Fulham have completed the signing of Roma defender John Arne Riise for a fee believed to be around £5million.

The 30-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to link up with his younger brother Bjorn Helge at Craven Cottage.

The Norway international spent three seasons in Serie A with Roma after seven successful years at Liverpool.

He made more than 230 appearances for the Reds, and won the Champions League, and Riise admits he is glad to be back in England.

“I’m delighted to have completed my transfer to Fulham this morning and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League once again,” he told the club’s website.

“Fulham is a club that I have been following as my brother, Bjorn, plays here and he speaks very highly of the club and the staff.

“Obviously I also played against the club in the Europa League group stage when they went on to reach the final of the competition.

“I know that the club is ambitious and continues to make good progress each year, under the guidance of the chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed.

“I am looking forward to working with Martin Jol and the rest of the squad when I report to training next week.”

The Norway international is recently-appointed manager Martin Jol’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi earlier this week.

“John Arne Riise is an experienced international left-back, who will bring a number of qualities to our squad and provide more options for me,” said Jol.

“He is used to performing at the very highest level for both club and country and is an accomplished player defensively, who can also contribute to our attacking play.

“I am extremely happy that we’ve been able to add him to our squad, and believe that he will prove a valuable addition as we progress.”

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Former Liverpool favourite John Arne Riise has sparked talk of a possible Anfield return after suggesting that he would be open to a move back to the Merseyside club he represented from 2002 to 2008. The Norwegian international is currently at Roma but has been linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico after an average season at the Serie A side.

Liverpool are reportedly looking for a new left back and have previously been strongly linked with Everton’s Leighton Baines and Newcastle United full back Jose Enrique. Kenny Dalglish will have been encouraged by the performances of youngster Jack Robinson but may feel that he needs a more experienced player to fill the position that has been handed to a number of players this season.

Paul Konchesky was the original first choice under Roy Hodgson but the former Fulham man struggled to find form and has been sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest. Fabio Aurelio has struggled for fitness and at times Glen Johnson and Danny Wilson have both been called in as emergency back up.

£8m rated Riise will be out of contract in the summer of 2012 and Roma may be willing to sell the attack minded full back if the right offer comes along. Talking of the speculation about a return to the club he made 300 appearances for, the 30 year old said

“I am flattered by reports linking me with a return to England. Liverpool are close to my heart. They are a great club and I have some good memories. I have a contract here until June 2012, so you never know.”

Whilst John Arne Riise would not necessarily be a long term solution to the left sided problem area, the experienced set piece specialist may be an ideal player to call upon until the club’s younger talents are ready to be thrown in at the deep end.

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Liverpool are reportedly preparing a move to re-sign former Anfield favourite John Arne Riise. Kenny Dalglish has been looking to resolve the club’s left back problem area and is interested in the Roma star who looks likely to leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer.

Having sent out Paul Konchesky and Emiliano Insua out on loan and unlikely to return to Liverpool, Dalglish has been linked with a number of potential full back signings and is now apparently sizing up a move for 30 year old Norwegian international Riise who is now in his third season at Roma.

Riise spent seven successful years at the Merseyside club during which time he became a cult hero at Anfield, known for his attacking forays down the wing and his penchant for spectacular long range strikes the former Monaco man would surely be tempted by a return to Liverpool.

Kenny Dalglish appears intent on resolving an area that Liverpool have struggled to fill this season. Roy Hodgson began the season with Konchesky as first choice but the former Fulham man was sent to Nottingham Forest in January and Glen Johnson has at times filled in out of position and Fabio Aurelio’s injury problems have led to youngsters Danny Wilson and then Jack Robinson putting in solid performances.

Riise is said to be available for around £8m and the uncertainty at Roma, with Vincenzo Montella acting as caretaker boss since Claudio Ranieri’s sacking, could make such a move more likely. Although Liverpool’s new owners are keen to plan for the long term with the signing of youthful additions, a move for the talented wide man would be a wise solution to a long term problem area.

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Liverpool are reportedly in talks to sign Roma left back John Arne Riise this summer. The Norwegian international is likely to leave the Serie A side this summer and whilst a move to the MLS has been mentioned it appears that the Anfield side is very interested in bringing the 30 year old back to the club he represented for seven years.

The former fan favourite has been having a hard time of it this season and the resignation of Claudio Ranieri is set to seal the attack minded full back’s departure from the Stadio Olimpico. Riise has been a regular at Roma over the past two and a half seasons and he helped the Giallorossi to a runners up spot last term but has this season suffered a severe drop in form and a move away from Italy is likely.

Liverpool are looking to sign a new left back and are currently playing right back Glen Johnson out of position to fill the gap whilst Paul Konchesky and Emiliano Insua are out on loan at Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray respectively. Ironically the man who edged Riise to a Merseyside exit in 2008, Fabio Aurelio, is now being used as back up after the Brazilian returned to the club in August after initially being shown the door at the end of last season.

Riise is fondly remembered by many at the club and during his spell between 2001-2008 he amassed 348 appearances and scored 33 times, including some spectacular long range efforts which became his trademark. Roma are thought to value the left sided player at around £6m, a fee that Liverpool seem very willing to pay.

