Rumour Mongering: Jovanovic Agrees Terms With Anderlecht

By: Noel | August 2nd, 2011

With Liverpool’s summer spending spree fading into memory, and with the club appearing largely content with its current personnel despite that the vast majority of said spree was dedicated to bolstering one of the club’s strongest areas while ignoring positions most everybody agreed they were weak at, much of the attention now turns to those who could be on their way out. And while news on that front has been a slow trickle at best, perhaps unsurprising given the difficulty in shifting out well-paid players that have been hugely disappointing, at least one more name seems fully set to officially follow Paul Konchesky out of Anfield…

Milan Jovanovic

He hasn’t trained with the club during preseason, and he’s been linked to a half dozen sides on the continent pretty much since the summer began. With a new story coming out each week to say that a deal with one of them was set to be completed any day now, any day now has been a long time coming. But it finally appears as though it has arrived, with the Belgian press reporting that Jovanovic has finally agreed personal terms with Anderlecht.

Jovanovic’s agent is on record as saying that both he and Anderlecht manager Herman Van Holsbeeck will now head to Liverpool to sort out any issues with his soon-to-be former club, though the expectation is that Liverpool is willing to let him go out the same way he came in—on a free. Jovanovic may have been on high wages like most of last summer’s signings, but in his case there was a clear desire to remain part of the Serbian national team, something that was unlikely to happen if he stayed at Liverpool. That’s in stark contrast to the case of Christian Poulsen, a player who though his agent has made clear a desire to stay at Liverpool even if it means sitting on the bench and being dropped from the Danish national side in the run up to next summer’s European Championships.

As such, it will likely be far easier for most Liverpool fans to wish the Serbian attacker the best of luck as he returns to the league he arrived at Liverpool from after having success at Standard Liege.

Scott Dann

With Birmingham facing financial troubles so serious—namely that their owner is in jail in Hong Kong awaiting trial with his assets frozen—that for a time there was speculation that they might be denied certification to play in Europe, early rumoured target Scott Dann has made his way back onto the radar. With both Birmingham’s monetary crisis and a market that has cooled somewhat after the insanity of June and early July, Dann’s rumoured price has dropped down closer to the £10M mark, with Arseanl and Liverpool both said to have rekindled their interest. And given some of Liverpool’s preseason struggles at the back, just about any new defender seems likely to be met with hope and positivity should Liverpool ever manage to bring one in.

Jose Enrique

He’s been linked to the club just about since Dalglish took over, at least until Liverpool’s eyes turned to Gael Clichy as the solution to their left back problem. With Clichy choosing to go to Manchester City instead and no other clubs in England reportedly looking for a left back at this stage of the transfer season, Liverpool is rumoured to once again be interested in the Spanish fullback. As with Dann, it seems largely a case of people linking Liverpool to a player they were linked to before at a position of weakness that hasn’t been addressed while Damien Comolli’s been busy reliving his days at Tottenham by buying up every midfielder in sight. And, like with Scott Dann, there’s a great deal of speculation that given the shifting market conditions his price would now be significantly cheaper than earlier in the summer—perhaps as low as £8M, half the fee it was rumoured would be needed to pry him away from Newcastle in June.

Daniel Ayala

Another name in the growing pile of potential outgoings, and a player who despite Liverpool’s shaky backline has hardly been given a look so far in preseason, Ayala nonetheless impressed during his time at Hull last year and rumours have the Tigers looking to acquire the defender on a more permanent basis this time around. In his short time at Hull, he quickly became a crowd favourite and was considered by many to be by far their best defender—and one who still had plenty of room to grow. With returning veterans like Sotirios Kyrgiakos apparently still considered better options at Liverpool while the young Spaniard remains out of favour, it’s hardly surprising to see his name bandied about, though that his most likely destination appears to be the Championship and not a return to Spain perhaps is.

