The Screamer: It's the talk of football

As co-owner Tom Hicks revealed that Liverpool were just days away from completing the first of several key signings, believed to be Lyon's Florent Malouda, Carragher warned of the pitfalls that scuppered Houllier's hopes of developing a title-winning team five years ago when nearly £20m was spent on El Hadji Diouf, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou.

Houllier was sacked two years later, and Carragher said: "We are facing a very similar situation. Gerard Houllier had done really well for three years and that was the summer everyone was looking for us to push on.

"When a manager first comes to a club, no-one can expect to win the title straightaway, but by the second or third year, you hope to have built the foundations. We had that then, and we've got it now, and this is where we'll be looking to do more.

"Rafa has done brilliantly since he came here, but it's fair to say everyone will be looking for us to close that gap at the top now. That last step is always the hardest. If we don't improve from here, we'll just go sideways, and that's not going to be good enough."

Hicks joined in the condemnation of UEFA spokesman William Gaillard's attack on Liverpool fans, saying: "I thought he was a clown for saying that. UEFA didn't handle it right, and to give Liverpool 17,000 tickets, knowing 40,000 fans would be travelling, was insane."

Want-away Cureton sparks a scramble

Jamie Cureton will spark a transfer scramble after slapping in a transfer request at Colchester yesterday.

The former QPR and Norwich striker who scored 23 goals last season has had a change of heart from a month ago when he declared his intention to stay.

But since then his strike partner Chris Iwelumo has left for Charlton as a free agent leaving Cureton, 31, dismayed by the lack of ambition shown by the club's board.

Southampton, Wolves, Charlton, West Brom and Watford will be interested.

Chelsea nab Blades teenager

Chelsea have raided Sheffield United to sign rising teenage star Jacob Mellis in a deal worth more than £1m.

Midfielder Mellis, 16, has been lured to Stamford Bridge after four years with United.

The England youth international was a regular in the reserves last season and could cost Chelsea up to £1.3m.

Lee turns on the Chalme

Bolton manager Sammy Lee is lining up a bid for Lille right-back Mathieu Chalme.

The French star only has 12 months left on his contract and could leave in a cut-price £1m deal.

He said: "Bolton have have been tracking me for a number of weeks and if I have an interesting proposition, I will leave."

Lee wants to bolster his right flank after seeing former England U21 star Nicky Hunt suffer a dip in form last season.

Fulham say Au revoir to Christanval

Fulham are set to offload French defender Philippe Christanval to Turkish giants Besiktas for a nominal fee.

The former Barcelona man, 28, has made just 30 appearances since signing for the Cottagers in 2005, and has constantly struggled with injuries.