We round up Rafa Benitez’s January transfer dealings, with mostly youngsters and cover coming in for defence and midfield.
Daniele Padelli
Position: Goalkeeper, Date of Birth: 25/10/1985, Former clubs: Sampdoria, Crotone.
Liverpool confirmed the loan signing of Italian under-21 goalkeeper Daniele Padelli from Sampdoria in January 2007, subject to international clearance.
Padelli, who was on loan with second division Crotone in the first half of the season, has signed until the end of the 2006/2007 season when the Reds will have the option to agree a permanent deal.
“He’s a good young goalkeeper who has been selected for his national side,” said manager Rafael Benitez.
“Padelli will give us a good option for the future. The fact he is once again with the under-21s for his national side tells you that we are signing a very good player.
“Our scouting department are working really hard to bring good young players to the club and I’m delighted we have been able to sign Padelli.”
Emiliano Insua
Position: Defender, Date of Birth: 07/01/1989, Former clubs: Boca Juniors
Liverpool signed promising Argentinian defender Emiliano Insua on an 18 month loan deal in January 2007.
The teenage left back – who has represented his country at under 20 level – has arrived from Boca Juniors and signed a deal to keep him at Anfield until June 2008.
“He is a good, young player with a lot of potential,” said manager Rafael Benitez.
Insua’s arrival is part of an ongoing strategy by Rafa Benitez to recruit elite youngsters from across the world and provide a stable foundation for the future of the club.
Jordy Brouwer
Position: Striker, date of birth: 26 February 1988 , Former clubs- Ajax.
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Dutch youngster Jordy Brouwer from Ajax. The 18 year old striker is the latest of Rafael Benitez’s youth recruits as the manager continues his policy of planning for the club’s future.
Brouwer – who plays for the Dutch under-19 side – has swapped Ajax for Anfield.
“We have made a good signing for the future in Jordy,” said chief executive Rick Parry.”He has had a youth contract at Ajax, but has opted to build his career at Liverpool. We have been monitoring his progress and look forward to developing his potential at Anfield.” On 22 January 2007 Brouwer signed professional papers with Liverpool on a four and a half year contract[2]. As Brouwer was only a youth at the time of the transfer, the English side only paid a training based fee to Ajax for the player
Sebastià n Leto
Position: Midfield, Date of birth- , Former club: Lanús (Argentina)
Liverpool have finalised the signing of Sebastià n Leto, the Argentine winger, in a deal worth £1.85 million. Leto, 20, who plays for Lanùs, had a medical on Merseyside on Friday, but will return to Argentina before officially becoming a Liverpool player on July 1.
Sebastián Leto is an Argentine football midfielder. He was born on August 30, 1986, in the city of Alejandro Korn in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. He currently plays for Club Atlético Lanús of the Primera Division Argentina.
Leto is one of the most highly rated youngsters breaking into first team football in the Argentine Primera and has played 34 matches for Lanús since breaking into the first team, scoring six goals. He’s considered the best young player in the World behind Lionel Messi in French Magazine TLW.
Alvaro Arbeloa
Position: Centre half/right back, Date of Birth: Jan 17, 1983, Former club: Real Madrid, Deprotivo de la Coruna.
Liverpool have clinched a deal for Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa, according to Deportivo la Coruna boss Joaquin Caparros.The Reds are ready to pay €4million (£2.64million) for the former Real Madrid full-back who only moved to Depor at the start of the current season. Caparros has admitted that the Spanish club have sanctioned the sale of the player who cost €1.3million (£860,000) from Real in the summer.
When the 23 year old left Real he said: “This is a strange situation for me, i have been playing for Real Madrid Castilla for 5 years, since i was 18 year’s old, Real was nothing but good to me, but it’s time for me to go. real has the best players in the world, although that is great for the club, unfortunately that’s not so great for Cantera players, only a few of us can find there place in the first team, and even those how find there place in the first team like Ãlvaro MejÃa and Paco Pavon are only 3ed or 4th pick and that is why i want to live the club, to a club where i can get some play time.”
Francis Durán
Position: Midfield Date of birth: (he’s 18) Former Club: Malaga
Liverpool are set to acquire the services of promising Spanish midfielder Francis Duran from second division team Malaga.The 18-year-old will travel to Liverpool on Tuesday and is expected to sign a professional contract with the Reds, according to the Spanish media.
“It’s a unique opportunity and I couldn’t let it go by,” Francis told the Spanish press.
Javier Mascherano (TBC)
Position: Defensive Midfield, Date of birth- June 8, 1984, Former Club: West ham utd, River Plate, Corinthians.
Argentinian defensive midfielder has been given clearance to sign for the Reds in a deal which may initially be an 18 month loan but this is still to be confirmed officially. Having struggled at the Hammers this season the 22 year old will provide valuable cover for the Reds in midfield.
Ronald Huth
Position: Defender. Date of birth (17). Former Club- Tacuary FC, Paraguay
Liverpool have announced the signing of Paraguayan defender Ronald Huth.
The 17-year-old has penned a two and a half year deal after agreeing to leave Tacuary FC in his homeland for a new career on Merseyside.
Despite being born in Paraguay, Huth holds an Italian passport.
He completed his move to Anfield ahead of Wednesday night’s transfer deadline.
Astrit Ajdarevic
Position: Striker. Date of Birth: 20/09/1989. Former Club: Falkenbergs FF
Swede Astrit Ajdarevic arrived at the Liverpool Academy in January 2007 after representing his country in the UEFA Under-17 Championships.
Signed from Swedish second division side Falkenbergs FF, he made his first appearance in a red shirt during an FA Youth Cup tie against Reading on January 26, 2007.
Departures
Salif Diao – to Stoke
A massively over priced signing from Houllier and one that never came anywhere near his price or his wage packet in terms of his performance for the club. He tarnished his name amongst fans by seeing out his highly paid contract before finally leaving for Stoke.
Adam Hammill – to Dunfermline (loan)
On January 18, 2007, he completed a move to Scottish side Dunfermline Athletic, untill the end of the season, re-uniting with his former teammate Woods. Hammill made the move from the Academy to Melwood full-time in February 2006. Hammill can play on the left or right wing and has a lot of talent. He is very creative and can be a real nuisance for opposition defenders. He was a regular member of the reserve team squad before his move north. He also played a key role in Liverpool winning the FA Youth Cup in 2006 and in one of the earlier rounds scored a sensational goal at Anfield from the halfway line.
Stevie Warnock – to Blackburn
Originally seen as part of the exchange for Neil Lucas, he still went to Blackburn after Rafa finding himself third in the pecking order at left back. Fee received believed to be 1.5m.
Darrren Potter – to Wolves
The promising attacking midfielder made his loan move to the Midlands club permanent after impressing their boss Mick McCarthy. He signed a deal worth 250k for Liverpool.
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