Transfer Deadline Day – Live!

Doni and Pacheco left Liverpool on deadline day.
Doni and Pacheco left Liverpool on deadline day.

 

Two years on from that zany deadline day, when Liverpool swapped 1990s Pop’s Fernando Torres for football’s Luis Suarez and equestrian’s Andy Carroll, today promises to be more serene with Brendan Rodgers admitting last night that any more additions are unlikely.

In anticipation of a news – void, let’s make this as interesting as possible. Tweet your views on anything football – related to @gavincooney1892. We can react to last night’s draw at Arsenal, look ahead to the weekend trip to Man City, and analyse Liverpool’s window overall. Also, let’s speculate about where Doni is. Where the hell is Doni? Do get in touch. I’m lonely.

 

This Is Anfield Deadline Day Blog: January 31st, 2013

11pm: The window has closed. A quiet day for LFC. Pacheco and Doni departures are the only developments.

8.42pm: Elsewhere: Ex-Red and all-round nice guy Stephen Warnock has left Villa for Leeds.

Chris Hughton is eating a microwave meal for one tonight after Celtic rejected a FIFTH bid for Gary Hooper. Someday Chris, someday.

Everton haven’t signed anyone. But that’s not news, is it?

Hilarious Gomes and Mario Balotelli have left England for Hoffenheim and AC Milan respectively.

Peter Odemnwingie has driven to QPR without permission of West Brom in an attempt to force a transfer. It’s all a little up in the air, but after over eight hours of trying to engineer some bloody news I don’t care what he does. I don’t care if he spells out his transfer request through the medium of interpretive dance. Look what you’ve done to me Twitter. Look what you’ve done to me Sky Sports News. I am a broken man.

Loadsa’ money QPR have spent loadsa’ money on Chris Samba.

And Lord David Beckham esq. has pitched up at PSG for five months. In a further twist in his inexhaustible pursuit of a knighthood, he is handing over his salary to a French Charity.

That’s all from me. Thank you all for reading this, and particularly to those who tweeted and commented to keep me company.

I guess I’ll see ya’ll on August 31st.

 

8.37pm: With less than two and a half hours of the window remaining and Melwood quieter than the Emirates on a Saturday afternoon, I am signing off. I’ll leave you with the headlines on a quiet day across England.

Doni has been located, and his contract has been cancelled. He has joined Botafogo in the basement of Brazilian football.

Dani Pacheco has been farmed out on loan to the Spanish second division.

And that’s it. Bada. Bing.

 

8.32pm:  I thought that Doni had joined Botafogo of Rio in the Brazilian first decision, I was wrong. Ace South American football correspondant Tim Vickery (aka the Legendinhio) has corrected us all to say that the Botafogo Doni has joined is in fact Botafogo of Ribeirao Preto, currently in the state championship, aiming to get into the FOURTH DIVISION in Brazil. Best of luck to him.

 

7.35pm: Sky Sports News have turned this whole deadline day fandango into the Eurovision Song Contest. Kirsty Gallagher: “Hello Munich”.

 

7.32pm: Suso says that Suso is not going anywhere. suso

 

7.20pm: Okay, this was probably a hoax. Judging by this previous tweet, it’s probably a fake account. My first ever live internet blog, and I lasted seven hours before getting conned. Suppose I should be happy with myself. Apologies to anybody who was also strung along.

Samuel fake

 

7.11pm: Someone out there, please verify Martin Samuel. Someone. Anyone. Please.

 

7.09 pm: Bloody hell Martin Samuel. If you are leading me and many other Liverpool fans on a merry dance, well played Sir.

Samuel 3

6.55pm: NB: Samuel is the only person to release this yet, we wait for Sky or indeed the Official Website to confirm it. But to repeat, according to the Mail’s Martim Samuel (I know, I know, quoting the Daily Mail) Liverpool have taken goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg on loan from Roma. He was linked with Fulham today, but according to Gab Marcotti the deal was called off because Roma didn’t have a replacement lined up. Watch this space.

