The Rivals: Benitez turns to Silva with Alonso set for £30m move

Mascherano to Kop out in switch - Daily Mirror
With Xabi Alonso set to join Real before the end of the week, Rafael Benitez has told the Javier Mascherano that he must stay at Anfield this summer, despite interest from Barcelona. 

Gary Jacob's verdict: Mascherano hasn’t stamped his feet enough to force a move, but Liverpool should reward him with an improved contract or they will be left with an unhappy player. Rating: 8/10

Benitez turns to Silva after agreeing £30m Alonso sale - The Daily Telegraph
The Liverpool manager will use the funds from the sale of Alonso to pursue David Silva, the Valencia winger. He is also interested in bringing Sylvain Distin, the Portsmouth defender, to Anfield while Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez, also remains a target to replace Alonso in the centre of midfield. 

Gary's verdict: Liverpool have spoken to David Silva but no offer has been made as yet. As for Distin, The Times first reporter Liverpool's £2 million offer for the defender at the start of June, but Portsmouth will probably want closer to £5m even though the defender only has one year left on his contract. 8/10

Bale's out for Roma - Daily Mirror
Gareth Bale, the Tottenham defender, has emerged as a shock loan target for Roma.

Gary's verdict: The left back has been linked with several clubs in Italy, but Bale’s problem is that no one knows his best position. Sir Alex Ferguson was interested in him before he signed for Tottenham, but as a left winger! He needs to improve his defending to become a top-class left back. 4/10

O'Neill determined to ward off interest in Young - The Guardian
The Aston Villa manager has no plans to sell the England international despite Tottenham's interest in the player. Villa would only accept a bid in excess of £30m.

Gary's verdict: Tottenham attempted to sign Young before he moved to Villa but they tried to throw players in as part of the deal and Watford wanted straight cash. Is he really worth more than £25million? 5/10

Hodgson in £11m Crouch hunt - The Sun
Fulham are preparing to launch a renewed bid for Peter Crouch, the Portsmouth striker, but the deal will only go through if Bobby Zamora leaves to join Hull City.

Gary's verdict: This one is true and widely reported but his wages of around £70,000 could be a problem. 7/10

£12m Crouch bid by Bruce is accepted - Daily Mail
Sunderland hope to begin talks with the former Liverpool striker after meeting Portsmouth's valuation of the player. 

Gary's verdict: The player would prefer to move to Fulham or a club in the south, so the relevancy of Sunderland’s bid being accepted is that other clubs know the Portsmouth’s price. If Crouch ends up at Sunderland, it may be that he had no other choices. 5/10

Fergie's lifeline at Brum - Daily Mirror
Barry Ferguson, the Rangers midfielder, could join former manager Alex McLeish at Birmingham after the clubs agreed a £1.3m fee for the 31-year-old.

Gary's verdict: Ferguson wants to move to Birmingham but his agents were waiting for McLeish to make an offer. 8/10

Comments

[Gavin]

If Alonso does go...I want Silva! thats the deal people!!

[Darren Anderson]

I am a Liverpool supporter and also a big fan of Alonso, but I think this saga has gone on too long , I agree with Rafa on the price tag, the sooner Alonso is gone the better, so we can bring in David Silva who is a class player and will only get better at Liverpool ,