Liverpool and Manchester United after Rosenborg midfielder Anthony Annan
Rosenborg midfielder Anthony Annan is a highly coveted player for the January transfer window, with European giants Manchester United and Liverpool both bidding to sign the Ghanaian star to the tune of £6 million.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has been monitoring Annan for the past three weeks and is now ready to make a £6 million bid as soon as the January transfer window opens, but the Reds will have to compete with bitter rivals Manchester
United for the signing. Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long-term admirer of the 24-year-old midfielder, but has been hesitant to pursue him because of his unavailability in the Champions League as the player is cup-tied and Liverpool have moved
into pole position.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, who plays with Annan for Ghana, has already recommended Annan to Chelsea. But it seems that Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is not prepared to bring the player to Stamford Bridge at this time.
Annan had an impressive World Cup in South Africa this year and helped Ghana reach the quarter-finals. After the World Cup, the player was looking to make a move during the summer, but was denied the opportunity. Annan has expressed
fondness for English football and is keen to play in the Premiership.
Annan said: “I think if I have opportunity to play there [England] I would be very grateful. If not Germany, Italy, Spain, everywhere. I think I will be ready to play over there.”
He added: “My agent knows what's going on and I will have a meeting with him and discuss what is happening with my future.”
He is considered a hot prospect in Europe, and a move to Anfield would see the backing of Liverpool’s Director of Football Strategy, Damien Comolli, whose signature would be a sound investment at a bargain price.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have shown interest in the player but have not gone all out for his signature, even though they have been looking to sign a long-term replacement for star midfielder Paul Scholes, who is expected to
retire at the end of the current season.
A signing with Liverpool would be fantastic for both Annan and Hodgson, and fit the strategy of new owners New England Sports Ventures. Annan could prove to be an excellent replacement for Christian Poulsen, who is thought to be
unsettled at Anfield despite having arrived only this summer.
Rosenborg bought Annan from IK Start for only £1.2 million in the summer of 2008, and the player has attracted interest from clubs around the world ever since his remarkable displays for Norwegian football and in the Champions
League. The Red Devils were leading the race for the Ghanaian in the summer but the deal didn’t materialize. Because of United’s continuing problems with Owen Hargreaves's injury, Ferguson could still bid for the midfielder.
The player’s contract ends in 2011 and Rosenborg will be looking to cash in on the January transfer window, or otherwise they might lose him for nothing.
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