 

6.53pm: News! News! News! Well, according to Martin Samuel. This is interesting. Maartin Steklenburg from Roma.

Samuel 2

 

6.49pm: Hold on to your hats folks. Martin Samuel, you have our attention.

Martin Samuel

6.32pm: Bad news folks. The Italian transfer window has shut, so Liverpool will have to wait until the summer at least to sign Edison Cavani.

 

6.26pm: Time to make this more interesting. This was posted moments ago on the Guardian website.

Guardian

 

 6.21pm: There are rumours in Belgium that Man City are ready to replace Mario Balotelli with Christian Benteke. Will it happen?

 

5.42pm: The words Arsenal, deadline, day and signing are rarely used together. But Arsenal are going to make a deadline day signing. Malaga left back Nacho Monreal is in London for talks. Andre Santos does not like this.

5.39pm: Gab Marcotti says that Fulham‘s move for Steklemburg is off; Roma were unable to sign a replacement.

5.38pm: Rafael Honigstein of the Guardian believes that rumours of Liverpool’s interest in Sven Bender are greatly exaggerated:

Rafa Honeigstein

 

5.14 pm: A couple of lines to bring you: Sky Italia are reporting that Maartin Steklenburg, Dutch International goalkeeper, is on his way to Fulham from Roma. David Beckham is giving his PSG salary to a children’s foundation. Helping out people who are in desperate need: fair play Steklenburg. Oh, and you too Beckham.

 

4.52pm: Silly, gullible people. Falling for Sky Sports countdown clock. Thought the window was closing tonight?

LFC Fantasy

 

4.43pm: Away from Liverpool: Lord Becks has signed a five month deal with some  Popular Secular Guys (PSG). Also, with Danny Graham arriving, Louis Saha has left Sunderland. Bet you didn’t know he was there, did you.

 

4.38pm …ANYONE SKY SPORTS YELLOW TICKER OF DOOM NOBODY HAS SIGNED…

 

4.28pm: Debate time, this tweet from Eammon Quinn: Eammon Quinn

Internet: debate. I’ll give my opinion, for all that it matters. I honestly don’t think it would have, we dropped far too deep after the second goal, so having another defensive minded player to come on would have only encouraged us too keep dropping deep. What we needed was for Steven Gerrard or somebody to get on the ball and dictate the play, to spray passes around and give Liverpool a foothold in the game. So really what we needed was a midfielder who will get on the ball, play quick short passes and accurate long passes, all done at pace. I think we had one of those guys before, Xabi was his name I think? Anyway, football’s all about opinions, so tweet email or comment.

 

4.23pm: How do Anzhi get over the loss of Chris Samba? According to LFC TV’s John Bradley, this is how:

John Bradley

 

 

3.39pm: Things are remarkably quiet, nothing happening anywhere. David Beckham will be unveiled by PSG at 4pm. That’s about it. Purslow has stopped talking for now however. Small mercies.

 

3.26pm: Deadline Day Angst Update: Purslow is still talking.

 

3.14pm: Respected spanish football journalist Guillem Balague believes that Liverpool have found a bargain in Phillippe Coutinho, saying that in a year he’ll be one of the stars of the Premier League.

 

3.06pm: Dangerhere.com have captured a couple of strange deadline day moments on Sky Sports News:

Danger Here Two

 

Danger Here One

 

3.02pm: Liverpool target Jack Butland is no longer a Liverpool target. He has signed for Stoke. The fee is around £5 million, and he will see out the remainder of the season on loan at Birmingham. It was all done very secretly, he actually had his medical yesterday.

 

2.55pm:Ben Smith of the BBC has found Doni! The goalkeeper will join Clarence Seedorf at Botafogo. Good luck to him. Another ex-Liverpool goalkeeper, Diego Cavalieri, is thriving in Brazilian football. Smith also reports that there is nothing new regarding Tom Ince.

