LFC rumour mill: Liverpool linked with Nigerian star, More DIC takeover claims, and bizarre Torres exit stories

Feb 13 2008

LIVERPOOL are being linked with a summer swoop for Nigerian striker Osaze Odemwingie.

The forward has impressed many in the recent African Cup of Nations in Ghana,

According to reports on Brilafm.net, the Locomotiv Moscow striker could be making an £8 million pound move from Russia to Liverpool in the summer.

The site even goes so far as to claim scout Marc Guinness has been tasked with monitoring the player.

Andriy Voronin is the player tipped to leave if Odemwingie comes in.

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JOHN ARNE RIISE is being linked with a £6million move to Aston Villa.

Riise, who is having an indifferent season, is one of a number of players being tipped to leave in the summer.

The rumour mill has been alive with claims Xabi Alonso will return to Spain while it is also suggested Premier League and Spanish big guns may bid up to £40million for Fernando Torres if Liverpool don’t qualify for the Champions League.

Other, perhaps slightly less random rumours, include Sami Hyppia to Celtic, Harry Kewell to a MLS side and Peter Crouch to Portsmouth

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TOM HICKS insists he isn’t selling, but that hasn’t stopped the rumours linking Dubai’s DIC with a fresh takeover.

Reports now say DIC are believed to be targetting George Gillett's 50% stake in the club and once they secure a deal will then turn their attentions to the remaining shares held by fellow American Hicks.

The reports also suggest the deal would spell the end for Rafa Benitez. The story began life yesterday in The Sun, whose sister paper, The News of the World, was described as “one of the two newspapers everyone on Merseyside knows you can’t trust” after it attempted to strike up a fresh feud between Benitez and the owners.

Sources are quoted as saying: "The Dubai investors are not convinced Benitez is the right man for Liverpool.

"They have been far from impressed by his very public rows with the current owners and even less impressed with the way Liverpool are struggling for consistency in the Premier League. Like all foreign owners, they crave Champions League football, for financial and emotional

reasons.

“If Liverpool failed to qualify for next season's tournament, they would regard it as catastrophic."