REINA EXTEND HIS CONTRACT AT THE REDS

Jose Reina has signed a new Liverpool contract that will keep him at the club until 2012.

The Spanish international, 25, has penned a five-year deal, hot on the heels of new deals signed on Monday by Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

Reina said: "I am very happy with this contract. It was always my wish to sign a new deal because this is a good club which is looking forward to a very ambitious and attractive project.

"The details of the contract were very straightforward. Rick Parry (chief executive) and the American owners (Tom Hicks and George Gillett) made everything easy and in the end it was a good solution for the club and a good solution for me.

"I spoke with Rafa (Benitez) and his thoughts for the future really excited me. He has ambitions for the team which I want to be part of and I'm sure the other players feel the same.

"The idea now for all of us is to keep winning matches and to challenge for titles. That's what we'll be looking for from the start of next season.

"Our fans deserve the league title and that's what we'll be looking for. Seventeen years without winning it is far too long for this club and that's why our biggest target next year has to be the Premiership."

Editor Note :

It's clear that Benitez put his faith in Reina ability, but i'm kinda shocked to read the five years deal, even Carra and Gerrard only had four years each. Now, it's about the time for Alonso and Sissoko to have new deals according to Liverpool Echo.

JUVENTUS LINE UP BID FOR SISSOKO

Juventus are ready to launch a £12million move for Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko. The Malian international has been linked with several top European clubs during the past few months, speculation that has intensified since Sissoko sat out the Champions League final defeat to AC Milan last week.

Now Italian giants Juventus, who are looking to strengthen after securing promotion to Serie A following demotion for their part in the Italian match-fixing scandal, are preparing to table a formal offer. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who bought the player from Valencia from under the noses of neighbours Everton for £5.6m in July 2005, does not want to sell the 22-year-old.

But Sissoko has seen his first-team opportunities limited since the arrival of Javier Mascherano on loan from West Ham United in January, and is also behind Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in the midfield pecking order. Sissoko is already seeking talks with Benitez over his long-term future at the club after growing frustrated at his recent lack of games. And a huge offer for his services could test Liverpool’s resolve to keep the player.

For now, Sissoko’s agent Jose Segui has claimed his client will remain at Anfield. “There’s not much chance of him leaving Liverpool. Momo is happy and has a contract with them until 2010. I don't believe Liverpool want to lose him. But, obviously, clubs are going to talk to each other, but for the moment nothing is happening,” he said.

Italian outfit Fiorentina and Spanish champions Barcelona are also thought to be tracking Sissoko, who has made 71 appearances for Liverpool.

RAFA TO RAISE CASH FOR ETO`O BID

Rafael Benitez will sell Momo Sissoko and Craig Bellamy and then ask Liverpool's owners for the rest of the cash needed to sign Samuel Eto'o.

New Anfield owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have promised to back Benitez in the transfer market this summer - but the Spaniard knows he will have to help fund a £35million for Barcelona hitman Eto'o.

Benitez is ready to offload fiery striker Bellamy, who is being chased by West Ham and Aston Villa, for around £6million - and Sissoko is also surplus to requirements following the successful impact of Javier Mascherano at Anfield.

The Mali midfielder has fallen behind Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard in the pecking order - and would command a fee of £7million, with both Barca and Juventus said to be monitoring him.

Benitez is desperate to break Chelsea and Manchester United's stranglehold on the Premiership title race - and believes Eto'o is the world-class striker Liverpool need to bid for the English crown.

i personally thinks we really desperately need a striker like eto's calibre for us to challenge for the title. so if we have to sell really just to fund eto's transfer then be it.

JUNE 2 TABLOID TRANSFER RUMOURS

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is desperate for a big name signing and has put Paul Scholes at the top of his wish-list - bidding £2million - (The Sun)

Keane is also keen on Jason Koumas but the West Brom schemer is heading for Everton in a £4million deal - (The Sun)

West Ham are eager to get busy in their recruitment campaign and are putting together a £4million offer for Kieran Richardson - (The Sun)

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley will follow up that capture with the signing of Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips for £10million - (The Sun)

Sheffield United have conceded that Phil Jagielka is on his way - with Everton, Wigan and Aston Villa all vying for his signature - (Daily Star)

Charlton's Darren Bent is to quit The Valley and the England man is off to either Tottenham, Liverpool or West Ham - (Daily Star)

Titus Bramble is to spurn a move to Portsmouth in order to sign for Wigan - (Various)

Real Madrid are preparing a lucrative offer in an attempt to lure Arjen Robben from Chelsea - (Daily Mirror)

Jose Antonio Reyes is set to stay in Spain, but not with Real Madrid, as former club Sevilla are keen on his services (Daily Mirror)

Matt Holland is a surprise transfer target for Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp - (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle chief Sam Allardyce is eager to add to his defensive ranks and is a fan of PSG's David Rozehnal - (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool are set to smash their transfer record with the £35million capture of Samuel Eto'o - (Independent)

Sunderland are to make an ambitious swoop for Villarreal striker Diego Forlan, a former team-mate of Roy Keane - (Independent)

West Ham are to offer big money for Everton pair Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson (The Times)

Juventus have been put off making Frank Lampard an offer to leave Chelsea, frightened by his £7million-a-season wage demands - (Express)

LYON STAR FLORENT MALOUDA HAS REEALED LIVERPOOL ARE HOPING TO SIGN HIM

The French international is seeking to leave Lyon for a new challenge with a top European side.

