,all any of them have to do is say to bellamy 'shows us your medals' and that should shut the cocky ********er up .You can't argue with success or professionalism which we are the epitome of and to be fair what newcastle weren't. stick someone like roy keane at newcastle and he would have had a few bust ups I'm sure ,they are a joke club behind the scenes.
I'm a little skeptical about Bellamy....his temper is notorious and could very well work against Liverpool when it counts.
Would a Man U fan say the same exact thing about Rooney? Or would they say his temper and passion is what makes him special.
bellamy could be a disruptive little wanker or he could be the extra spark we need ,I really don't know but I on't fault his ability.
£6 million for Bellamy? I'll take him. An absolute snip in age when [British] players are massively over-priced. Think Andrew Johnson to Everton or how much we should have had to pay for Darren Bent.
My thought exactly. The lad is a true boyhood Red, with pace and skill, English and only 26. If he plays as he did for Celtic and Rovers, we've a steal. If not, it wasn't all that much money in today's transfer market.
Garcia Calls For [David] Villa Move I'm sure we'd all love to have him, but he might be a bit too expensive to take a risk on at the moment. Reds Reject Aimar Chance. I don't know how he could have fit in, really. Marseille Close In On Cisse Loan with a view to Permanent Sale?
Well....one excuse I've heard about Rooney from Utd. fans is his young age and will, with more experience, get better. Bellamy on the other hand hasn't seemed to get any better with his temper.
Get it right! When he played for Newcastle, it was 'temper' - now he's a Red, it's PASSION! ;^) He's our lovable bastard, now. If he's not an improvement over Cisse, there ain't a cow in Texas.
He's a young central midfielder (I believe) from Real Sociedad to replace the departing Hamann. Oh yea, Up the Bellers!!!
Yes you are correct. I believe now that Alves and Bellamy are in the bag. That leaves 1 more right winger and 1 more striker to be had. I think Pennant will be our final signing on the right wing. I have no idea who the other striker will be. I hope its not Kuyt because most of the people who watch Everidivisie do not rate him highly. He has *gasp* even been compared to Cisse only with work rate instead of speed. I am ruling out David Villa, Luca Toni, and Ronaldo just because it seems unrealistic that they would end up at anfield due to $$$ and transfer policy. We shall see...