Slovenski nogomet

RAFA BENITEZ is weighing up a summer swoop for Spanish star David Silva.

The Reds boss has identified the Valencia man as one of his top transfer targets – but will only do business if the price is right.

Valencia have hit massive financial difficulties in recent months and are set to sell crown jewels Silva, David Villa and Raul Albiol in an effort to bring their debt of 450m euros under control.

It is Silva who has caught Benitez’s eye though, with the Liverpool manager on the lookout for a versatile attacking player who can figure in a number of positions behind Fernando Torres as he looks to add strength in depth to his squad.

The 23-year-old certainly fits that bill and Liverpool have already made tentative enquiries about his availability.

They will only follow up their initial interest if Valencia are realistic about their valuation of a player who has won 21 caps for Spain.

Reports in Spain suggest the La Liga outfit are holding out for a fee in the region of £25m for Silva and with Barcelona and Juventus also both believed to be interested in snapping him up the battle for his services could be hard fought.

Liverpool are unlikely to be willing to pay that kind of asking price but Benitez will move fast it a compromise deal can be struck.

Reds chief scout Eduardo Macia – who took Silva to Valencia when the attacking midfielder was a teenager – was recently dispatched to Spain to check on Silva’s availability and was not discouraged by what he learned.

RAFA Benitez today confirmed that Liverpool DID make an inquiry for David Silva only for their interest to cool after learning of Valencia’s asking price.

As revealed in Thursday’s ECHO, the Reds boss had earmarked Silva as one of his top summer transfer targets and was willing to make an offer for the Spanish international if Valencia’s valuation was realistic.

But Benitez today announced that he will not be following up his initial interest in the 23-year-old.

Confirming the ECHO’s version of events, Benitez said: “It is true that we were asking about the situation with him but we are not happy with the situation now and he will not be a target for us.”

Valencia are believed to be seeking as much as £30m for the player and even though Benitez rates the Euro 2008 star highly he would not be willing to pay that much for his services.

The only possible way any such deal will now be resurrected will be if Valencia lower their asking price significantly.

Obeti niso najboljši....

The_Milkman napisal/-a:

Obeti niso najboljši....

YossiYossi je tekmo končal na nosilih.....nič boljše pa jo baje ni odnesel Sami

The_Milkman napisal/-a:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090330/sp ... oolvoronin

Edit; počelo je počelo....

Chief scout Macia came to Anfield from Rafa's former club Valencia in 2006 and the pair work very closely to try and attract the best talent in the world to Anfield.

"Eduardo was at Valencia as a technical director," said Benitez.

"He has been signing players for us like Skrtel, Mascherano, Torres, so he was looking for very good players at the right price, and again he is doing a very good job.

"You can never guarantee 100 per cent that when you sign a player he will be a success because each one is different."