Malouda claims Liverpool are leading the hunt to sign him, but that there is also interest from several Spanish sides in his signature.

Liverpool are thought to be in the market for a new left-sided winger with Boudewijn Zenden and Mark Gonzalez set to move on and Reds boss Rafa Benitez is believed to have made Malouda his top target.

Malouda says he would be interested in a possible move to Liverpool and he is hoping to have his future resolved soon.

"There are contacts with Liverpool but they haven't made an offer to Lyon yet," Malouda told Football365.

"They are a good club and play in the English league, which is very interesting.

"I have no preference, I can also move to Spain. It depends on the club's ambition and their desire to sign me.

"I don't know if my transfer price is €25 million (£17million), it could also be €35million (£27million).

"Anyway the money won't be in my pocket so I don't care.

"I agree with my chairman when he says that all Lyon transfers have to be signed before the 30th of June.

"I am leaving, it is just a question of time."

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas insists he has not received any bid from Liverpool for Malouda.
"We have not yet had any bid for Florent Malouda," Aulas told the club's official website.

-skysports

BENITEZ WARNING HYYPIA BIDDERS

Rafa Benitez says Newcastle, Wigan and Portsmouth will be wasting their time if they try to tempt Sami Hyypia from Anfield this summer. Benitez today confirmed he wants the Finnish defender to stay at the club for the last year of his contract as the perfect cover for Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger.

Hyypia revealed while on international duty he’d spoken to Benitez about his plans, and the Liverpool manager says he’s told the 33-year-old he remains a key member of his squad. However, suggestions Liverpool are preparing to offer Hyypia a new deal are premature at this stage.

“It’s true I spoke to Sami and I told him I wanted him to stay. I expect Sami to be with us for the start of pre-season. He is a good professional and it’s not easy to find defenders with his experience. I told Sami I need him here and the positive thing is he wants to stay with us,” said Benitez.

Hyypia isn’t short of offers if he wants a new challenge. Newcastle have tried to tempt him to St James’ Park in each of the last two seasons, and new boss Sam Allardyce was also being linked with a fresh move. But the centre-half, widely considered Gerard Houllier’s greatest signing when he joined for a bargain £2.5m from Willem II in 1999, has accepted his new role at Anfield deputising for Agger and Carragher.

There’s no doubt the player would also love the security of an additional 12 months on his current terms, but that’s not currently on the agenda. In an illustrious career at Anfield, the giant Finn has won every honour except one – the Premiership. He’ll be hoping to complete his collection in what could prove to be his last season at the club in 2007/08.

Meanwhile, any thoughts Liverpool may have had of joining the race for West Ham’s Carlos Tevez appear doomed. Tevez’s representatives have slapped a whopping £30m price tag on the striker. Even if Benitez had that kind of kitty, and there’s no suggestion at this stage he has, he’d be prioritising other areas of the team rather than spending so much on Tevez.

In Spain, Daniel Alves’ agent has announced the time may be right for the player to leave Seville, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Liverpool holding a long-standing interest. Liverpool failed with a £12m bid a year ago and Alves’ value has spiralled since then but Benitez would still love him at Anfield. Meanwhile, Spurs are believed to be preparing a £3m bid for Harry Kewell.

BELLAMY IS SET FOR ROVERS RETURN

Blackburn Rovers are set to put their pursuit of James Beattie on hold - as they try to lure Craig Bellamy away from Liverpool.

Rovers were preparing a move for Beattie earlier in the week but will concentrate on landing other top targets before pressing ahead with a bid to bring him back to the club where he began his career.

And Bellamy is top of the list drawn up by Ewood manager Mark Hughes, who has overseen the Welshman’s best form of his career at both club and country level. The price could be a stumbling block as Liverpool look to make a significant gain on the £6million that triggered Bellamy’s exit clause last summer.

But Hughes is believed to be willing to enter negotiations for a player whose 17 goals in his one season at the club played a major part in their UEFA Cup qualification. Bellamy, however, is also set to be the subject of a bid from Aston Villa, who are in a significantly better bargaining position than Blackburn as American owner Randy Lerner continues to pledge his commitment to investing in the team during the close season.