Transfer Speculation: Villa, Aquilani, Silva

David Villa
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is expected to make a move for Valencia's David Villa once Xabi Alonso's £30 million move to Real Madrid has gone through, claims the Telegraph.
“Alonso is expected to complete his deal with Real within the next 24 hours”, says the story. The fee from his transfer will give “Benitez enough disposable cash to pair Villa up with his compatriot Fernando Torres.”

The article goes on to say: “Liverpool are said to be confident of their chances of snapping up the 26-year-old, who has already turned down offers from Real and Barcelona this summer, but have prepared a back up plan should they encounter any obstacles.” If signing Villa falls through, Benitez has a number of back up plans:

Alberto Aquilani
Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, 24 is on Benitez's radar, “who is reported to have been offered a five-year deal to replace Alonso,” says the Telegraph in a “£14 million move.” However the paper appears to contradict itself, as elsewhere in another story they say: “Roma rate their home-grown star at £30m.” The article also adds: “there are signs that his club would not stand in the way of a transfer to Liverpool,” as “they are unable to object to big money transfers, which plays into the hands of Benitez.”

Rome newspaper Il Messaggero Reports that the club are willing to sell for around £15million and the player is happy with a five-year contract worth around 4million euros a year.
Most newspaper are in agreement that formal negotiations cannot take place until the Alonso deal is settled.

David Silva
Valencia club president Manuel Llorente, speaking to the local Valencia Press, played down rumours that his talented winger David Silva will be leaving the club.

"The club is not interested in selling this player," claimed Llorente"We have not received any formal offers and it is not in our plans to consider David's exit,” reports Goal.

"There is still one month left until the transfer window closes, but our decision on this subject will not change" concluded the president.

However Spanish newspaper Marca believe Silva is widely expected to be plying his trade in the Premier League in the upcoming new season and “it is suspected Liverpool lead the hunt for his signature.” Fernando Torres recently spoke about his fellow Spanish International said:

"We lack players like [Wayne] Rooney and [Carlos] Tevez who can drop back between the lines of attack and midfield and cause havoc for opposing defences and midfields."

"Liverpool need a player like David Silva...who can drop deep, find unexpected space, use a bit of quality and open up a game."

The story concludes that “Liverpool are widely expected to offer £25 million to Valencia in the coming days, which will test Manuel Llorente's words.”