Paranoid Rattlesnake
01-14-2004, 09:37 AM
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-963035,00.html
EMILE HESKEY is wanted by AC Milan for one of the most extraordinary transfers since Luther Blissett went from Watford to the San Siro 21 years ago. A more likely destination for the England striker is Middlesbrough, but it is the interest of the European Cup holders that has intrigued his agents, who flew to Italy this week to discuss a loan deal.
Milan have offered to take Heskey until the end of the season. It is not easy to see where he would fit in at the San Siro alongside Andrei Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi, but the Serie A club evidently have a need for a big target man.
Liverpool would prefer to sell him, particularly if it would mean bringing forward the purchase of Djibril Cissé from Auxerre that is due to happen in the summer, and that is where Middlesbrough hope to step in ahead of the Italians.
Middlesbrough hope that a deal could be completed for as little as £5million. With European places up for grabs in the Barclaycard Premiership, Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager, knows that a new striker could mean the difference between finishing in the top six and the bottom half of the table.
Heskey’s goalscoring tally is unimpressive — his most productive season in the top flight has yielded 14 goals and his strike rate is worse than one every three matches — but he can trouble even the best defences and remains an integral part of the England squad.
Liverpool have looked for alternatives to Heskey since last summer, when they hoped to lure Alan Shearer from Newcastle United. Gérard Houllier’s long and dogged pursuit of Cissé has left Heskey questioning his future. Like Michael Owen, he has 18 months to run on his contract at Anfield but admitted recently that he still had to justify a new offer, whereas his team-mate can practically name his price for staying at Liverpool.
The need to prove himself may have led to his recent burst of good form, including an outstanding display away to Chelsea, but the prospect of playing in Milan could overwhelm a player with notoriously fragile confidence.
A move to the Riverside is more likely to suit him but Liverpool have yet to agree to the sale and, although they have options in Owen, Harry Kewell, Florent SinamaPongolle and Milan Baros, who should soon be back from injury, they may need to secure Cissé before they allow Heskey to go.
Middlesbrough would also have to find the funds because Heskey is earning about £45,000 a week at Liverpool. The Teesside club would also have to deal with the player’s SFX agency, with whom they have had disagreements in the past, but they would still jump at the chance to sign him.
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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
EMILE HESKEY is wanted by AC Milan for one of the most extraordinary transfers since Luther Blissett went from Watford to the San Siro 21 years ago. A more likely destination for the England striker is Middlesbrough, but it is the interest of the European Cup holders that has intrigued his agents, who flew to Italy this week to discuss a loan deal.
Milan have offered to take Heskey until the end of the season. It is not easy to see where he would fit in at the San Siro alongside Andrei Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi, but the Serie A club evidently have a need for a big target man.
Liverpool would prefer to sell him, particularly if it would mean bringing forward the purchase of Djibril Cissé from Auxerre that is due to happen in the summer, and that is where Middlesbrough hope to step in ahead of the Italians.
Middlesbrough hope that a deal could be completed for as little as £5million. With European places up for grabs in the Barclaycard Premiership, Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager, knows that a new striker could mean the difference between finishing in the top six and the bottom half of the table.
Heskey’s goalscoring tally is unimpressive — his most productive season in the top flight has yielded 14 goals and his strike rate is worse than one every three matches — but he can trouble even the best defences and remains an integral part of the England squad.
Liverpool have looked for alternatives to Heskey since last summer, when they hoped to lure Alan Shearer from Newcastle United. Gérard Houllier’s long and dogged pursuit of Cissé has left Heskey questioning his future. Like Michael Owen, he has 18 months to run on his contract at Anfield but admitted recently that he still had to justify a new offer, whereas his team-mate can practically name his price for staying at Liverpool.
The need to prove himself may have led to his recent burst of good form, including an outstanding display away to Chelsea, but the prospect of playing in Milan could overwhelm a player with notoriously fragile confidence.
A move to the Riverside is more likely to suit him but Liverpool have yet to agree to the sale and, although they have options in Owen, Harry Kewell, Florent SinamaPongolle and Milan Baros, who should soon be back from injury, they may need to secure Cissé before they allow Heskey to go.
Middlesbrough would also have to find the funds because Heskey is earning about £45,000 a week at Liverpool. The Teesside club would also have to deal with the player’s SFX agency, with whom they have had disagreements in the past, but they would still jump at the chance to sign him.
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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: