Alberto Aquilani is set to replace the ever popular Xabi Alonso at Liverpool pending a physical. He will look to be the clubs maestro from the back and work with the Red's bulldog, Javier Mascherano, to control the midfield.

Rafa Eyes Alsono Replacement (Sky Sports)

The issue with eying a replacement is there is no replacement for what Alonso does on the pitch, at least for now. With Alberto Aquilani from Roma you get a player with a tendency to get hurt. But for only part of  Alonso’s price, Rafa can bulk up his youth system and add some depth to his bench—something he will surely need with all the competition Liverpool will be playing in—with the remaining funds. If he does add some depth he needs to buy some players who can play in tight spots and who can develop into future stars for the club.

As I typed the last column The Guardian flashed the sale of Aquilani to Liverpool from Serie A outfit Roma. The price tag is around £20million. This is a good deal for the Merseyside who needed to fill Alonso’s spot immediately because of Alonso’s popularity at the club with the fans and the gap he leaves behind in the midfield. In the process they gained £10million from the sale if no other deals are reached.

Chelsea target Andrea Pirlo is ‘off the market’, insist Milan (The Guardian)

Milan needed to do this with the sale of superstar and once upon a time Footballer of the Year Kaka. The fans of the club need to be assured that the club is keeping its top talent in place to challenge rivals Inter for the league title.  Pirlo is a major piece for Milan as he controls the midfield and attack for Milan. They cannot afford to sell their Italian International to anyone right now.

For Chelsea this is not so great news. They need a player like Pirlo to create the opportunities through the midfield with their new diamond shape. He is comfortable in the shape and displays great poise within it, allowing other players to make runs while he controls possession. Chelsea must now look from within their squad or seek another player who is not the caliber of Pirlo, but in the same vein.

Carlos Tevez may miss season’s start after slip in shower (Guardian)

I am a fan of Tevez’s game—he is rough and tumble and gets results. But how can any club pay £25.5million for a player who falls in the shower and reinjures an aggravated area before the season starts. Manchester United fans must be ecstatic with this silly news.

Tevez has yet to train with City and now may miss the season opener. This may be a sign early on that City’s spending may haunt them as they move forward, prying key players from clubs with lavish contracts just isn’t they way to go when you are not established in the world of football.

Portsmouth fine brawling duo Nugent and Wilson (ESPN)

Just what Portsmouth needs, some negative attention for the flaying club. A luck of funds, owner, and departing stars isn’t enough, nope not for this club. They need some players fighting after a game in a hotel. Nugent didn’t even play in the 4-0 defeat to Benefica in a friendly, but he thought that a fight was warranted with 21-year-old Wilson.

The club is looking like a train wreck, much like Newcastle, and due to all the turmoil and departures, they may be headed down at the end of the year if this ship does not turn around. The signing of Frederic Piquionne on a season long loan was overshadowed by the news of the fine, which is two weeks wages.

Portsmouth cannot surely stay alive with all the turmoil surrounding it this year. Players will want out, and no one will want in, not a good equation for a team in desperate need of some help.

Kevin Koczwara is a contributing editor and writer for The Soccer Guys. He can be reached at kkoczwar@gmail.com or fansoffutbol@gmail.com

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