Alberto Aquilani

It’s being reported that AC Milan have said the Italian midfielder “Could be of interest.” Unless it’s just that his agent has gone out and said that Aquilani could be of interest to AC Milan, since every few days Aquilani’s agent says something new. What it all means is anybody’s guess, with the player remaining in a kind of limbo where everybody seems to assume he desperately wants out while the club doesn’t seem to care to keep him. But there’s still no real news outside of what his agitating agent decides to leak, and nobody outside of his agent himself may actually fully know quite what’s going on with Aquilani.

Joe Cole

Newly promoted London side QPR might be in for Cole. But given the recent revelation by Tony Barrett of The Times that he’s in fact on £110,000 per week, one assumes they really aren’t. At least not while the player himself has to date seemed unbothered by being nothing but a benchwarmer at Liverpool so long as he’s well paid for the privilege. If Cole isn’t willing to take a paycut to head back to West Ham and play the hero returning to the club he grew up at, carrying them back to the Premier League and assuring a place in their history, it’s hard to see him being willing to take a paycut to head anywhere else.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: Premier League, Team News, Transfer News

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Mell

For everything english premier league and fantasy football...Malaysian style...
fantasyonthego.blogspot.com...Join our official league for the extra kick
CheekyFellow

Jose Enrinque deal is picking up steam...
Jake_LFC

Twitter steam?
PDubz18

Let's hope its 8m pound steam and not 16m pound steam.
KC

I'm not that well versed in football so I'm not really sure what happens with transfers, but for people like Poulsen and Joe Cole, we can't just kick them out right and not have to worry about them anymore?

Because even though we wouldn't be getting anything back for them, at least we won't have to pay anything more to them when they don't do anything. I mean its nice to have some bench warmers but not ones that are so pricy.
Suarez from the car park...

those contracts make sure clubs have little choice. Best to hope for is free txfer to allow buying club to pay a signing on fee to make up for lower wages.
Looks like both will not leave the club though.
mardia

My understanding is that in order to get Poulsen and Cole out, we would have to pay all the remaining wages on their contract in one lump sum, which, as you can imagine, is a LOT of money. Some might say the club's well rid of them even then, but it'd be a bitter financial pill to swallow. My best guess is that we're still hoping someone will take them off our hands, and therefore we wouldn't have to pay the rest of their contracts, even if we didn't get any transfer fees for them.
Suarez from the car park...

yep. no fee but off the wage bill is as much as we can hope for.
Cole going on loan to QPR is positive even if we're paying some of his wages. He's a lost cause until he's played regularly so this would give him a season to get his game sorted. At least if he gets his form back he might be saleable next summer.

Poulsen is a sink hole. He WON'T give up the wages and will sit at lfc in semi retirement as he's clearly not going to get a spot anywhere else nor with the wages.
No games for him this season though, maybe that'll make him think twice. Can't possibly be named in the 25 man squad surely?
mardia

According to the Telegraph's Luke Edwards, we might have agreed a deal with Newcastle to pay 6 million for Jose Enrique, but he warns that Enrique's reported wage demands of 60,000 might scupper the deal.

(Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/spo...

Thoughts? I'll admit, LFC's current defensive situation has me worried enough that I'd welcome the signing, even if I still want us to get a CB. Also, I kind of doubt, if we've agreed a fee, that wage demands are going to be a problem--surely we've had some kind of discussions with his agent to feel him out on that matter.
Suarez from the car park...

effin disqus editor. messed my para and line breaks on the formation.

Striker: carroll
Left AM: Downing, Centre: Kuyt, Right AM Henderson
Left MF: Raul/adam Right MF: Lucas/Spearing.
FalloniusMaximus

Asking/expecting Charlie Adam to make a major contribution on the defensive side of the ball makes me very, very nervous. I know others don't agree (and others DO agree), but from what I have seen of him, he does not put in the work rate once the ball is lost and he is a very clumsy tackler. I worry if he is at the base of 3 man central field, even with Lucas next/behind him.
Suarez from the car park...