 

2.43pm: TimmoHfdRed is amazed that Liverpool aren’t in for West Ham midfielder Diame: “Why aren’t we in for Diame????? beyond belief that we aren’t going for him, he’d improve the midfield no end”. I am in agreement, Diame is a very good midfielder, fantastic against us when we visited Upton Park. His enforced substitution swung the game in our favour. Kenny Dalglish had a free transfer in place for the player last summer, before he was sacked. He would add more bite to the midfield, and at £3.5 million he could afford to be a squad player. TimmoHfdRed is also dissatisfied with the window overall:  “Another pants window, 2 in and 5 out”I would disagree, Coutinho and Sturridge are good signings, while getting the likes of Joe Cole off the wage bill is a plus. Sahin was a disappointment, but paying a player big wages who doesn’t contribute is a false economy. Also, thanks to Emiliano Insua’s move from Sporting to Atletico Madrid, we pocketed £1.1 million. Those are my opinions, what’s yours? Tweet @gavincooney1892, email [email protected] or comment below. Extra marks for those who wish to send a pigeon.

 

2.35pm: I dislike Rio Ferdinand. Balance restored.

 

2.34pm: We need to talk about David. As a free agent, David Beckham could have moved to PSG at any stage. To do it on Deadline Day is indicative of his marketing savvy. I have  respect for Beckham, to achieve so much in the game with a good right foot and a great attitude. I’m showing a worrying sympathy to Manchester United players.

 

2.29pm: Celtic have told Chris Hughton that “it’s not you, it’s me”: A 4th Norwich bid for Gary Hooper has been rejected. Hughton is currently gazing pensively out of a window lashed with rain, humming the tune of “Unchained Melody”. If they do sign him, it’ll make one hell of a rom com.

 

2.20pm: Re Negredo to Everton: Deal unlikely today, according to Guillem Balague. The deal may well take place in the summer.

 

2.18pm: To summarise: Liverpool are unlikely to sign anybody today as Blackpool are similarly unlikely to lower the price on Tom Ince’s head. Dani Pacheco has left the club on loan for the rest of the season. It’s a quiet day (thus far) at Melwood.

 

2.13pm: Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Daniel  Sturridge are in the England squad to face Brazil next week.

 

2.09pm: Deadline day musings Episode I: 1) What are Sky Sources? Just sources? Or some kind of clandestine relentless news – gathering group? 2) Will Coutinho wear chinos? 3) Where’s Doni?

 

2.02pm: I’m hungry. So while I leave the laptop for a few minutes, here’s a compilation of Champions League winner Djimi Traore to entertain you. I refuse to blame Finnan Hamman or Biscan for this video. It’s traore’s fault, he just can’t control his feet don’t cha’ know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAjSFStLIiw

 

2.01pm: Away from Liverpool, Internacional may be about to be ‘Levyed’. Spurs, and their master of brinkmanship Daniel Levy, are intersted in Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao.

 

 2.00pm: Dani Pacheco tweeted this recently:

Tweet- PAcheco

 

1.53pm: Lazio defender Modibo Diakite wants to join Liverpool, although it will have to wait until the summer when the Frenchman is available on a free transfer. His agent claimed that Liverpool would be “hard to say no to”.

 

1.44pm: I should have mentioned that the window slams shut at 11pm. The window slams shut at 11pm.

 

1.40pm: Demons like Voronin and Purslow have been mentioned today, so while we are at it: Tom Hicks is selling his mansion for $135 million. It is the most expensive property on the US market presently. More details here: http://www.balls.ie/football/former-liverpool-owner-tom-hicks-has-his-dallas-house-on-the-market-for-135-million/#sthash.UM6JlpWa.dpbs

 

1.38pm: Deadline Day Joy Update: Fax machine sellers, rejoice! Today is your day.

 

1.36pm: Deadline Day Angst Update: Shut up Christian Purslow. Shut up.

