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Posts Tagged ‘argentina’

• Full-back to undergo medical ahead of £6m transfer
• 25-year-old signed for Newcastle in August 2007

The Newcastle full-back José Enrique is expected to undergo a medical at Liverpool after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be close to £6m.

Enrique, 25, who joined Newcastle for £6.3m from Villarreal in August 2007, emerged from a difficult start to his career on Tyneside to prove himself a capable Premier League player.

Dalglish has been looking to strengthen the left side of his defence ever since taking over from Roy Hodgson in January. He allowed Paul Konchesky, a Hodgson signing last summer, to leave on loan and, with Fabio Aurelio injured, employed the right-back Glen Johnson in that position for the remainder of the season.

The Argentina international Emiliano Insua returned from a season-long loan at Galatasaray to rejoin the squad for training last month but his future is uncertain as 17-year-old reserve team defender Jack Robinson showed at the end of the previous campaign he was capable of filling in.

The signing of Enrique would provide Liverpool with a more balanced and attacking left side having already recruited the England winger Stewart Downing from Aston Villa.

Newcastle UnitedLiverpoolTransfer windowguardian.co.uk

• 30-year-old confirms approach from Newell’s Old Boys
• Rodríguez: ‘The president called me and I said yes’

Maxi Rodríguez could join the proposed exodus from Liverpool’s midfield this summer after revealing a desire to return to Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys.

The 30-year-old came through the youth system at Newell’s Old Boys and played three seasons for the club before leaving for Espanyol in 2002.

He enjoyed a fine end to the season at Liverpool, scoring seven goals in three matches, including two hat-tricks, and still has 18 months remaining on the three-year contract he signed on arrival from Atlético Madrid in January 2010.

However, he has confirmed an approach from his boyhood club and may ask to be released from his Anfield contract if a compromise package can be agreed.

Rodríguez told the Argentinian newspaper La Capital: “When I left here, I knew I was coming back. The president [William Lorenzo] called me and I said yes. Now it depends on the contract I have in Liverpool, maybe that can be loosened a little.”

Kenny Dalglish found Rodríguez an important utility player towards the end of last season but with the Liverpool manager intending to overhaul his midfield with younger talent, and struggling to get several unwanted high-earners off the wage bill – such as Alberto Aquilani, Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen – an offer from Newell’s Old Boys is likely to be considered. But the Argentina international would have to accept a significant reduction in his salary for the deal to happen.

Another surprise departure could be Raul Meireles, who reports in Italy have claimed is a target for Internazionale one year after his £11.7m arrival from Porto. The Portugal international enjoyed a promising debut season in English football, particularly in the month after Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson as manager, but was not always deployed in his favoured central midfield role and would provide Liverpool with a quick return on their investment.

The Anfield club are expected to follow the £20m capture of Jordan Henderson with the signing of Charlie Adam from Blackpool, possibly this week, although the two clubs have yet to agree a fee for the Scotland international midfielder. A deal may include Jonjo Shelvey joining Blackpool on loan in a bid to gain more first-team experience.

LiverpoolTransfer windowAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

• Argentina forward says ‘the time has come’ to leave Atlético
• Real Madrid favourites to sign their local rivals’ star player

Sergio Agüero has publicly stated his desire to leave Atlético Madrid this summer, posting messages on his website and on Twitter saying he felt he needed a move to continue his development.

“I said long ago that when I wanted to go, I would say so publicly. And the time has come,” the statement said. “So I keep to my word and here I am. I find it hard to leave Atlético. It hurts and saddens me.

“I’ve thought long and hard and I am convinced that I must be true to myself. I do not think I put a ceiling on the ability to keep learning, to keep growing. After five intense years, this stage for me personally is over and I have to give way to a new one.

“I’m about to turn 23 and I have everything before me. Suffice it to say that this is not an economic issue but strictly a sporting one. So I want to clearly express my appreciation to the club for the efforts they have made for giving me a salary that equates with the largest clubs in the world.”

Agüero, 22, has scored over 100 goals for Atlético since joining from Independiente as a teenager in 2006. As recently as January he signed a new contract that runs until 2014 and was also named the club’s vice-captain.

However, Agüero said he signed the new deal with an understanding that he may leave this summer, merely wanting to ensure Atlético received a larger fee.

“I want to say also that this decision has been maturing for some time,” he added. “The issue was discussed and agreed with Atlético last year when I was renewing my contract.

“I wanted to sign as a way to give back to the club for all the support they have given me. Had I not done so, they might not have received any more for my transfer. I received then a promise that the club would not stand in my way if I wanted to leave this summer. Therefore, in line with that commitment and my decision, I have asked them to listen to any offers they receive for me from different clubs.”

Atlético suffered a disappointing season as they finished seventh in La Liga, although that has been good enough to earn them a place in the Europa League.

Nevertheless speculation over Agüero’s future has been rife lately. Juventus, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been linked with the son-in-law of Diego Maradona and Real Madrid and Chelsea had offers rejected in January. Only last week the Atlético chief executive, Miguel Angel Gil Marín, said Agüero was not for sale.

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