Sorry about this, but I can't wait for next week for the pre-Sunderland article!! why not invite the comments and then write the article for a bit of off season entertainment?!

Big q over line up for sunderland. They were very good last year but injuries cost them half the season as they did the reverse of our season and we stole their 6th place that they held by some margin earlier.Ignoring 4 man defence for the moment and resting of players/injuries (Raul) and Aqua leaving. Assumes Lucas will play. Carroll Downing Kuyt Henderson Raul/Adam Lucas/Spearing
Defence
God/Doni

This formation depends on Adam doing a good job in midfield otherwise he'll be over-run. Raul and Lucas do well together, we've seen that.
Kuyt will do ok if the others around him are doing ok.

To me Adam has a fair bit of development to go through and might be a little over ambitious to start with. Also, he will have to learn to defend somewhat and he lacks pace in this. Have to say I'm surprised KK was ok with his limitations.

Downing and Henderson and Carroll are good outlets, can they be tricky enough to get past the opposition (need time to work with overlapping full backs), and Kuyt's off the ball positioning can be threatening.

So long as Carroll isn't isolated in the box, ie has good support from Kuyt and the winger(s) not in possession/crossing it, then we can create chances with presence in the box.

Note that Carroll has to hit the ground running this season, and the service has to be effective, not just blind hoofing up to him (CARRA, STOP IT, even spearing is copying you now).

Raul and Lucas won't get over-run with support from the wings, but Adam+Lucas/Spearing might well do.

Add in Suarez, Gerrard and possibly Aqua and the line up strengthens considerably. With Suarez, we're into a whole new set of formations!
Gryffin

I know I might be opening myself up to a world of criticism. I think Joey Barton would be a good defensive midfielder pick-up for Liverpool. I know he's not young, but he is English and he has a "in your face, F--- You" mentality that I think Liverpool lack. Besides, if Lucas can't play....do you really want to see poulson or spearing fill-in?
PDubz18

I hear he can out drink Andy Carroll.
FalloniusMaximus

He would be an interesting signing, though he is more suited for attacking role on the right, as he played with the Toon. While he is a good tackler and works hard, his real strengths are service and his work in the final third, but that is just my opinion on him. I do like his mean streak but he is also a complete nutter, which has to be taken into account. I don't see LFC singing him but he is a very solid performer who will always put in a shift.
Suarez from the car park...

you missed Insua. Unfortunately not good enough with his positioning and defending nous.

Aqua never responded to Henry and KK's public endorsements i.e. he wants to go back to Italy and is very motivated in the pre-season games to sell himself. Late in the window there'll be an offer and it will be crap for the club but he will push for it.

He might not be quick enough for the EPL in anycase, jury is definitely still out though pre-season suggests great creativity.

Lfc will know they don't really want to be in the same position with him next summer, and want to clear the decks for defensive reinforcements. They will get rid but it'll be bad business.

Dann sounds good. No idea about enrique but does he really want to be at lfc anyhow?

Poulsen won't leave. He mentally retired a year ago, then had another kid. Living out a very cool well paid retirement, and Danes know that the weather isn't any better at home (worse in fact) and their taxes are much much much much higher. Can't believe he was ever good.

Spearing needs to show he can be a Lucas understudy.

Looks like they will persevere with Cole but can't see it being fruitful. Last summer was an expensive mistake. Can't blame Hodgson for Cole but he must have run his eye over the rest of them before they were signed.

What's the starting lineup for Sunderland? That's for your next article.!!
FalloniusMaximus

             Reina
                                     Johnson    Agger       Skrtel     ??

   Lucas        Meireles
                                             Aqualani
   Suarez    Downing
   Carroll
prad

swap meireles/aquilani for stevie g when he's back.
Andy

But still wanna be careful with starting Kelly game in game out. Don't wanna burn him out early. A natural left back is key.
paul

Johnson as LB, Kelly RB.
FalloniusMaximus

Sadly, this will probably never happen.
lfc

Fuck off jovanovic you are crap and you know it, go and play sunday league or something coz you are boring me to death, just go will you.
mardia

Good luck to Jovanovic at Anderlecht, sorry it didn't work out for him here.

