SCHALKE DEFENDER Rafinha is "almost certain" to move to Anfield in the summer, it has been claimed.
Various newspapers say Rafa Benitez has agreed to pay £6million for the player.
It is reported that Benitez has scouted the Brazilian for most of the season and plans to land the right-sided defender to solve problems his squad has in this area. (various)
Benitez has said he plans to sign three players over the summer.
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LIVERPOOL face a battle with Tottenham if they intend to act on their much-rumoured interest in Blackburn's David Bentley.
Bentley, 23, is thought to want to leave Ewood Park in the summer in search of a bigger club in order to boost his England prospects and it is believed White Hart Lane is now his most likely destination.
Web reports, and the Sunday Express say that although manager Mark Hughes has said recently that he expects Bentley to stay at Rovers it is thought that the lure of a return to London could prove too much for the young midfielder.
With David Beckham recently returned to the England squad, it is also thought that Bentley now believes he must leave Ewood Park if he wants to gain a regular place in the England side under Fabio Capello and Tottenham fits the bill perfectly.
Liverpool have also apparently shown an interest in Bentley as a possible replacement for Jermaine Pennant, who has had little impact at Anfield this season, with a fee thought to be in the region of £10 million.
However, it may be that Bentley would prefer to return to the capital and Juande Ramos has been promised funds to boost his squad in an attempt to break into the ‘Top Four’ and bring Champions League football to White Hart Lane.
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Harry Kewell's future lies in ... Sunderland.
According to Sunday newspapers, out-of-favour Kewell is highly thought of by Roy Keane.
Keane has cash to splash if Sunderland, as is expected, remain in the Premier League.
And according to reports, a contract is already being drawn up.
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PERHAPS unsurpisingly, it has been reported that Tom Hicks is less than impressed with Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry.
According to Sunday newspaper reports, Hicks now wants his own man in to run Liverpool FC - once he has managed to buy out George Gillett.
Last weekend, Parry used a BBC interview to say that something needed to be done to sort out the stand-off between Gillett and Hicks.
Hicks, claim reports, now wants his own team to run Liverpool on a day-to-day basis.
Other reports claims Hicks has now put an SOS out to the City to help find a financial backer who can help him cling on to Liverpool.
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