SOCCER: Liverpool have taken the first step towards strengthening their squad by agreeing a swap deal with Villarreal in which the Spanish club's Dutch international Jan Kromkamp will move to Anfield in exchange for the unsettled full back Josemi.
Kromkamp, who can operate at right back or in the centre, moved to El Madrigal from AZ Alkmaar for €7 million only in the summer and has failed to establish himself. Although the Dutchman would be cup-tied in European competition, Rafael Benitez identified the 25-year-old as a high-quality replacement for Josemi, who has struggled in the Premiership since moving from Malaga at the start of last season for £2 million.
Kromkamp has yet to discuss personal terms, but a statement from his club last night announced: "Villarreal have reached an agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Dutch defender Jan Kromkamp to the English team and the arrival of Josemi. The agreement is between the clubs and lacks only the agreement of both players."
The deal would effectively value each player at around £3 million.
The deal for Kromkamp - who featured for the Netherlands in their recent qualification campaign for the World Cup finals - suits all parties. The defender was an integral member of the AZ side who reached the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup last season.
Yet despite featuring against Everton and Manchester United in the Champions League, Kromkamp has made only six appearances in La Liga, the lack of first-team opportunities prompting a request for a loan to improve his prospects of featuring for the Netherlands in Germany next summer.
The swap will prompt a period of frantic transfer activity at Anfield, with a £3.5 million bid for the Brondby centre half Daniel Agger imminent. Benitez had initially hoped to lure Nemanja Vidic to Merseyside, only for the Spartak Moscow defender to opt to go to Manchester United for around £7 million. Agger would cost nearer £4 million, but, at 21, represents a sound long-term investment with a view to unearthing a successor to Sami Hyypia.
Should Brondby resist Liverpool's overtures Benitez would have to examine other possibilities - chiefly the Deportivo la Coruna duo of Cesar or Fabrizio Coloccini - as he seeks cover at centre back.
Fernando Morientes, meanwhile, will miss Liverpool's games against West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers after straining knee ligaments in the 3-1 victory over Everton on Wednesday.
Sam Allardyce has declared an interest in Feyenoord's Shinji Ono. The Bolton manager is looking to bolster his squad as he has four players on African Nations Cup duty next month and the Japanese midfielder is out of contract at De Kuip in the summer. His agent is now scheduled to talk to the Lancashire club next week.
"He is a player we would be very interested in," Allardyce admitted. "It would be nice if we could get a loan deal done but I don't think that we will. They (Feyenoord) are more likely to be interested in selling him as he is running into the latter end of his contract."
Milan Mandaric will make more money available next month than he planned, to give Harry Redknapp a better chance of keeping Portsmouth up. The chairman said Redknapp wants a defender, at least one midfielder and one or two strikers.
Portsmouth are still considering the Panathinaikos striker Emmanuel Olisadebe, said by Redknapp to have come on trial at Mandaric's invitation, and have inquired about the Trabzonspor striker Fatih Tekke.
Manchester City's dismay after learning that Claudio Reyna will be ruled out for the next two months with injury has been partially eased by setting up their first signing of the transfer window in the shape of Albert Riera, a 23-year-old left-wing from Espanyol. His representatives have had talks in Manchester over the past 48 hours and are close to agreeing a loan to the end of the season.
Riera was once regarded as one of the brightest talents in Spain, and in 2003 Bordeaux paid a club-record £4 million to sign him from Real Mallorca. Since returning to La Liga, he has made only seven appearances this season.
Guardian Service
