Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, is lining up a sensational double-swoop on the Riverside in the summer, according to reports.
David Wheater, 21, has recently caught the attention of not just the Spaniard, but also England’s hard-line coach, Fabio Capello. So much so that Capello even named Wheater in his provisional first-team squad ahead of the friendly defeat in Paris.
Benitez, whose side have all but guaranteed themselves fourth place in the Barclays’ Premier League, are now gunning for European glory, and hold a promising position ahead of the visit of Arsenal tonight. A 1-1 draw at The Emirates gives Liverpool the merest of advantages in the Champions’ League Quarter-Final.
However, the Spanish tactician has his sights firmly set in the long-term, and Wheater certainly fits the bill. With Jamie Carragher, 30, and Sami Hyypia 34, both reaching the end of lavish careers, youngster Wheater would be an ideal signing for the Anfield giants.
It has even been suggested that Benitez will be willing to spend a considerable amount of his summer transfer budget on the Redcar-born centre-half.
Although, the Merseysiders will face a tough battle to lure the local lad away from Teesside. The defender signed a new-and-improved three-and-a-half-year deal with his hometown side at the end of February, which ties him to The Riverside until 2011.
Yet if that recent piece of media rumour-mongering wasn’t enough, reports have also claimed that Benitez will swoop for midfielder Lee Cattermole in the summer.
The England Under-21 international is another of Middlesbrough’s products from the nationally-renowned youth system, and has made over 60 appearances for the club since breaking into the first-team in January 2006.
Allegedly, a £3m bid is being contemplated by Liverpool, as Benitez seeks to beef up his home-grown contingent of stars. However, with Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benanyoun all ahead of him in the pecking order, it would surely be insane of the 20-year-old, born and bred in Stockton-On-Tees, to even consider taking a career step-back.
Liverpool are seeking to progress to the semi-finals, and a possible encounter with Chelsea, tonight in the competition they have reached the final in twice in the last three years.
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If they wanted Wheater they would have took him when his contract was expiring. Now they would have to pay us a very big amount of money, so I don’t see any logic. I think that that’s just paper talk. Lee isn’t good enough to play for Liverpool in my opinion. Although he does have enough potential.
They have Agger to come back aswell, he will be a permanant fixture in the Liverpool defence for some while
I forgot to mention Martin Skrtel. They’ve just signed him in January, which throws even more water on these claims.
Yes Skrtel aswell. Carragher will be there for a while aswell.
You shouldn’t allow them to leave. They are young promising players for the future.
And after Sunday, that future looks bright indeed.
I don’t think there’s any chance of us signing Cattermole or Wheater. Like someone said, Cattermole isn’t good enough for Liverpool and we’re already packed in central defence so that rules out Wheater.