More Liverpool rumours from the Daily Mirror today. Yesterday’s paper spoke of Steven Gerrard being about to sign a new four-year deal worth up to £100k per week. Today they are saying that Didi Hamann – Gerrard’s midfield partner – will move to Bolton in the summer.
Hamann is a free agent this summer after not being offered a new contract by Liverpool. Bolton are set to compete in the UEFA Cup next season and Sam Allardyce is reported to be ready to offer Didi £35k per week to help them. Liverpool may yet offer the German a contract, but Didi would certainly be interested in a move to the Reebok. The Reebok is only around twenty miles away from Liverpool, meaning Hamann could join Wanderers without having to move house.
This link with Bolton follows on from stories linking Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan – a former Reds schoolboy – with a move to Anfield. The Hamman stories could of course have been instigated by his agent to try and pressure Liverpool into offering him a deal. Pre-contract arrangements are not permitted when a player is looking at moving to a club from the same league as he currently plays in – so it’s also possible that Hamann has had this move lined up for some time but has not been able to announce it.
Liverpool’s two first-choice midfielders next season are certain to be Alonso and Gerrard, meaning that Hamann would become more of a squad player. With Igor Biscan being reportedly offered an extension on his contract, not to mention any moves for new players, it is looking less likely that Didi will stay at Anfield next term.