Liverpool FC sign Serbia international Milan Jovanovic

RAFAEL BENITEZ’S summer squad rebuilding began in earnest yesterday when Milan Jovanovic sealed a move to Liverpool.
The Serbia international has signed a pre-contract agreement that will see him arrive from Belgian club Standard Liege at the end of the season.


Jovanovic’s consistently impressive form had attracted a clutch of potential suitors from across Europe, including Italian giants AC Milan.

He was reported to be stalling over a move to Liverpool until assurances were made over the long-term future of Benitez.

And the 29-year-old has now negotiated a three-year deal at Anfield that commits him to the club until at least 2013.

Jovanovic boasts a record of almost a goal every other game during his spell at Liege, for whom he played against both Liverpool and Everton in Europe last season.

A regular for Serbia, he is expected to play a key role for his country in this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Jovanovic will have endeared himself to Liverpool supporters with his claims a year ago of having turned down a move to neighbours Everton by saying: “Everton aren’t a big club. That club I have turned down already.”

Benitez remains interested in Marouane Chamakh, the Bordeaux striker, also available on a free transfer in June.

Jovanovic’s imminent arrival is a sign of Benitez planning for life at Anfield beyond the end of the season, despite continued interest from Juventus.

Jamie Carragher believes such rumours are nothing new and is confident Liverpool can ignore outside influences ahead of Saturday’s visit of Everton.

He said: “Liverpool has always had speculation about managers, players, players coming, players going and it’s the same as managers.

“People always want to talk about the club, whether it is positively or negatively, and if you play for Liverpool you have got to get used to that as part of the job.”

Liverpool have included promising youngsters David Amoo, Daniel Pacheco, Alex Kacaniklic, Gerardo Bruna, Steven Irwin and Robbie Threlfall in their 35-man squad for the Europa League. But new signing Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible after appearing in the Champions League for Atletico. Liverpool take on Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni with the first leg at Anfield on Thursday, February 18.

(Ca m'a l'air vraiment presque officiel en fait. Bon choix. Lu dans le Daily Post)

Reds close on Jovanovic deal

I don't know how this is possible with the transfer window being now officially shot down and no official media release, Sky Sports News understands Liverpool are close to agreeing a pre-contract deal with Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic.

The Reds, along with AC
Milan and Premier League rivals Birmingham, have long been linked with the 28-year-old and now seem to be on the verge of getting their man.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has stepped up his efforts to capture Jovanovic, who is out of contract with Liege in the summer, after failing in a pursuit of Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones.

Serbia international Jovanovic is reported to be on the verge of signing terms that would guarantee he moves to Anfield after participating in this summer's World Cup to offer an alternative to injury-prone Fernando Torres.

It has been suggested that Jovanovic was only prepared to sign for Liverpool if the club offered guarantees that Juventus target Benitez would stay on Merseyside beyond the end of this season.

But it appears that an agreement over a three-year deal with an option for an additional 12 months is close.

This story has been reproduced from today's media, including Sky Sports who tend to be reliable. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.

(lu sur LiverpoolFC.tv)

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Liverpool are on the verge of a deal to sign Milan Jovanovic on a free transfer in the summer after further talks with the Standard Liege and Serbia striker.
Sportsmail reported last month how 28-year-old Jovanovic had given his word on a move to Anfield.
Negotiations on a pre-contract agreement for the 28-year-old to join them in the summer are at an advanced stage.

Frosty reception: Next season’s Merseyside derby will be an interesting one for Serbia international Jovanovic
The Serbia international is out of contract at the end of the season and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been tracking the player for some time.
Barclays Premier League rivals Birmingham and Serie A giants AC Milan were also believed to be interested in the former Lokomotiv Moscow forward, who is reportedly ready to sign a three-year deal at Anfield.
The capture of Jovanovic would reinforce Benitez’s continued assertions that he plans to remain at Liverpool for the long term despite strong interest from Juventus to make him their coach at the end of the campaign.
If the player does complete his move to Liverpool, he has already done plenty to endear himself to Reds fans.
Just over a year ago he was linked with Merseyside rivals Everton, as well as Aston Villa, but rejected a move to Goodison Park out of hand.
‘Everton aren’t a big club. That club I have turned down already,’ he told Serbian website Blic online at the time. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool have attempted to ward off rival interest by offering Jovanovic a free transfer and personal terms of about £10m over three years.

(lu dans Telegraph)

Liverpool: Jovanovic snubs Liverpool over fears Benitez will be sacked

Milan Jovanovic is ready to snub a summer move to Liverpool – over fears Rafa Benitez will be sacked ­before he gets there!

Liverpool met the Standard Liege hitman’s representatives last week – and have ­offered a three-year deal worth £10million for the player to join them on a free in June.


Though Anfield is his first choice, the in-­demand Jovanovic, also wanted by AC Milan, Birmingham and Valencia, is worried about Benitez’s long-term position.

Kop co-owner George Gillett gave the ­Spanish coach another vote of confidence in midweek.

Yet despite that – and Liverpool’s win over Spurs keeping them in contention for the Premier League top four – his future remains in serious doubt.

And it is that uncertainty which could leave Jovanovic no option but to reject a dream move to Merseyside.

Sources close to the Serbian star, 28, have confirmed that while no decision has been made, Benitez’s problems mean Liverpool are in danger of missing out.

A pal of Jovanovic told the Daily Star Sunday: “It’s tough for Milan. He loves the idea of playing at Liverpool but he’s wary Rafa (inset) may not be the manager by the time he signs.

“Then there is the problem of Rafa’s record of buying ­players for big money and not playing them. Milan has been warned about this.”

Robbie Keane, Ryan ­Babel, Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy are just some of the star names who have fallen foul of Benitez’s controversial ­rotation system.

And that appears to make Birmingham the­ ­favourites to land ­Jovanovic this month because, unlike their rivals, they want the player now.

In an effort to seal a deal in the current transfer window, the high-flying Blues are promising to match the personal terms on offer to ­Jovanovic at Anfield .

St Andrews chiefs also say they are ready to cough up the £6.5m fee demanded by Liege.

Our insider added: “You simply cannot rule out ­Birmingham.

“They are not nearly as big as AC Milan or Liverpool but at least ­Jovanovic could be sure of playing every week.”

Maxi Rodriguez insists he has joined Liverpool for one thing – a Premier League title medal.

The Argentine midfielder (left) walked into a ­crisis when he signed from Atletico Madrid last week.

The Reds were immediately knocked out of the FA Cup as Reading pulled off a shock win.

And Liverpool were rocked by ­losing Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to injury.

But the midweek win over Spurs has made Rodriguez, 29, insistent they are destined to finish in the top four – and then have a tilt at the title next season.

He said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Liverpool can definitely win a league title.

“It’s a group mentality ­issue really, a mental thing as a team.

“It has been a fairly bad first half of the season but now the top-four ­finish is a perfectly realistic ­target for this season.

“Liverpool is a club that can aspire to win trophies and ­ success – and that still applies to this season.”

(lu sur Daily Star Sunday dont on connait la fiabilité et la propension à soutenir les Reds)