Andrea Dossena close to securing Anfield switch

May 24 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

UDINESE have revealed their highly-rated left-back Andrea Dossena is close to completing a move to Liverpool.

Anfield manager Rafael Benitez has earmarked Dossena as he looks to strengthen his squad after missing out on honours for a second successive season.

Udinese rate the 26-year-old defender at around £8million, but Liverpool are confident of brokering a deal between £5-6million.

The Serie A outfit’s sporting director Pietro Leonardi was in England earlier this week to discuss the transfer with Anfield officials.

And Udinese coach Pasquale Marino confessed yesterday that Dossena is almost certain to become a Liverpool player in the coming days.

“I think that a deal with Liverpool for Dossena is on the way,” said Marino.

“Everything is going smoothly. The requirements are in place and the player has given his consent because he wants to test himself at an important club after the season he has had.”

Benitez has already started to remould his squad by signing Switzerland international right-back Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund.

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and Bordeaux goalkeeper Ulrich Rame are on Liverpool’s wanted list, with Espanyol left winger Albert Riera among other players under consideration.

Benitez must raise some of his own funds, with Scott Carson, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise welcome to talk to other clubs while Juventus are tracking £16million-rated Xabi Alonso.

Carson is still wanted by Aston Villa, but the Midlanders have no intention of paying the £10m asking price. Liverpool insist the fee was stipulated when the goalkeeper left for Villa Park on a season-long loan last summer, but Villa claim otherwise and are only willing to go to around £6m.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill is similarly refusing to budge on his valuation of Barry, with sources in the Midlands stating Liverpool must stump up at least £16m for the England international.

O’Neill is still confident of persuading the 27-year-old to stay put, and is prepared to offer Barry a contract worth £70,000 per week.