http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/01/07/liverpool-fc-ready-to-rival-arsenal-in-battle-to-sign-marouane-chamakh-100252-25543455/
LIVERPOOL are ready to rival Arsenal in the battle to sign Bordeaux’s highly-rated striker Marouane Chamakh.
The Moroccan striker has been the subject of much speculation this season and is keen on a move to the Premier League determined to eager to sign a pre-contract.
Chamakh has long been linked with a move to Arsenal but the Gunners have not followed up their initial interest yet with a firm bid and that has alerted Rafa Benitez.
It is no secret the Liverpool manager wants to add to his strike force and Chamakh, a highly-rated 25-year-old, has ticks in all the right boxes, especially as he is on a Bosman.
He is eager for his future to be sorted out sooner rather than later – preferably during this transfer window – and the Reds are ready to give him a chance in the Premier League.
Chamakh’s contract with Bordeaux runs out this summer and he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs during January.
If Liverpool were to be successful in the pursuit for his signature, however, he would not move to Anfield until the end of the current campaign.
One man who is due on board much earlier than that is Maxi Rodriguez and, all things being equal, the Argentine flier should complete his move in the next 24 hours.
Rodriguez, who is relishing the chance to link up with old Atletico Madrid team-mate Fernando Torres, will cost Liverpool £1.5m; he will sign an 18-month contract.
The Reds, meanwhile, are still awaiting official confirmation that Andrea Dossena’s move to Napoli and Andriy Voronin’s £1.5m switch to Dinamo Moscow have gone through.
Ryan Babel’s future, meanwhile, remains the topic of some debate, with Birmingham still keen on landing the Holland forward, even though Benitez said after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Reading he has no plans to offload. Babel is understood to prefer a move to the continent if he leaves the Reds – Galatasary’s Dutch manager Frank Rijkaard is an admirer – but the player’s agent, Winnie Haatrecht, has revealed a switch to St Andrew’s is not out of the question.
Haatrecht said: “We know that Liverpool is seriously thinking about the offer from Birmingham. We would consider a deal if both clubs come to an agreement.
“In general Ryan wants to succeed at Liverpool, but if the people at Anfield conclude it’s better he leaves, we have to think about the next chapter.
“We will look then to the team, the perspectives of the club, as well as a meeting with the manager.”
