Liverpool close to sealing £8m Adam deal

Liverpool are hoping to conclude an £8million deal for Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam over the weekend.

Anfield director of football Damien Comolli and Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston have already held tentative talks but hope further negotiations can finalise one of the most protracted deals in recent Premier League history.

The clubs are still some way apart on valuation, with Blackpool optimistically banking on £10m for a player who has one year left on his contract. Their position could be strengthened if Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish steps into the battle, while Blackburn's Steve Kean also maintains an interest.

Liverpool are more likely to open the bidding at about £6.5m, which they still believe is a fair valuation for the Scotland international.

Tottenham, who made a move for 25-year-old Adam in January, are holding back as they consider other options and do not want to encourage further bidding for Luka Modric.

Liverpool have already paid £16m for Jordan Henderson from Sunderland but still have four other deals pending - Adam, Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, Arsenal left back Gael Clichy and Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

They were prepared to pay £8m for Adam in January but Blackpool wanted £12m for their talismanic midfielder. Oyston had hoped his resolve to keep Adam would pay off as Blackpool looked to stave off relegation, however, his goals and performances failed to save them as they went down on the last day of the season at Manchester United.

Liverpool could turn to Sochaux's Ryad Boudebouz, 21, should they fail to strike a deal but hope negotiations can prove easier this time round.

McLeish knows Adam well from their time together at Rangers and the Villa boss need to add bodies to his midfield Ashley Young's move to Manchester United and uncertainty about whether Nigel Reo-Coker wants to re-sign. They have the funds to compete but know Adam's preference is for Anfield.

Meanwhile, Alberto Aquilani will rejoin Liverpool after failing to attract suitors in Italy. The former Roma playmaker enjoyed a successful season-long loan with Juventus last term but the Serie A side's new coach Antonio Conte refused the option of signing him permanently.

Franco Zavaglia, the 26-year-old's agent, said: 'Aquilani is going back to Liverpool.'

Source: Daily Mail

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