Friday, June 8, 2007

Xabi Alonso, Jose Reina re-sign with Liverpool

Both players have agreed to five-year contracts to remain with Liverpool and join Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in making up the long-term core of the club.



The 25-year old Spanish midfielder had been linked with a move to Barcelona for months as an individual transfer and also as part of a swap-deal that would have brought Samuel Eto'o to Liverpool. Alonso and Gerrard make up half of a very talented Liverpool midfield, and with Javier Mascherano establishing himself in his short time at Anfield and Mohamed Sissoko now expected to sign a long-term deal with the club as well, Liverpool will have what arguably is the strongest midfield in the Premiership next year as they seek to dethrone Manchester United.




Liverpool would not have had any title dreams without Alonso's international teammate and goalkeeper Jose Reina's services, and they locked him up to a five-year contract as well. Reina is also just 25 years old and with talented young goalkeepers at a premium in England's top flight, Reina is easily the most experienced of them, coming up with big performances (especially in penalty kicks) in the biggest, most meaningful games. He has set the club record for successive clean sheets during his tenure at Anfield and for a team that hasn't won the Premiership in 17 years, his presence gives Liverpool a chance to seriously contend for the next five years.

Mark Viduka, Joey Barton to Newcastle; Ben Haim as well?

Updating the previous post, Mark Viduka has signed a 2-year contract to play for Newcastle with an option for a third year. He becomes the fourth notable striker on Tyneside (along with Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, and Shola Ameobi) and in my mind has to be either second or third in the pecking order there.



A deal for Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton is in the works as well and only an "admininstrative hitch" is holding the official transfer up. Barton is out of favor with the Blues and has agreed to an $11 million US switch and change of scenery. When his mind is right, the 24-year old can be a dynamic player and would be an immediate upgrade for the Magpies. He has plenty of talent but struggles to restrain his temper and his mouth, spouting off to teammates, opponents, and the media alike. If Sam Allardyce can rein Barton in, he will be getting a young player who can make a significant impact for his team.


Sam Allardyce's former Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim is also rumored to join Newcastle. He is out-of-contract with the Wanderers and the Israeli center back has drawn furious interest from Allardyce. At just 25 years of age Ben Haim still hasn't entered his prime as a player yet but has already made 88 Premier League appearances and would immediately be inserted into Newcastle's rather weak back line.
For the complete story regarding these three players, see