It's News of the World time and we all know the score when it comes to the Sun and the News of the World, but according to the paper we nearly signed him in August and we're going to try and bring him to the club in January.

John Arne Riise, big mates with John Carew, is not a happy chap and it's not surprising when you factor in that his manager wanted to replace him with Gabriel Heinze.

Heinze has now gone to Real Madrid but it doesn't mean he won't be at Liverpool at some stage in the future or that Liverpool won't find someone else and it's clearly a position that Benitez wants to strengthen.

The fact that he's not wanted at Liverpool doesn't bother me. Remember he last left back that wasn't wanted by Liverpool and we took?

Riise is an excellent player and I'd love to see him in claret and blue and while there is some potential I just can't see it happening. Rumour likelihood: very slim but possible.

Comments (30)

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jaf said:

Dont think he will come because of the Carew factor... They hate each other. Big john gave him a beating on the team bus a few years ago after a norway game.

October 08, 2007

Dexx said:

I would welcome Riise as a squad player. Bouma is a better defensive left back and Young is a better attacking left winger so he would be coming in as backup. Not sure he would want to do that.

October 08, 2007

IanB said:

Like. A. Shot. Top player! www.claretandbluewedding.com

October 08, 2007 | url

Dizzy Mugs said:

I think Bouma does a better job defensively but hey, we could always use some long shots, since no one else apart from Gardner seems daring enough to try them.

October 08, 2007

Madarab said:

I wouldn't mind him in the squad. He has always looked patchy to me, and weaknesses in his general play have at times been overshadowed by his ability to hit the odd thunderbolt. Hitzlesperger was a similar proposition. I would rather see us invest in someone young and English. Surely there is a better case to have Matt Taylor come in, who hits identikit screamers, but is more solid and versatile?

October 08, 2007

martin ,ray said:

i do hope we sign him hes a exelent player up the villa

October 08, 2007

Nick123 said:

He would be a quality signing for Villa, especially when we have a few other Scandinavians in the team. he has such a powerful left foot. maybe he could take bouma's spot and switch bouma to right back position?

October 08, 2007

Top_6_Villa said:

hhhmm, ltes wait untill jan and see if mons been making up for the summer farcicle. i imagine this time we should be stocked up in the first week. now he realises where he went wrong and that over nflated prices are the thing he will know who he wants and take tyhem off the market - if available - before any one else gets a sniff we shouldnt be sitting too bad by xmas anyways. we have man u at home on weekend ( will be tough but be very happy with a draw ) other than that i fancy us walking through our next 4 games up untill arsenal and that will be a good game too. we had a hard start this year which for me is ideal. i know u think im mad but if we get hard matches at the start before everyone gets injured it means we cant use the best we have on the best we will have to contend with then when we get crippled we will only have medioca teams to play and still have an excellent chance of winning even without injured players. then come january half way through the easier part of the season and we have our injuries we can sort out the right back that would have saved us loads of points all ready and hopefully get us a new bloody striker that is PROVEN AND NOT A CRIPPLE IN DISGUISE. then that will get us up and ready for the end of the season and the more tougher competition again. i also think that in the january window we will attract much more ACTUALL QUALITY players. and part of me is thinking that this may be how down right sneaky and clever MON really is. you may have remembered the club prommised us world class signings.... im not sure but i believe they didnt say what transfer window these world class signings were coming in? i now believe that MON may be the Magician. of course he knew thast we would not get world class signings in the summer as we have no europe........ BUT He may have been soooooooooo confident that by January we would be in such a position on the League Table that any class players would be stupid to think that we wouldnt get into europe and i think this - despite sounding quite extreme on the theory - might be the case... no one will come to us because of europe... yet by january we will be in a comanding position for europe, Most of the European football wil have already been playued for this year & quite obviously we are half way through the season so there is not long untill the end of the season meaning that the new season and a new shot at europe will be here and if we are in the position that makes us look pretty confident on getting europe then we possibly definately confidently get some QUALITY QUALITY players to come running especially with the advert of having NRC, YOUNG, BARRY, CARSON all in england squad and making international fame as excellent players just my view on what might be going on

October 08, 2007

Villa_Rules said:

I would love this move to happen what a player and what a shot this is the man who broke alan smiths leg with a freekick lol We should buy him just for the shots he hits and the goals he scores we all used to love thomas the hammer hitting but riise i have to say is better at strikein the ball and with more power Still tho i think its just paper talk why would rafa want to get rid of him ?? When he and gerrard are normaly allways on in the team unless injuerd of course

October 08, 2007

adamL said:

One of the best left-sided players around both defensively and attacking, would be an amazing signing but as usual I think its highly unlikely as couldnt see liverpool selling let alone him then choosing us as im sure there'd be plenty of other clubs coming in.

October 08, 2007

adamL said:

p.s lets hope defoe keeps not playing and then we should go all out to get him. I'd try to sign him and kevin davies, any thoughts?

