Manchester City have officially had a 19 million pound offer accepted for CSKA Moscow’s Brazilian striker Jo. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Far be it from me – or anyone for that matter – to question Rafa Benitez and his summer transfers, but when Liverpool fans take a look back next season, chances are pretty good that the signing of Udinese left-back Andrea Dossena could go down as one of the main reasons why Liverpool were successful in the upcoming season.

The Liverpool Daily Post is reporting today that Dossena is undergoing a medical in Merseyside, and could be just days away from signing for an expected £7m.

The Italian left back is due to get married this weekend but such is his desire to sign for the Reds he has taken time out from his wedding preparations to fly to Merseyside to undergo his medical.

A fee in the region of £7m has been agreed with Udinese and terms have also been agreed with the player who was revealed as Rafa Benitez’s number one target for the left back position in the ECHO last month. (Liverpool Daily Post)

A player that takes time out of his wedding plans to sign with the Reds? It looks like Rafa has found another player willing to sacrifice his time for the good of the club (if you can really call snubbing your bird to sign a new contract sacrificing for the good of the team!).

Do Liverpool supporters think Dossena is the right man to take over the left-back duties? Or were you hoping Rafa would find someone else to take over the role?

After finishing off the 2008 campaign with the Premiership and UEFA Champions League titles, one would wonder how Manchester United could improve on a squad that is considered by many to be the best in the world.

Well If United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has his way, he may yet add another piece to the puzzle that would surely make every team in the Premiership quake in their boots.

The be-all end-all paper that is The Sun is reporting that United are prepared to use the chaos going over at Blackburn to their advantage. The club is planning a massive bid to take Paraguayan ace, Roque Santa Cruz, out of the turmoil and into the loving arms of SAF.

Manchester United are planning to bid £15 million to lure Santa Cruz to Old Trafford, after Sir Alex Ferguson was persuaded to give up on a bid to sign Thierry Henry. (The Sun)

Surely this is just paper talk, but if this deal were true, could you imagine how scary it would be to go up against a strike group that included Tevez, Rooney and Santa Cruz? I think I see four or five Premiership teams wetting themselves as we speak.

So what’s your take United supporters? Is Santa Cruz the man to push United even further ahead of the pack? Or would you rather see SAF spend the £15m elsewhere?

Liverpool supporters may well be feeling a little underwhelmed by the news that manager Rafa Benitez has made Switzerland right-back Philipp Degen his first signing of the close season. It’s not the big-money transfer the fans are crying out for after yet another season without silverware.

Degen, 25, will make the move to Merseyside on a free transfer from German outfit Borussia Dortmund on July 1 when his current contract expires.

“[Degen] is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality,” the Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez told the club website.

“His strength is going forward and I am confident he will be prove to be a quality addition to our squad.”

Having played in the Champions League, Uefa Cup and expected to feature for his country at Euro 2008, there’s no doubt Degen has plenty of experience. It remains to be seen, however, whether he will be a first-team regular for Liverpool or just necessary cover for the ever-inconsistent Alvaro Arbeloa.

Degen’s arrival may well signal the end of Steven Finnan’s time on Merseyside. The Irishman struggled to break into the first-team last season and, being on the wrong side of thirty, could well be on his way out of Anfield.

Still, Degen’s happy.

“When I received the offer from Liverpool,” he told Liverpool FC.tv, “there was no doubt I would accept it. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am looking forward to the challenge of establishing myself there and playing in the best league there is.”