Liverpool slap $30M price tag on Crouch
Liverpool have slapped a 15-million-pound (30-million-dollar) price tag on unsettled England striker Peter Crouch while Tottenham have indicated that they are resigned to losing Dimitar Berbatov at the end of this season.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez accepts that Crouch has grown frustrated with playing second fiddle to Fernando Torres at Anfield, but made it clear it would take a significant offer for him to release a player he regards as a valuable squad member.
“Crouch wants to play every week but knows he must fight it out with Fernando Torres,” Benitez said. “We keep seeing Portsmouth linked with the player but we have had no offer as yet. A 15 million pound price tag would not be unreasonable.”
Benitez, who confirmed that out-of-contract winger Harry Kewell will leave the club at the end of the season, is hoping to bring England midfielder Gareth Barry to Anfield.
“I have spoken to (Villa boss) Martin O’Neill, he knows my ideas,” the Spaniard said. “But we agreed to wait until the end of the season for any more discussions.”
Tottenham boss Juande Ramos said Berbatov had made his mind up on his future, which will not be at White Hart Lane if a Champions League club comes in with a sufficiently large offer.
“I’ve spoken to him many times and know exactly what he wants,” Ramos said. “I understand perfectly well that big clubs want to sign him.”
Spurs have been looking at possible replacements for Berbatov, including Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o.
Ramos said: “Obviously we have to cover our backs in case the player decides to leave and we have to have options to replace him.
“I would obviously like him to stay here but we don’t know how future negotiations will go so it is something I cannot guarantee.
“If there are offers coming in for the player we will see if they convince the club and the player as well.
“What we want is for the player to be happy and enjoy his football. The player has the key to this and it is up to him at the end of the day.
“If that happened I’m sure the club would prefer to have the money because with the money they would be able to sign the players necessary.”
Ramos added: “Of course there are great players in Europe that can do just as well as Berbatov.”
May 9th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
“valuable squad member”
Benitez thought he was valuable enough to keep him on the bench when they needed goals late in the game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge!
Rafa has never been a fan of Crouch and often goes out of his way not to play him. To then ask for $30 million is a joke.
Benitez has been talking about his players so much recently he might as well open a stall down the local market. “Rise here, Rise here, Crouch here, Crouch here, Alonso here, Alonso here…going cheap!”
He must really want Gareth Barry!