Football Dispatch

Summer Football
21 June 2007
Liverpool's new owners look poised to give Rafael Benitez the keys to the vault. To date, the Spaniard has been frustrated by a lack of transfer funds at Anfield -- drawing speculation George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the club's American owners, were unprepared for the financial commitment of operating a football club of Liverpool's stature. But with the confusion hopefully behind him, Benitez is ready to spash-out 25M-pounds for Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres. The 23-year-old Spain international, however, has resisted the overtures of Manchester United and is likely to do so again. Atletico, for their part, want at least 27M-pounds for the player. Benitez would also be willing to include forward Luis Garcia as part of a transfer package. Atletico missed-out on UEFA Cup qualification on the final day of the domestic season and must now qualify via the Intertoto Cup.

Thaksin Shinawatra is on the cusp of taking-over Manchester City. Despite having over 1B-pounds frozen in various bank accounts, the former prime minister of Thailand is set to pay 81.6M-pounds for the Eastlands club. "I am delighted that the board of Mancehster City has recommended my bid for the club," he stated after his offer was approved, this morning. Shinawatra has one, final hurdle to clear before assuming control of the club, however. He must pass the Premier League's Right and Proper Persons Test. Considering that he is under suspicion for holding illegal stocks in Thailand, it his passing of the test could be easier said than done.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez is hoping to bolster his club's goalscoring fortunes this summer. To that end, he has targeted West Bromich Albion's Diomansy Kamara and Tottenham Hotspur's Mido to form a new striking tandem at Craven Cottage. The former Northern Ireland manager will offer Heidar Helguson and 3M-pounds in cash to West Brom in exchange for Kamara. Details have yet to surface as to Martin Jol's asking-price for Mido.

Juventus have sold Robert Kovac to Borussia Dortmund. The German club are hopeful that the 33-year-old Croatia international will plug the hole left by the outgoing Christoph Metzelder. Kovac spent two seasons in Turin following a 4-year stint at Bayern Munich. Metzelder, a Germany international defender, joined Real Madrid earlier in the week.