June 12th
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2007 11:01
Gabriel Milito and his brother Diego could be heading to Liverpool
Amid rumours of a high-level bust-up between Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and the club's American owners George Gillett and David Hicks, Real Zaragoza pair Gabriel and Diego Milito have emerged as the Merseyside club's top transfer targets.
With Benitez having given up on £35 million-rated
Samuel Eto'o and West Ham's in-demand
Carlos Tevez, the brothers could be available in a combined £20 million transfer.
Centre-back Gabriel, 26, has long been admired by the Anfield hierarchy, while his older brother Diego – who has scored 22 goals so far this season as unfancied Zaragoza charged into European qualification contention – has been given a glowing recommendation by Benitez's scouts.
West Ham meanwhile are resigned to losing talisman Tevez, with the forward saying he wants to join fellow Argentineans Hernan Crespo, Javier Zanetti, Julio Cruz, Nicolas Burdisso, Esteban Cambiasso, Santiago Solari and Walter Samuel at Serie A champions Inter Milan.
Another striker eyeing a move abroad is Chelsea's
Didier Drogba. But the Ivorian, who hit 29 goals for the Blues last season, admits he is a "long way from saying farewell" to west London, despite wanting to experience the Italian and Spanish league before he calls time on his career.
Former Bolton Boss Sam Allardyce wants to get his Newcastle revolution firmly underway by signing former charge
Tal Ben Haim on a free transfer.
Allardyce intends to firmly put an end to the Magpies' sometimes comically inept backline by also brining Paris St Germain's
David Rozehnal, Marseille's Senegalese skipper
Habib Beye and former Liverpool captain
Sami Hyypia to St James' Park.
Newly-promoted Birmingham see the Championship's third-top scorer
Diomansy Kamara and Fulham's
Zat Knight as two players who will help preserve their regained Premiership status, but Steve Bruce could be priced out by West Brom and the Cottagers demanding £6 million and £2.5 million respectively for their players.
And
Aaron Lennon's future at Tottenham could be in doubt after Martin Jol became alerted to the cut-price availability of Barcelona's right-winger
Ludovic Giuly, but Allardyce's Newcastle are also keen on the £1.5 million French international.