Liverpool are expected to announce today that Roy Hodgson, the former UAE coach, will be their new manager. The Merseyside club have been linked with the Fulham manager since Rafael Benitez left last month. A compensation deal has been struck with Fulham, according to sources at both clubs, and Hodgson is set to be officially unveiled in the role at Anfield. Hodgson's stock soared after an impressive season with Fulham where he led them to 12th place in the Premier League and took them to the Europa League final.
One of his first tasks will be to deal with the futures of Steven Gerrard, the club captain, and Fernando Torres, once the World Cup is over, but one player he will be dealing with is Milan Jovanovic The Standard Liege forward confirmed once again yesterday he will be joining them next week. The Serbia international, identified as a free transfer signing byBenitez, was reported to be considering backing out of the deal to instead join Benitez at Inter Milan.
"I am going to Liverpool. I have signed there for three years. I repeat, no pre-agreement - a real contract," the 29-year-old told the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad. "The departure of Benitez changes nothing. I have maintained contact with the executive board of Liverpool and everything is good." Hodgson became the coach of the UAE national side in April 2002 but was was sacked in January 2004 after a disappointing fifth-placed finish at the 2003 Gulf Cup in Kuwait.
Elswhere in the Premier League, Mauro Boselli has revealed that he consulted Juan Sebastian Veron, the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder, about English football before signing for Wigan. Boselli completed his move to the DW Stadium on Tuesday for an undisclosed fee, putting pen to paper on a four-year deal. The Argentine striker joined the Latics from the Argentine club Estudiantes, where he played alongside Veron, who struggled to make an impact in the Premier League after signing for United in 2001.
Veron endured a difficult three-year spell at Old Trafford and then Stamford Bridge, but his advice about playing in England convinced Boselli it was the right thing to do. "Juan played for Manchester United and Chelsea and has good knowledge of the English game," Boselli told Wigan's official website. "He told me it was the best place in the world to play your football and that it would be the best place for me as a player."
* Agencies