 

1.29pm: Regular victim of Kenny Dalglish‘s press conference humour, Sky’s Vinny O’ Connor, is reporting that Tom Ince’s arrival hinges on Blackpool lowering their demands, which is unlikely. Elsewhere, Doni’s contract is on the verge of being cancelled. Rumours that he is quitting football to pursue a magic career – given his talent for disappearing acts –  are unconfirmed.

 

1.26pm: Everton‘s deadline day ambitions may surpass clinging onto Marouane Fellaini; there are whispers of interest in Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo. Fulham meanwhile are interested in ex-red David N’gog.

 

1.18pm: The official website have confirmed Dani Pacheco’s loan move to Sociedad Deportiva Huesca, until the end of the season. It doesn’t look like Pacheco has a future at LFC, which is a pity. Failing to make an impact under four different managers, however, shows that the problem is the player.

 

1.16pm: Lo and behold, Purslow just mentioned Voronin on Sky Sports News, saying how the Russians bailed him out by giving him six million euros for the not very divine ponytail. I know I shouldn’t swear on a family website, but God, he is a cock.

 

1.10pm: New signing Phillipe Coutinho will wear the number 10 shirt for the Reds. That number has been previously worn by John Barnes and Andriy Voronin. Go on Coutinho son, you know which one to emulate.

 

1.08pm: Stoke have tabled a £4million bid for alleged Liverpool target Jack Butland. Birmingham have yet to respond. Asmir Begovic, meanwhile, linked to Liverpool in this morning’s papers, has declared that he’s not going anywhere. Stoke are also interested in Marcus Alonso at Bolton; relevant only because he is related to Xabi.

 

1.03pm TIA writer Michael Sweeting believes Yossi Benayoun would be a good signing for the Reds today. Michael Reynolds, meanwhile, reckons a raid for Florent Malouda could be worthwhile. Agree, Disagree?

 

12.46 pm: During our hiatus, you didn’t miss anything overly exciting. Victoria Beckham has chosen Paris as her latest shopping destination, as David undergoes a medical at PSG. The wheeler-dealer in denial, ‘Arry Redknapp has been predictably busy, splurging a club record £12.5m for Chris Samba. QPR are also in for Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley. Paul Scharner has returned to Wigan on loan, Danny Graham has swapped Swansea for Sunderland. Norwich have exchanged one Steve Morrison for one Luchiano Becchio. Norwich covet another striker, namely Celtic’s Gary Hooper. Chris Hughton has made his fourth play for the forward, but resembles a desperate, love-sick man standing alone in the pouring rain with a bunch of soaked, wilting flowers as Celtic continue to knock him back. Hilarious Gomes is going to Hoffenheim on loan. Stoke are trying to sign American Breck Shea.  With so much going on, we need a roving reporter in the sky. Where’s Ryan Babel when you need him?

Meanwhile, Sky Sports News have Christian Purslow in studio, providing expert insight into the realm of transfer dealings. Jesus wept.

 

12.41pm: Apologies for the hiatus, technical difficulties. Two years on from that zany deadline day, when Liverpool swapped 1990s Pop’s Fernando Torres for football’s Luis Suarez and equestrian’s Andy Carroll. Today promises to be more serene, with Brendan Rodgers admitting last night that any more additions are unlikely. The deal from Tom Ince remains on the table, however there has not been any contact between Blackpool and Liverpool in the last couple of weeks. The Reds have bid around £4.5 million for their former player. It’s unlikely to be enough; Reading have had a £7 million bid for the player rejected.

There may be a couple of outgoings however. The Guardian are reporting that Dani Pacheco is close to a loan move to Spanish second division side Sociedad Deportiva Huesca. Doni, meanwhile, may have his contract cancelled today.

In anticipation of a news – void, let’s make this as interesting as possible. Tweet your views on anything football – related to @gavincooney1892 or email me at [email protected]. We can react to last night’s draw at Arsenal, look ahead to the weekend trip to Man City, and analyse Liverpool’s window overall. Also, let’s speculate about where Doni is. Where the hell is Doni? Do get in touch. I’m lonely.

 

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