Friday Fulham Stuff 11/06/2010

[WhiteJC]

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/liverpool/no-reds-role-for-roy-1068822.html?
No Reds role for Roy

Roy Hodgson is not about to join Liverpool and sources suggest he has not even been in contact about the vacant managerial post.

A report in the Fulham Chronicle says the Cottagers boss has no plans to leave Craven Cottage to replace the now Inter Milan manager Rafa Benitez.

A source close to the 62-year-old dismissed speculation linking him to Liverpool, saying: "No one from Liverpool, or connected with them has spoken to Roy - and he is mystified by all the conjecture over the last few days."

Hodgson is believed to be working on further additions to his Uefa Europa League finalist-squad and is in the running to sign Standard Liege striker Dieumerci Mbokani, who has been the subject of an £7.5m offer from Roma.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/liverpool-great-kenny-dalglish-faces-anfield-snub-14839446.html?
Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish faces Anfield snub

Liverpool will still attempt to lure Fulham manager Roy Hodgson to Merseyside as Rafael Benitez's successor despite club great Kenny Dalglish's declaration of interest in returning to the Anfield dugout.

Dalglish, who is Liverpool's academy ambassador, has made it clear he would be delighted to return to the position he occupied with distinction between 1985 and 1991. But despite the strong emotional draw of seeing Dalglish back at the helm, Liverpool will not be deflected from their plan to offer the position to Hodgson.

The manager of the year, as voted by his peers, has been identified as the ideal candidate to steer the club through one of the most turbulent periods in its history, so deep have been the scars caused by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Sources at the club believe Hodgson's understated demeanour and calm manner would provide a welcome respite to the recent turmoil, while he has won praise for his ability to work on a limited budget and for his style of play.

Christian Purslow, Liverpool's managing director and the man leading the search for a new manager, has made it clear the four qualities he values most are experience, an established reputation, stability and proven ability to deliver success in Europe. Hodgson, fresh from taking Fulham to the Europa League final, ticks all the boxes.

The former Inter Milan manager has a £2.5m buy-out clause in his rolling one-year contract at Craven Cottage, a sum that would have a small impact on Liverpool's transfer funds of about £15m.

A shortlist of potential candidates, topped by Hodgson, will be presented to Liverpool's six-man board over the next few days, a move that is likely to be quickly followed by an official approach for the 62-year-old.

Though there is no bad blood between Liverpool's power-brokers and Dalglish for his statement of intent, the timing of his move has caused some perplexity, given that the club's plan of action was already in place. (© Daily Telegraph, London)



Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/liverpool-great-kenny-dalglish-faces-anfield-snub-14839446.html?#ixzz0qXSmqXDT

[WhiteJC]

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/big-guns-poised-cottage-raid-1068821.html?
Big guns poised for Cottage raid
Fulham, 09:38, June 11, 2010
Fulham's Ghana youngster King Gyan Osei is reportedly attracting the interest of Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

The 21-year-old, who signed from Hearts of Oak in Accra, has been with the Cottagers since 2007. However the club were unable to secure a work permit to play the youngster in England so they loaned him out to Belgian club Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen.

King has been impressive in that time and Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson hoped he would be able to get a work permit following a three-year wait. But it seems the player requires a minimum of an additional 12-month residency to attain an EU passport which resulted in Fulham opting against extending his contract beyond this month.

City and Arsenal are thought to be willing to take a gamble on King, who secured his first cap for Ghana recently, by signing him and then make a new attempt to win a work permit. There is also the possibility either side could loan him back out to a Belgian side again for another year, while both Anderlecht and Standard Liege are also said to be keen on taking him.

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulham-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/hodgson_eyes_schlaudraff_530185/index.shtml
Hodgson Eyes Schlaudraff

Roy Hodgson has ear-marked Hannover striker Jan Schlaudraff as the man to bolster his attacking options next season.

The Germany international endured a torrid season, making just 10 appearances as form and fitness deserted him in the run up to the World Cup. The 26-year-old moved from Bayern Munich in 2008 but has yet to build on the three international caps he earned before 2007.

Hodgson is keen to add some much-needed firepower to a front line that relied too heavily on Bobby Zamora this last campaign.

'I am aware of Jan Schlaudraff,' the Fulham boss said. 'He is a very fast player that is also able to score goals. He could add something to our squad.'