John Arne Riise set to seal Roma switch

Jun 17 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

JOHN ARNE RIISE’S wish for Liverpool and Roma to agree a fee for him is set to be granted with a move expected to go through by the end of the week.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez confessed at the end of last season that he would allow Riise to end his seven-year stay at Anfield if “the right price” was offered.

That price appears to be £5million, but Riise hopes Liverpool will compromise in order to facilitate his switch to Serie A.

Roma are believed to have made a bid in the region of £4million for the Norwegian international but the two clubs’ differences in the player’s valuation are likely to be ironed out within the next few days.

Earlier this month, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed his interest in the 27-year-old, saying Riise “can give a different dimension”, and “Riise has the qualities we are looking for.”

Now Riise has spoken for the first time of his intention to leave Anfield in order to find “new challenges.”

He said: “That was nice what was said by the coach (Spalletti), but this is only something I have heard from media reports.

“I have only one year of my contract left, so the price is lower than a year ago – 50 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately £5million) seems a little high for me.

“I need to play and need to be in a team where I can become better, because I know I can become better.

“When you change club, you get a kick-start and a set of new challenges.”

Despite reports to the contrary in some quarters, Liverpool officials yesterday confirmed that they have still yet to receive any formal bids from Juventus or Portsmouth from Xabi Alonso and Peter Crouch respectively.

It was suggested that Crouch would be sealing a deal to return to one of his former clubs Portsmouth by tomorrow but although Harry Redknapp has confirmed that he would like to sign the England striker, Fratton Park chief executive Peter Storrie has not approached Liverpool with any offer on behalf of the FA Cup winners.

Although Liverpool and Aston Villa have still to reach a fee over Gareth Barry’s proposed move to Anfield, the cancellation of the Midlanders’ skipper’s testimonial match suggests that the England midfielder’s days at Villa Park are numbered.

Barry, 27, has been at the club since he joined from Brighton & Hove Albion in 1997 but Villa have now called off his testimonial on August 9 and are expected to play a regular pre-season friendly on the same date instead.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano should be fit to take his place in the Argentina midfield for tomorrow’s vital World Cup qualifier in Brazil.

The Liverpool midfielder was forced to leave the field with a knee injury during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador – a result which left Argentina in second place and three points behind Paraguay in the South American World Cup 2010 qualifying table.

With Brazil, the only side to compete in every finals tournament to date, currently trailing back in fourth place, tomorrow’s encounter between the two rivals takes on greater significance than normal.

Argentina coach Alfio Basile said: “Mascherano was hit in his knee. It hurts a lot, but according to the doctor is not serious.”