As for the rest of our dead wood that refuses to leave...pah. A pox on them all. Try not to judge, but it's hard not to be a little resentful at the wages being spent on players that simply will not contribute anything of note through the season.

I really do not understand what the deal is with Aquilani. Do not. There's a youtube video making the rounds of him having some sort of public conversation with Comolli that doesn't seem to go too well. I haven't watched it myself, but the fact that it exists doesn't bode well. Unless it doesn't mean anything and is just evidence that Liverpool has some creepy fans.

I'm not trying to be negative, but I would really appreciate the club making some new signings for our backline. The optimist in me wants to believe that LFC was playing the long game and waiting until the prices for Dann and Enrique dropped before swooping in and getting them--seriously, 16 million for Enrique would have been ridiculous. 8 million is much more palatable. And I'm sorry, we need a CB. I keep banging this drum, but with Carra aging, Skrtel's inconsistency, and Agger getting injured all the goddamn time (nice brace though), I'd really rather not depend on the youngsters from our academy to fill in. I want them to get minutes and experience for sure, but I'd rather not put them in a situation where they're playing constantly because we don't have any other options--other than the Greek, of course.
lfc80uk

Here is the video of Comolli and Aqualani you are speaking of. You can't really hear anything though lol!

Lets hope it is Comolli trying to encourage him to stay. Either that or he is informing Aqualani to tell his agent to shut up or he will beat him to death with his own shoes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
paul

All that deadwood should be removed from the first team and told to train with the reserves or ladies. Don't put them on the bench, or play them in rubbish like the league cup, play our youth instead.

These players will cease to be news, with the international qualifiers coming up, some will get itchy feet and want to do us a favour by leaving.

Has Aquilani told the club he wants to go home? Or maybe a key long term player has taken a dislike to him? I can't see any other reason why he's not considered a key part of the first 11. At least until some clogger comes in and takes him out for a few months. Aqua and Suarez sounds like a dynamic combo.
mardia

Officially, in public, Aquilani hasn't said anything. The public agitating by his agent, however, kind of speaks for itself--as distasteful as it is to the fans, it's hard to imagine an agent trying to drum up interest from other clubs if the client wasn't open to leaving. Like Tevez and his wretched agent whose name escapes me at the moment--everyone agrees the agent is a wretch, but he wouldn't have caused all that public drama unless his client had signed off on it to some extent.
Baadier

Valid point, the agent just wouldnt be as loud if the player didnt want to go.
Suarez from the car park...

too true. Henry and KK have publicly stated their admiration of him, so all it needed was for him to respond positively about the club with the normal clichets - says everything really that he hasn't.

I think he had enough when Rafa wasn't playing him when he had recovered, Italians are definitely stubborn once they've made up their mind (sorry not very pc, but seriously, italians can be high maintenance!). Also sounds like his girlfriend + baby want to be in Italy so that settles it really.

There's still the chance that he won't look as good at the pace of the EPL but pre-season suggests he's leagues ahead of everyone else!

If I were to guess, late in the window, an Italian club will try to get him on loan or with a cheeky offer and he will push for it.

LFC will be in no need to lose another year of the contract via a loan, but then they'll face keeping him against his will and know they'll be in the same position next summer with just the 2 years on his contract.

With his clear desire, lfc will have to take what's on the table I believe.
mardia

Exactly. You really can't blame the owners/Kenny/Comolli for a situation that was basically FUBAR'd before they'd even come in. Kenny's spoken well of him, Henry's praised him, impossible to believe there's not a place for him if he wanted to stay--but he doesn't. LFC could try and force him into staying, but there are obvious downsides to that as well. It's a shame because he's impressed in preseason, but there you have it.
Jerod

Damn, that video was a downer.

