Liverpool agree fee for winger Downing
Villa granted the Reds permission to discuss personal terms with the player and arrange a medical. It now looks a matter of time before he becomes the club’s latest signing, following big-name signings like Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.
Adam made his debut off the bench as Liverpool opened their pre-season campaign with a narrow win over Guangdong Sunray Cave in China yesterday. Two goals in quick succession from Christian Poulsen and David Ngog midway through the first half put Kenny Dalglish’s side in control and youngster Conor Coady grabbed a third in the second half after Guangdong had pulled one back.
When Andy Carroll netted five minutes from time, that looked to be that, but there was still time for the hosts to make it a tight finish with two well-taken goals.
Dalglish changed his entire team at half-time, sending on Adam plus the likes of Carroll, Dirk Kuyt and Alberto Aquilani.
Dalglish said: “It was good to see Conor Coady score his first goal and for Charlie to make his debut.
“It was a really good workout for us in very difficult conditions.”
Liverpool now move on to Malaysia and will face a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
Meanwhile wantaway playmaker Luka Modric stuck to his word last night and flew to South Africa with his team-mates for Tottenham’s pre-season tour.
Modric has been at the centre of a month-long tug of war between his current employers and their London rivals Chelsea, who have made unsuccessful bids of £22m (€25) and £27m (€30m) for the 25-year-old. Modric has repeatedly stated he is determined to complete a “dream” move to Stamford Bridge and even took the extraordinary step of criticising chairman Daniel Levy to try to push through a deal.
Spurs have remained steadfast in their approach to keeping the player though, and as a result Modric is now heading to Johannesburg with the rest of his team-mates for the 10-day tour of the country.
Manager Harry Redknapp admits his star midfielder was “confused” about his future but fully expects Modric to take part in the club’s fixtures against Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Redknapp said: “Hopefully he will go away and get a bit of football now and just get on with it. We hope that he will come back and get ready for the new season.”
Elsewhere Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger branded Barcelona star Xavi “disrespectful” for claiming Cesc Fabregas is “suffering” at Arsenal. Xavi told Barcelona’s website: “I spoke to Cesc in Ibiza and he said he was suffering because he wanted to come.”
But the Gunners boss hit back: “What is important is that Cesc Fabregas is contracted to Arsenal. That is a fact. Arsenal wants to keep him, all the rest is comment.
“If I found Barcelona in exactly the same position, I believe a mutual respect between the clubs should stop this kind of comment.
“If it is true then it is very disrespectful and it is not the first time that Xavi has been disrespectful to Arsenal.”
Meanwhile Joey Barton and Nile Ranger will both miss Newcastle’s pre-season trip to the USA after being refused entry visas.
Barton, 28, spent 74 days in jail in 2008 after admitting an assault charge, while Ranger, now 20, landed himself in trouble as a juvenile.
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