Garay (Racing Santander)

[DM Osbon]

Benítez ready to battle with Ferguson for £10m Garay

Andy Hunter
Wednesday November 14, 2007
The Guardian

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2210572,00.html

Rafael Benítez is considering a January move for the Racing Santander defender Ezequiel Garay although, in echoes of his thwarted efforts to sign Gabriel Heinze, the Liverpool manager's attempt to add an Argentinian to his defence may be complicated by Manchester United.

The Liverpool manager has been searching for a central defender who can also operate at full-back since Heinze was prevented from making the journey from Old Trafford to Anfield by a Premier League arbitration panel in August. He has his sights on the £10m-rated Garay, who was linked with United this year, and is contemplating meeting Santander's asking price when the transfer window reopens. Garay, who turned 21 last month, joined the Spanish club from Newell's Old Boys two years ago and won his first - and so far only - cap for Argentina in a friendly against Norway in August.

A centre-half who can also perform at right-back, Garay would initially provide much-needed cover for a Liverpool defence which has wavered at times without the injured Daniel Agger.

Whether Benítez will have funds for Garay and additional signings may depend on the club progressing in the Champions League. Benítez has indicated he may have to sell to buy if the club's US owners concentrate funds on loan repayments for a new £400m stadium.

[JD]

Good spot DM.

Liverpool join race to sign Argentine defender
Vicki Hodges
The Telegraph (This one has a quote!)

Liverpool have joined Manchester United and Real Madrid in the race to sign Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay.

Coach Rafael Benitez will utilise his Spanish contacts to land the Racing Santander centre-back for £10 million in the January transfer window.
    
"I've no doubt next year he'll be playing for one of the big clubs," Santander coach Marcelino Garcia Toral said in the Mirror.

"I have to assume he'll leave because we are a selling club, and because he is a truly great player."

Manchester United have been tracking the 21-year-old with Sir Alex Ferguson's brother Martin thought to have made several scouting trips to watch the defender in action.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are also keen to sign the Argentinian and see him as the player who could eventually succeed Fabio Cannavaro.

Liverpool coach Benitez has already expressed his concern at his squads current lack of defensive options this season.

Although Daniel Agger is on course to return from a metatarsal injury later this month, his injury has left Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyppia as the only two experienced central defenders in the set-up.

Alvaro Arbeloa can be used as a make-shift centre-half, while 19-year-old Jack Hobbs has only made two appearances in the Carling Cup this season.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/11/14/ufnliverpool114.xml

We definitely need cover in this position.  I would be interested in hearing more from some of you who have watched the guy play.  Clearly he wouldn't be a first teamer but essential cover is needed.

Just one thing.

Are Liverpool ready for their first ever hunchback?

[DM Osbon]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/em9r72BLKS0&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/em9r72BLKS0&rel=0</a>


Good 5 min profile check out those Anchovies

[Court LFC]

He looks like Mark Gonzalez

Soft spot alert?



I don't recall of seeing him playing in the La Liga, but I'm probably not the only one!

If he's a prospect that can benefit the team then get him signed, sealed, and delivered.

Let's hope he's not another Vidic that snubs us for the Mancs.  If he does he clearly has issues!

[U-Borat]

^^That turned out all well; we got Agger instead; and while Vidic is better atm, Agger will crap all over him in a few years.

[ferrariboy21]

For some reason, this lad is outstanding in FM!

I've no idea how good he is, but he can't be bad if all the top clubs are racing to seal the deal? £10 may seem like a big fee. And we really need a backup defender, preferably young who could take over JC in time to come.

[AussieRed]

Never heard of him before reading those articles...Thanks for the video DM Osbon...although I'm still trying to figure out why the whole Anchovy bit was in there.

As said before if the other biggish clubs  are interested in him, there must be something about him but for me he looks a bit lightweight. We'll just have to wait and see hwat happens in January.    On a side note isn't Racing Santander where Yossi was originally from?

[crouchinho]

Whats with the Anchovies?

Good little vid to check him out. Seems a good lad. Still dont know how he plays though.

[JD]

Argentine Ace keen on move to England

Ezequiel Garay, the promising Argentine defender linked with a move to either Liverpool or Man United, has been talking about his ambition to play in the Premiership.

The 21 year old who plays centre-back for his Spanish club, Racing Santander, is steadily progressing in to the Argentinian national side.

Speaking this week, the player said:

“To play in England is a dream.

“But I insist that I do not want to talk about the hypothesis. I do not have any preferences about any clubs.

“My head is in Racing but like all professionals I would like to progress.

“But I have spoken with the directors of Racing only this week and there is no real news about me.”

Garay plays at centre-back but is also capable of playing right back.

http://www.anfield-online.co.uk/lfc-news/2007/11/19/argentine-ace-keen-on-move-to-england/

[donrafael]

As you chaps know, I live in Spain and I watch a lot of La Liga footy - I wouldn't say this guy world class... just yet.

Yes he is a decent player... but nothing to write home about to be perfectly honest.

I would wait for a proven player to become available... unless Rafa is convinced he can take him up a level with his coaching.

Price tag might be attractive... I wonder if Manure were even interested before we sniffed around...

Fergie still wants to stuff us thanks to our attempt to prize Heinze maybe?

[AggerDoo]

Kahka Kaladze transfer row behind a crisisNov 26 2007

 

 
EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
 
 
WHEN Kahka Kaladze helped AC Milan topple Liverpool in last May’s Champions League final, little did he know that six months later he could end up playing an unwitting role in Rafa Benitez’s potential downfall.

The Georgian defender might have frustrated Benitez in Athens but to nothing like the same extent as the failure to sign him has infuriated the Liverpool boss in the last week.

Benitez wanted to snap Kaladze up to provide defensive cover for Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia but when Tom Hicks and George Gillett refused to even discuss potential transfers before December 16, the chance to sign him was lost and the Reds boss reacted angrily.
 

[crouchinho]

Although this might be rubbish, im not liking the sounds of Gillett and Hicks so far. Do they understand how January works? And to be questioning Rafa's position? I had doubts over him before but the lad is a genius and I have been persuaded by the people on this forum that he is the right man. I would be first to fly over there from Aus. and hand them a Yankin Spankin!

[S-A-M-U-E-L-T]

that would be a good buy for us as he provides cover for center back and right back. Sami hyypia is too slow and he might be better than sami.

[solodee]

I understand Ezequiel Marcelo Garay plays central defence and right back. that looks more like playing Finnan's role of right back beside Carragher.

[CRK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em9r72BLKS0


Good 5 min profile check out those Anchovies

Can't be that good a defender! Look at all those balls in the net behind him!

He may be worth it, and we all know if United grab him he'll be sh*t hot and we'll regret it! But is £10m worth gambling?

[edu_rbb]

garay is a GREAT defender. I like much