Crouch can leave for 10mil in Jan...

[helsbels]

Would you let him go for that price?

 

Clicky

 

Liverpool will spark a £10million transfer auction after deciding to sell Peter Crouch to the highest bidder in January.

 

Crouch's future has been the subject of intense speculation this season but now manager Rafa Benitez has finally lost patience after seeing a change in the striker's attitude.

 

The Liverpool manager believes Crouch's status as an England player has turned his head, to the detriment of the work ethic that made him such a valuable team player when he arrived from Southampton for £7m in 2005.

 

Benitez has instructed Anfield chiefs to secure the best possible price for 26-yearold Crouch. There will be no shortage of offers, with early signs of interest from Newcastle, Portsmouth and Aston Villa, one of his former clubs.

 

A move abroad is believed to appeal to Crouch, with Juventus in the market for a front-runner.

 

Casting an eye towards the Premier League, Liverpool's initial valuation could prove a stumbling block. Manchester City dropped out after being quoted £15m.

 

Sportsmail understands that Crouch is prepared to dig his heels in and see out the remaining 18 months of his contract if Liverpool insist on £15m. It seems likely the club will have to lower their sights to around £10m for a New Year deal to go through.

 

Crouch's expected departure may not be the only one after Momo Sissoko demanded showdown talks over his lack of opportunities this season.

 

The 22-year-old Mali midfielder has made only four Premier League starts and sees little hope of forcing his way back after slipping behind Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso for a place alongside Steven Gerrard.

 

He wants to grill Benitez over his standing and is ready to demand a move in January if the manager cannot convince him he will have a more active role in the second half of the season.

 

Liverpool only just pipped Everton to the former Valencia player's signature and there is certain to be strong interest from the Premier League as well as a host of foreign clubs, headed by Juventus, jostling for the chance to offer him a fresh start.

 

Daniel Agger has set his sights on a return to action against Newcastle a week tomorrow, following a 13-game absence with a broken metatarsal.

 

'I have had to miss out on Denmark's game in Northern Ireland, but I hope to be ready to play for Liverpool after the international break,' said the 22-year old centre-back.

 

Benitez, who will give Sami Hyypia an overdue rest if Agger is passed fit, says Yossi Benayoun has only an outside chance of making the lunchtime kick-off at St James' Park. He has been forced to rule out Alonso, who has suffered another foot injury.

 

Benitez said: 'Yossi is working with the physios now. We will have to see if he is fit for Newcastle; it's still too early to say.

 

'He and Agger are “maybes” but perhaps it will be easier for Agger than for Benayoun. Xabi should start running in the next week but he is a “no” for Newcastle, for sure.'

[Dan]

He wants to grill Benitez over his standing and is ready to demand a move in January if the manager cannot convince him he will have a more active role in the second half of the season.

 

[Guest Kaizer]

A move abroad is believed to appeal to Crouch, with Juventus in the market for a front-runner.

 

Crouch vs Trezeguet

 

 

What a load of b******s.

[Earl Hafler]

I'd sell Momo for sure and see if Ramos wants to keep Robbie Keane at Spurs. I think Keane playing behind Torres would be ideal for the Premiership. Also see if anyone wants to take Tommy Steele off our hands.

 

If we sell Crouch it means finding another striker as Torres is the only other forward we have who is suitable enough to play as the focal point of attack

Edited November 15, 2007 by Big Stuff

[smicer07]

Nothing in that article really, more garbage and guesswork.

[RafaShanks]

Daily s***e

[Guest petelfc]

I'd let him go for that price, yeah. He's a good option to have but there's much better players out there.

[Ben 23]

If Bent is worth £16m then Crouch is worth £40m... and not a penny less. £10m would be a shocking deal for us.

[Guest petelfc]

I'd swap him for Bent.

[Zoob]

Yawn at the dull lazy journalism. It's an international break, we can no longer talk about how much Benayoun is going to help England, and yet the hacks have to come up with something to fill the pages....

 

And in the event that we were going to sell - 10million is a joke of a price.

[Guest petelfc]

Superb news about Yossi too. Good work Rafa, f*** up England and keep him fresh for Newcastle in one fell swoop.

Edited November 16, 2007 by petelfc

[Guest Kaizer]

I'd swap him for Bent.

 

So would I, Bent has started only 4 games in the league for Spurs so far this season and come on as a sub in 6, so far this has resulted in 3 goals and 3 assists.

 

So far this season in the league.

 

Bent: 10(4+6) - 3goals- 3assists

Crouch: 6(2+4) - 0goals - 1assist

[Guest petelfc]

Think we've moved on now and Rafa is looking for a far more pacy and creative forward line.

 

While Crouch would be a useful 4th choice and option against certain sides, I doubt he sees it that way and would be better moving on for the sake of his career.

Edited November 16, 2007 by petelfc

[San Diego Red]

Seems like something you would have seen about 6 weeks ago. Doubtful really.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

"Sportsmail understands..." = "We're completely making this up..."

[RafaShanks]

Why is Riise not mentioned in that article?

[Siang]

Why is Riise not mentioned in that article?

 

Cause he's not worth 10m quid?

[Cunny]

we could raise £25m+ if we do sell Carson, Momo and Crouch.

does this mean we have to sell to buy?

 

runs away and ducks for cover!

[Stevie H]

boring slow england news week.

[psl]

Newcastle can have him for £7m plus Owen.

[Earl Hafler]

So would I, Bent has started only 4 games in the league for Spurs so far this season and come on as a sub in 6, so far this has resulted in 3 goals and 3 assists.

 

So far this season in the league.

 

Bent: 10(4+6) - 3goals- 3assists

Crouch: 6(2+4) - 0goals - 1assist

 

Any thoughts on how they'd fit into our system, whether or not Bent can link aswell as Crouch etc or are you just a number cruncher ?

 

Keane has an almost 1 in 2 scoring record in the league and would link well with midfield and attack. Much better vision than Bent.

However, i see Keane as more of a replacement for Kuyt than Crouch

[Murphman]

Why did we only sign Crouch on a 3 1/2 year deal?

[MFletcher]

Why did we only sign Crouch on a 3 1/2 year deal?

 

It was a four year deal - and it hasn't been renewed since he joined.

 

I imagine he'll go in January. I can't Rafa letting him run his contract down - especially when we could collect a good fee from any number of Premiership sides.

[sutty]

So would I, Bent has started only 4 games in the league for Spurs so far this season and come on as a sub in 6, so far this has resulted in 3 goals and 3 assists.

 

So far this season in the league.

 

Bent: 10(4+6) - 3goals- 3assists

Crouch: 6(2+4) - 0goals - 1assist

 

Just shows what you can prove with statistics.

 

Bent has been utter garbage.

[Guest Kaizer]

Any thoughts on how they'd fit into our system, whether or not Bent can link aswell as Crouch etc or are you just a number cruncher ?

 

Keane has an almost 1 in 2 scoring record in the league and would link well with midfield and attack. Much better vision than Bent.

However, i see Keane as more of a replacement for Kuyt than Crouch

 

Bent has got pace, he is a great finisher and a good header of the ball, all abilities Crouch does not possess, Bent also has got good movement and can play on the shoulder, another two things Crouch cant do.

 

Bent would be the perfect back up for Torres and would fit into our current squad set up a lot better than Crouch.

Edited November 16, 2007 by Kaizer