What, you ask, has been going on with ex-Barcelona ‘keeper Victor Valdes? The veteran shot-stopper looked primed to join Liverpool on a short term deal once he proved his fitness, only to start training with bitter rivals Manchester United back in October, but his story has taken a bit of a turn since then.
While it looked like Louis van Gaal, who worked with the 3-time Champions League winner during his time in Catalonia, was going to bring the Spaniard into his ever expanding fold at Old Trafford, reports in the media suggest that the 32-year old rejected an offer to link up with the Reds Devils on a permanent basis after leaving, and then re-joining training. Although no one knows for sure, the Dutchman has admitted, rather begrudgingly, that the Anfield outfit could very well sign him up whenever they’d like.
“It’s only talk from you. “Not from us, not from Valdes, only the media. I’m not here to inform the media. You have to wait and listen and see” explained the Man United manager. “If Liverpool are interested, he goes to Liverpool. The media are suggesting and that’s a big mistake. “That’s why I’m always angry because you are inventing stories. There are no stories. He is training here. I give him the possibility to do that. We shall see.”
With incumbent ‘keeper Simon Mignolet dropped to the bench for the foreseeable future and understudy Brad Jones taking the reigns, speculation is rife that Liverpool will dip into the market to replace the Belgian when the transfer window re-opens in January. Although the Reds have been linked with a number of different options, the Northern Irishman has stuck to the party line, insisting — as recently as yesterday — that they’re not even looking. “I’m not thinking about that at the moment” was his response when asked about bringing in re-enforcements in his pre-match press conference leading up to tomorrow’s clash with Arsenal.
We’ll see what’s on his mind after the Gunners come to town…
