LFC rumour mill: No loan for Leto, Pepe linked to Villareal, Board job for Macca?

Feb 7 2008

RAFA BENITEZ is reported to have vetoed a bid for River Plate to sign Sebastian Leto on a year-long loan, it has been reported.

River had been hopeful of taking the former Lanus winger on loan for a year and contacted Liverpool two weeks ago to discuss a possible deal.

Liverpool were said to be initially open to discussions, but Benitez decided that Leto would be better off staying in England as he would only have to adapt again if he returned to Argentina for such a period of time.

Liverpool paid £1.85 million to sign the twenty-one year old from Lanus in the summer, but he has only made four appearances so far this season in the Champions League and the Carling Cup and is yet to make his league debut,

Leto himself was said to have been keen to get some regular competitive football under his belt, but will now continue in Liverpool's reserve side as he looks to prove himself worthy of a first-team place.

As for River, they will continue their search for some cover in midfield, but could soon be adding another defender to their squad, with Colon de Santa Fe's Omar Merlo thought to be in negotiations with the Buenos Aires giants.

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BIRMINGHAM City's biggest shareholder, Carson Yeung, is said to want to get former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman on the club's board.

A daily newspaper quoted a sources as saying: “He (Yeung) is determined to have a voice and has petitioned other shareholders in the public company to ensure his investment is represented on the current board.

Former Liverpool legend McManaman is a director of Grand Top International, the holding company used by Yeung to front the bid. But it seems that Yeung’s overtures will be met with stiff resistance.”

The Hong Kong-based billionaire recently had a takeover bid snubbed by Messrs Gold and Sullivan, although he’s seemingly determined to have his voice heard at the Midlands club. Even if it’s through the medium of scouse.

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VILLAREAL have been linked with Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina if they lose Diego Lopez to AC Milan

The Serie A giants want 26-year-old Lopez as the long-term replacement for Nelson Dida having been impressed by the former Real Madrid man this season.

Reina left Villareal for Liverpool in 2005 and the Yellow Submarines would try and tempt the Spanish international back if Lopez was to leave.