Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:22 pm
CRAIG BELLAMY is on the brink of signing for Cardiff City on “compassionate grounds”, but his Wales team-mate Darcy Blake could be about to leave the Bluebirds.
Malky Mackay will today step up his bid to land Bellamy as City’s marquee summer signing after Liverpool confirmed they are ready to let him come home “to be happy”.
However, as Bellamy gets ready to return, the Echo understands Blake may be on his way out of the club where he grew up.
We have learned the Wales defender, who became a key figure under Gary Speed’s winning reign, has rejected new terms offered to him by the Bluebirds’ hierarchy.
Blake, who has one year left on his current contract, could become a target for Crystal Palace, who are keen on signing him.
Blake impressed Palace with the dominant manner in which he blotted out the threat of the £8million-rated Wilfried Zaha during the Carling Cup semi-final second leg clash at Cardiff City Stadium last season.
A number of other Football League clubs have also shown an interest in landing the versatile player, who can play anywhere in the back four and also in midfield.
Despite his success at international level, Blake was only a bit-part figure under Mackay last season and could not break into City’s regular back four as the team reached the play-offs.
As things stand, Blake’s destination for the looming 2012-13 campaign seems unclear, but it seems more and more likely he will be leaving.
For Bellamy, though, a return to his home-town club seems firmly on the cards after Kop boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed talks have taken place with Cardiff about a transfer and grudgingly accepted he will have to release his Wales ace.
Liverpool and Cardiff are believed to have agreed on a free transfer, with Bellamy wishing to come home for personal reasons.
Asked if Bellamy would join the Bluebirds, Rodgers replied: “I would think so. I had a really good chat with Craig when I first arrived here.
“He is not one who can play every week, he is 33 and coming towards the final years of his career.
“He has made a massive commitment to come to Liverpool, to reside up here on his own.
“He enjoys playing for the club, but I believe that at the end of last season he had already made his decision.
“I obviously respect that.
“What is so important is a player’s happiness.
“Unless a player is happy you don’t get the maximum from them.
“Cardiff is probably where he will end up. If he does, we wish him the very best. He will still be a Liverpool supporter.
“It is not for football reasons that he is leaving, but for personal ones.
“I understand his thinking.
“He is 33 and has travelled around the country for his whole career, so there are compassionate reasons.
“We will look at it. But we will wish him the best and move forward.”
With two pre-season matches out of the way this week against Bournemouth and Barry, Mackay will put his energies into trying to resolve the complications standing in the way of the Bellamy deal.
The issues are thought to include how Bellamy is released from his £90,000-a-week Anfield contract and how much of that salary the Bluebirds’ Malaysian owners could afford.
Mackay does not believe he can tie up the move in time for Saturday’s friendly with Newcastle at Cardiff City Stadium, but expects Bellamy to be on board for the Championship opener with Huddersfield Town a week tomorrow.
Is Bellamy the final piece in the promotion jigsaw?
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z233i2w0uW
Malky Mackay will today step up his bid to land Bellamy as City’s marquee summer signing after Liverpool confirmed they are ready to let him come home “to be happy”.
However, as Bellamy gets ready to return, the Echo understands Blake may be on his way out of the club where he grew up.
We have learned the Wales defender, who became a key figure under Gary Speed’s winning reign, has rejected new terms offered to him by the Bluebirds’ hierarchy.
Blake, who has one year left on his current contract, could become a target for Crystal Palace, who are keen on signing him.
Blake impressed Palace with the dominant manner in which he blotted out the threat of the £8million-rated Wilfried Zaha during the Carling Cup semi-final second leg clash at Cardiff City Stadium last season.
A number of other Football League clubs have also shown an interest in landing the versatile player, who can play anywhere in the back four and also in midfield.
Despite his success at international level, Blake was only a bit-part figure under Mackay last season and could not break into City’s regular back four as the team reached the play-offs.
As things stand, Blake’s destination for the looming 2012-13 campaign seems unclear, but it seems more and more likely he will be leaving.
For Bellamy, though, a return to his home-town club seems firmly on the cards after Kop boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed talks have taken place with Cardiff about a transfer and grudgingly accepted he will have to release his Wales ace.
Liverpool and Cardiff are believed to have agreed on a free transfer, with Bellamy wishing to come home for personal reasons.
Asked if Bellamy would join the Bluebirds, Rodgers replied: “I would think so. I had a really good chat with Craig when I first arrived here.
“He is not one who can play every week, he is 33 and coming towards the final years of his career.
“He has made a massive commitment to come to Liverpool, to reside up here on his own.
“He enjoys playing for the club, but I believe that at the end of last season he had already made his decision.
“I obviously respect that.
“What is so important is a player’s happiness.
“Unless a player is happy you don’t get the maximum from them.
“Cardiff is probably where he will end up. If he does, we wish him the very best. He will still be a Liverpool supporter.
“It is not for football reasons that he is leaving, but for personal ones.
“I understand his thinking.
“He is 33 and has travelled around the country for his whole career, so there are compassionate reasons.
“We will look at it. But we will wish him the best and move forward.”
With two pre-season matches out of the way this week against Bournemouth and Barry, Mackay will put his energies into trying to resolve the complications standing in the way of the Bellamy deal.
The issues are thought to include how Bellamy is released from his £90,000-a-week Anfield contract and how much of that salary the Bluebirds’ Malaysian owners could afford.
Mackay does not believe he can tie up the move in time for Saturday’s friendly with Newcastle at Cardiff City Stadium, but expects Bellamy to be on board for the Championship opener with Huddersfield Town a week tomorrow.
Is Bellamy the final piece in the promotion jigsaw?
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z233i2w0uW
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:23 pm
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:36 pm
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:40 pm
He's a moderator.. he can do what he wants lol
Last edited by cmorris1927 on Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:41 pm
cmorris1927 wrote:
He's a moserator.. he can do what he wants lol
Fair point
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:48 pm
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:55 pm
In the Olympic Park at the moment.
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:08 pm
olympic park ? he gets about he was just in the Plymouth arms lol
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:19 pm
carlccfc wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19190650
Malky states we are in advanced talks
Cheers Carl although I already posted the link in my second post!
jet lag?
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:27 pm
I thought he was in Rev Cardif last night with Whitts lmao?
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:36 pm
CCFC_Lad wrote:I thought he was in Rev Cardif last night with Whitts lmao?
Old photo. Sky in London at mo is cloudless!
Re: Liverpool admit Craig Bellamy on his way
Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:45 pm
Graig Bellamy must be the only player in this f..... World !!!'
Was he not at ccfc two season ago ?!!! Ffs let it go
Was he not at ccfc two season ago ?!!! Ffs let it go