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Roma wide-man John Arne Riise has hit back at newspaper reports claiming the Norwegian had asked to return to former club Liverpool.
The 29-year-old made more than 200 league appearances for the Merseysiders from 2001-08 – netting 21 times – before leaving for the Eternal City.
However, the left-back – who can operate as an attacking midfielder – has struggled to establish himself as a regular in the Italian capital.
And as a result, speculation surfaced linking the Norway stalwart – who has 84 caps for his country – with a swift exit from the Stadio Olimpico, with the News of the World claiming that Riise had specifically requested a move back to Anfield.
However, the player has since angrily denied the reports.
“I never said I wanted to return to Liverpool and I never made those statements,” he said.
“I am settled here in Rome and I want to stay.” (Four Four Two)

I miss John Arne Riise and I am sure I am not the only one. Yes he had his faults but he more than made up for them with sterling effort and no shortage of 30 yard screamers. It seems he has put the kibosh on any potential return but then I don’t think any of us thought there was much likelihood of him returning anyway.

Clearly we have some issues on the left hand side of the park. Emiliano Insua is trying his hardest but has too many average performances and ahead of him we have no real solid solution. Yossi Benayoun in my view is far more effective when in a roving role rather than forced out on either flank. Albert Riera hasn’t proved himself at the club and Ryan Babel is living on borrowed time.

The Fulham result was appalling and it does seem that Rafa is living a charmed life at the club and honestly he may be 90 minutes from leaving the club. I hope we can get ourselves out of this nosedive and hopefully we can do it sooner rather than later. If we lose in Lyon we are more of less dead in the water and can look forward to a stint in the UEFA Cup to go with a forlorn hope of making up ground in the Premier League.

YNWA

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The Rumour

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy is a target for Tottenham.

The Guardian says Spurs boss Harry Redknapp could revive his long-standing interest in Bellamy, potentially falling down the pecking order at Manchester City given the signing of Roque Santa Cruz and the expected arrival of Carlos Tevez.

Redknapp is attempting to find buyers for Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko – and if successful will move for Bellamy.

The Source: (The Guardian as reported on Tribalfootball.com)

The Analysis

Why? For some reason Harry Redknapp is a big fan of Craig Bellamy and wants to sign him! This is despite the fact that Spurs have four strikers, all of whom are superior to the Welsh Irritant! Man City signed the former West Ham man last season but now the 29 appears to be very low down the Eastlands pecking order and will probably need to move in order to guarantee first team football.

John Arne Riise’s best friend has played at six clubs in the last four years and this is surely down to the fact that at one stage or another he annoys everyone in the dressing room with his moaning!

I am sure Tottenham fans will protest against such a signing, but will Redknapp listen?

The Likelihood

Bellamy to Spurs: Worryingly for White Hart Lane supporters, this wouldn’t surprise me at all!

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Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise has wasted no time in meeting officials of Roma after being given permission to talk to the club. The Norwegian defender landed in Rome yesterday morning to open negotiations with last season’s Serie A runners-up and could move for a fee of £4.5m. Riise is expected to sign a four-year deal worth £1.3m with Roma, who reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. Amantino Mancini, meanwhile, looks set to leave the club and move to Internazionale on a four-year contract worth £2.5m. (Independent)

The best years of Riise’s career have been devoted to Anfield, but are Liverpool fans happy to see the back of him (although, let’s be honest, his iridescent barnet is probably visible from space, let alone Italy)?

“I have to get [my future] sorted out before pre-season starts,” the Norwegian left-back told reporters this week, still not in the clear about his Anfield future.

“I can’t wait and wait for an answer. I have to get an answer now!”

Given the speculation in the press about Riise’s future, particularly following his disastrous own-goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final, it’s understandable the 27-year-old wants a decision on his future at Liverpool.

Trouble is, he’s not likely to hear what he wants. It’s no secret his time at Anfield is up.
The evidence speaks for itself:

• he’s struggled to hold on to a regular place in Benitez’s starting line-up
• he’s cocked up with too many high-profile errors in the last eighteen months
• he can’t find his scoring boots

Plus Benitez has already lined up his successor in the shape of Udinese defender Andrea Dossena, who is expected to sign in days.

Newcastle are widely tipped to be interested in Riise’s services, but Benitez would no doubt prefer to use him in part-exchange with Aston Villa for Gareth Barry.

It’s not all doom and gloom though for John Arne Riise. He’s on his hols and seems pretty chilled by the whole affair:

“If we don’t get the answer we want, we’ll have to do something. We’re not sitting here and waiting and waiting,” he told Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang

But after two seasons of utter dross, Caught Offside can’t help wonder: Is Riise still good enough for the Premiership?

Sky Sports reports that Rafael Benitez has given Kewell and his agent short shrift over the possibility of a new deal and that the winger will be moving to pastures new in the summer. It appears that a certain Norwegian full-back with a penchant for scoring spectacular own goals could be joining him.

“We have tried to come to an agreement with the player and his agent, but that has not been possible,” said Benitez.

“Kewell will leave the club at the end of his contract.

“With Riise and the rest of the players they have one or more years left on their contracts, so he is still our player at the moment and he knows if we receive a good offer – good for him and the club – it could be…

“But he is still our player and I am really pleased with him because he is a fantastic professional,” added Benitez.

Presumably Liverpool fans won’t be sad to see Kewell leave Anfield, although the same might not be said of Riise, who has done pretty well during his seven years at the club. The Norwegian has managed 33 goals for the Reds, which isn’t bad for someone who’s played mainly as a full-back.

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