Liverpool FC leading race to sign Gaston Ramirez from Bologna

Liverpool are reportedly leading the race to sign Bologna midfielder Gaston Ramirez.

Reports back in October had suggested that highly-rated winger was on the Merseysiders' radar, while Manchester United are believed to have sent scouts to Italy earlier this year to watch the 21-year-old in action.

Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are believed to also have shown interest, but according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool are the first club to make a move to sign the Uruguay international.

Ramirez's agent, Vicenzo D'Ippolito, recently admitted he was expecting a transfer to happen at some point next year.

"The directors of his team know that if not in January, he will leave next summer because there are many clubs interested," he said, adding: "We’ll see about Ramirez joining Liverpool. There’s certainly a real chance [of it]."

Bologna vice-president Maurizio Setti also recently hinted at a deal happening in the New Year.

Dalglish tells Liverpool players to stop drawing and start winning

Kenny Dalglish has asked his Liverpool players to start making their good performances pay by putting more points on the board.
Last weekend's 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City could easily have ended with the leaders' first defeat of the season.
It turned out to be a fourth successive draw at Anfield, where they have taken just 11 points from seven matches.
Away from home the story is slightly different as they have won four and lost two in the league, with three successive victories on the road, and overall it is even better as they have six in a row in all competitions.
They head to Fulham tomorrow knowing another win would equal a club record of seven set between December 1981 and February 1982 and again in January and March 1988.
And while many felt Liverpool deserved credit for their point against City a week ago Dalglish does not see it like that.
"We are never going to be happy with a draw against anyone, we are happy with wins," said the Scot.
"We were delighted with the way we played but I think we set our standards a little bit higher than drawing against people.
"I think we deserve better than that, I think we are better than that, and it's up to us to stand up and be counted and start winning games.
"We've done fantastically well and in most of the games we've played at home I think we should have come away with three points. "To their (the players') credit their performances have been top notch."

Manchester giants square up in mouthwatering FA Cup third-round clash

Full FA Cup third-round draw...

Middlesbrough v Shrewsbury
Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Manchester City v Manchester United
Dagenham & Redbridge/Walsall v Millwall
Crawley v Bristol City
Doncaster v Sutton/Notts County
Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa
Tottenham v Cheltenham Town
Sheffield Wednesday v West Ham
Milton Keynes Dons v QPR
Hull v Ipswich
Coventry v Southampton
Brighton v Wrexham
Fulham v Charlton
Birmingham v Wolves
Norwich v Burnley
Arsenal v Leeds
Derby v Crystal Palace
Fleetwood/Yeovil v Blackpool
Swindon v Wigan
Barnsley v Swansea
Chelmsford/Macclesfield v Bolton
Newcastle v Blackburn
Everton v Tamworth
Sheffield United v Salisbury/Grimsby
Liverpool v Southend/Oldham
Gillingham v Stoke
Chelsea v Portsmouth
Watford v Bradford
Peterborough v Sunderland
West Bromwich v Cardiff
Reading v Stevenage
*Ties to be played on weekend of January 7/8

Liverpool Prepare £4m Offer for Chelsea's Experienced Striker

Liverpool are planning a surprise move for Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka as manager Kenny Dalglish attempts to further strengthen his squad in the January transfer window and secure a top four finish. 

The France international had a short spell at Anfield back in 2002 under Gerard Houllier but the French manager decided not to take up the option to sign the striker and instead brought El Hadji Diouf to the club.

Dalglish knows that he can pick up the striker for a minimal fee as he is out of contract at the end of the season and Anelka is keen to leave the club as he has slipped behind the likes of Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge.

With Romelu Lukaku also now at the club, Anelka's time at Stamford Bridge is certainly coming to an end and director of football at Liverpool, Damien Comolli, hopes to persuade Daglish to make a £4million offer for the forward.

Liverpool have dominated a number of games this season but have often struggled to finish off sides, especially at Anfield where they have drawn with Norwich, Manchester City, Norwich and Manchester United.

The Reds have the likes of Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy, while Dirk Kuyt can also play upfront but tends to start most games on the right side of midfield.

According to caughtoffside.com, Liverpool are desperate to secure Champions league football and are ready to change their normal transfer policy of signing young players to bring the Frenchman to the club.

Villa says no to Liverpool as Spain star vows to fight for his future at Barcelona

David Villa has distanced himself from speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool.
The Barcelona man insists he is happy in Spain despite reports to the contrary in which it is said he has fallen out with Nou Camp star man Lionel Messi.
It is only Villa's second season with the European champions following his £40million switch from Valencia.
And Spain's all-time leading goalscorer has at times struggled playing second fiddle in attack to his Argentine team-mate.
However responding to speculation about his future, the 30-year-old insisted he has no intention of quitting the club.
'I feel important, and even more so when the manager speaks well of me,' he said. 'I've always had the affection of team-mates and especially the public. I noticed it since the day I arrived. So it’s not vital that I score.

'I don’t give any importance to what is said outside the club. I don’t have to be worried about all of this, it’s all the same to me. I work so that the manager, my colleagues, the fans and my family are happy, and that’s the case.'

Liverpool's desire to lighten to the goal-burden on Luis Suarez is likely to see them enter the transfer market in January, having seen £35m man Andy Carroll fail to live up to expectation. 

Liverpool plot £10m 'emergency' Dutch international raid

Liverpool are being linked with a January raid on Dutch international midfielder Leroy Fer.
The FC Twente star has reportedly been scouted by the Reds on a number of occasions this term, with Kenny Dalglish initially considering a potential summer bid for the player.
However, The Metro claims that Lucas Leiva's season-ending injury has put Liverpool on alert to the player's availability at the start of 2012, with an 'emergency' £10 million bid thought to be needed to bring the player to Merseyside.
The 21-year-old moved to his current home from Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord in the summer, with some impressive performances quickly doubling the player's valuation following the £5 million switch.
A defensive midfielder, the versatile youngster can also play anywhere across the back-line, an addition bonus for Liverpool were they to make a move for Fer.
Dalglish spent big on midfielders in the summer, bringing Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson to Liverpool for a combined fee in excess of £25 million.
Injuries to club captain Steven Gerrard and now Brazilian international Lucas have exposed potential floors in the Liverpool armour though, and a holding midfielder is now a priority for the Scottish boss.
French international Yann M'Vila has also been linked, and the Liverpool manager will have to consider his options alongside director of football Damien Comolli.

Liverpool-target-15-million-brazilian-replacement-for-injured-lucas

Despite Kenny Dalglish insisting he will recruit from within to nurse the impact of Lucas Leiva’s injury, reports are suggesting that Liverpool are interested in Jadson.
The Brazilian international who has four caps and one goal this year for his country has scored 39 goals in 163 appearances for Shaktar Donetsk since his move from Brazil which has put him firmly on the radar of top European clubs and Arsenal were thought to have sealed a move for the player but could not agree a fee.
With Liverpool reeling after the loss of their influential midfielder Lucas, Kenny Dalglish is thought to considering his options after recalling Jonjo Shelvey from Blackpool however its believed that they may look at Jadson to fill the gap.
The Shakhtar Donetsk star has also been a long term target of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, however it is believed that Liverpool are willing to bid £15 million in January in order to land the 28-year-old who can play in a variety of defensive and attacking positions.