They're clearly disagreeing. You can hear the occasional sentence or word from Aquilani, like, "Xabi Alonso," or "For me, it's better than Liverpool." His body language is negative, and at one point, Comolli gets visibly perturbed.

So yeah, I'm sure everything's fine ... I need a drink.
Mike

I didnt hear the Xabi Alonso part, but the later, yes. He's gone.
Andy

Tevez's agent is Kia Joorbiachan or spelled something similar to that. Regardless he's a piece of shit just like Aqua's agent.

This whole situation boggles my mind. I mean normal supporters notice how much the play and team improved when he came on in the preseason games so you know Kenny is noticing it. I just don't understand why everyone is out to get him. Yeah he didn't play well when he was hear two seasons ago but he was coming off a major injury and trying to adjust to the Premier League. Why not give him another shot? He clearly played very well for Juve, he is healthy again.

Mardia do you really think Aqua signed off on some of the bullshit spouting from his agents mouth? I'm inclined to agree but when his agent is making statements that are the complete opposite of what he said three days before, and then does it again three days later is absolutely insane.

Professional sports are getting out of hand altogether... but that's a different argument for a different day.
mardia

Ah, yeah, that's the name. Definitely most obnoxious agent ever, although Aquilani's is giving him a run for his money lately.

I don't think the agent has a literal script that Aquilani signed off on--seriously, the man looks like an ass practically every day, but on the other hand that's what agents DO, as far as I can tell. They say and behave however they need to in order to get the best deal they can for their clients, no matter how stupid it makes them look. Agents get their hands dirty so their clients don't have to. For me, it's impossible to believe that a player that's settled and committed to a club lets an employee (which is what an agent is) shit-stir the way that Aquilani's agent has over the course of this summer. Take Meireles, for example. Despite all the wretched rumors this summer, I haven't heard of any with a direct link to his agent, which tells you that whatever else is going on, Meireles probably isn't interested in engineering a move elsewhere.

For me, Aquilaini's obviously talented, and it'll be a shame when he leaves, but his clear desire to go is what's keeping me from shedding too many tears over it.
Ravenilli

I don't believe that Aqua man isn't happy at the club cos if he was he wouldn't be putting in the displays he has put in in pre season. If he is sold I will be very unhappy as I think he is a great player and the only reason I can see why he would be sold is because he isn't English.
mardia

Sure he'll play well during preseason. He's a professional, and it wouldn't help his attempts to play in Italy if he looked like a waste of space. It doesn't benefit him at all to act like a brat and not play well.

You're entitled to your opinion, but no settled, happy player lets their agent act the way that Aquilani's has over this season, IMO.
Signalflash

I agree about the agent part, but logically if playing well means he wants out then playing poorly would mean he wants to stay? Kenny was calling instructions to him from the sidelines so I don't believe Kenny was disinterested. Aquilani was the reason the team came back from 1-2 to 3-2. The team comes alive with him playing.
mardia

No, of course not. First and foremost, he's a professional. He's going to do his best, regardless of his personal feelings. And of course Kenny's not disinterested--he wants the team to do well, and shouting instructions to Aquilani helps that. Regardless of how well the team plays with him in it, he doesn't want to stay and (through his agent) is doing what he can to leave. As simple as that.
paul

Aqua was the best player for his short stint, but he wasn't completely instrumental in our comeback, the opposition were taking off their team in droves to give others a run out.
Signalflash

Aqua has been the best player for all his stints. In the last game, Liverpool took off Carrol, Johnson, Henderson, Robinson and Adam - so our best players? - and put on Sterling, Ngog, Kelly and Flannagan with Aqualani - so our dregs apparently - and yes Aqualani's shots on goal produced corners which he took and we scored. He wasn't alone but the game changed.
Signalflash

Re-reading this I see I didn't acknowledge you were talking about the other team removing better players, but we did too was my point.