October 08, 2007

Chrisodon said:

Defoe yes. Davies no. I'd like to see le sulk at villa, he's shown he's matured while at bolton i've not heard he's got a bad attitude or he's sulking in the dressing room. Plus we all know he's got world class talent just add a sprinkle of MON magic and we could possibly finish 5th.

October 08, 2007

Mick said:

If this rumour is true then MON is looking to switch Bouma to the middle of defence - as he used to play for PSV and sometimes still does for Holland. That would provide Villa with 4 centre backs in Knight, Davies, Laursen and Bouma and would also spell the end for Mellberg, who has been rumoured to be on his way. For the right side of defence I still fancy Bosingwa, I've watched him a number of times with Porto and he's quality. Alas, as we are barely into October there's time to speculate for another 3 months before anything happens. And following the anti-climax of last summer transfer "spree" I wouldn't dare hoping until something is actually more than a rumour.

October 08, 2007

jorgen said:

You can have him ;-) We will find something else in a couple of months...

October 08, 2007

I HATE BLUES said:

cant you limit the length of ppls responses? or atleast ask them to stick to the topic.In a nut shell would you like to sign Riise YES or NO ,not who were playing in four weeks time or a review of how our seasons gone so far ffs sm ppl bore the s**t out of me

October 08, 2007

pazzler said:

he is a good player and i wud like to see him at villa. he can do defence n midfield. doubt it is true tho. cant see him givin up champions league football.

October 08, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

You don't have to read the comments you know, I HATE BLUES...

October 08, 2007

NH07 said:

Can we buy Ljundberg too and have a football deathmatch between Mellberg and Carew vs Ljundberg and Riise... Still, he'd be a good signing, well proven in the Premiership and would solve any problems we have down the left hand side.

October 08, 2007

remolds1 said:

what do you mean big mates with carew, they hate each other they had a punch up a few years ago after a norway game

October 08, 2007

Mick said:

I_HATE_BLUES: get a life mate.

October 08, 2007

dublin villa said:

I would like to see it happen but i dont think Riise would join another prem team other than top four.Still think we are a bit lightweight up front maybe Defoe in January with a rightfull and we should be in europe

October 08, 2007

Rossa said:

sorry but i dont want to see him here! He is not a good left back as he gets caught out of position all the time and does not have the pace to recover!! He is not a patch on Bouma. He is much better going forward I admit but would u start him instead of young? Now seeing as he would not start for us, would he be a good squad player? yes certainly, Riise would be an excellent option to have. He could come on with 15 minutes to go and score an absolute belter from 40 yards!! But in all honesty why would he leave Liverpools bench to join Ours?? Get my point?

October 08, 2007

Norwegian said:

The conflict between Riise and Carew is waaay behind them. They're practically best friends now. I know both of them would enjoy playing in the same club. Personally I'm a Liverpool-fan and actually don't believe the rumours that Riise is on his way. If he is, Villa would probably get him if they pay enough. I don't think Rafa consider Villa to be contenders for the title just yet.

October 09, 2007

King Kong said:

JAR has been in liverpool for almost 6 seasons now. His play has declined tremendously since last year and it seems that he won't improve any further under Rafa's regime. He get away now and seek better options to improve himself as a player.

October 09, 2007

DJ said:

I would like to see JAR at VP, along with Bosingwa, this would compliment the quick attacking football we have started to see. Couple maybe another midfielder that can also play right mid, and a proven prem striker I would be over the moon!! Defoe for me is getable (is that a word?), there are other to consider, but don't think we would go far wrong getting him in. For the midfield, well, Milner for me would fit the bill, SWP? possibly if we could tempt him. Def need a right winger, as Gabby doesn't look comfy there, he does a great job, and I would do the same by playing anywhere on the pitch to get a game! but just like rb, we need players that are natural to their positions. Soap box moment over Dean

October 09, 2007

Villavon said:

RIISE is probably the best we can get at the moment but I don't rate him too high. He can be awesome going forward,however,he has been 'found out' too often in defence. BOSINGWA looks the right kind of quality the club are looking for. I would like to see our midfield improve too. How many times has Ash flown down the wing,put in a decent cross and the midfield aren't even at the edge of the box anticipating it? 1.MELBERG (bench) BOSINGWA (in) 2.MOORE (bench) DEFOE/MALONEY (in) 3.RIISE (bench) BOUMA (in) Does anyone know if Justin HOYTE is coming to VP in January?

October 09, 2007

walshy said:

we do not need a left back because bouma is playin great and had been consistant last season!! he didnt start off great but now he is making him self a real fans favourite!!! we need ever bosingwinga or hoyte for the right back spot!!!

October 09, 2007

ryanvilla3 said:

I agree with Madarab Taylor from Pompey (he doesnt seem to be playing to regularly) would be a better option but i wouldnt mind either they would add some depth to our squad.

October 09, 2007

Claridge said:

i think riise left midfield .... young right midfield with gabby and carew upfront sounds good. Riise for me has always been a winger, who can drop in at left back. Good signing, but like u said its News of the world and its mostly tripe what they write.

October 10, 2007

Carrie aged 12 said:

blues are s**t and they need to know it. Top of da table

October 18, 2007

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