Boss: Cavalieri will leave ; Babel will stay
-
Roy Hodgson today confirmed that Diego Cavalieri looks set to leave Liverpool - but the boss dismissed speculation that Ryan Babel could move.
Goalkeeper Cavalieri will hold talks with Italian side Cesena after our Europa League play-off first leg with Trabzonspor.
His likely departure follows the arrival at Anfield this week of stopper Brad Jones, who was not signed in time to be eligible for Thursday's Europa League clash.
Hodgson told his pre-match press conference: "Diego has done a marvellous job for the last three years.
"He's a very good goalkeeper and a very good person, but he made it clear to me at the start of the season that after three years of watching Pepe play every week he might, if he's not careful, lose his goalkeeping ability or his status as a first-team goalkeeper.
"He made it clear he'd like to leave and find a club where he'll be able to play on a regular basis, so we set about the task of finding someone we thought would be as good a complement to Pepe Reina as Cavalieri has been.
"That's why Brad Jones has come in. He's the man we've chosen to back up Reina, put him under pressure and, most importantly, be ready to play.
"Diego will travel to Cesena after the game tomorrow night for a medical."
The Brazilian's departure would make Jones the recognised number two to Reina, and he is likely to feature regularly if we reach the Europa League proper.
Hodgson added: "We aren't in the Europa League group stage yet but if we were to succeed in doing that there's a chance someone like Brad will get a game on a reasonably regular basis. That would give Pepe the chance he needs to rest. But first we need to get there."
Meanwhile, quizzed on whether rumours linking Babel with a move to Wolfsburg was accurate, Hodgson said: "No, there's none there. I'm afraid we're in the realm of speculation. You know better than I how many stories you're getting every day, and many of them are unfounded and many are attempts from people to get their players in the spotlight.
"We've had no written or formal offers for Ryan Babel and he's a player who I'm expecting to play for us."
With two weeks of the transfer window remaining, the gaffer is not ruling out more activity - and backed up Christian Purslow's suggestion that there could be 'one or two' new faces on top of Jones.
Hodgson said: "The Brad Jones situation has been under control for some time so I think he was talking about adding one or two other players to the squad (on top of that).
"We need 25 players in our squad like everyone else. We need the 25 players to play Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. Arguably you wish you had a few more.
"Any player that leaves this club will have to be replaced. We aren't in a situation where we can just let players go without replacing them. That's if they are in our plans for the 25 man squad."
Elsewhere, Hodgson was delighted with news that Martin Skrtel has signed a new contract at Anfield.
He said: "Very good. Everything's looking very positive in that respect at the moment. I've got a very good squad of players. I was fearful I'd lose a few but things are looking so much better. I'm very pleased that the players who've done so well for the club in the past are still here."