標題: Robbie set for Anfield [打印本頁] 作者: cchl8 時間: 2008-7-27 07:19 PM 標題: Robbie set for Anfield
LONDON: Rafa Benitez hopes to hand Robbie Keane his Liverpool debut at Rangers next Saturday. Planning ahead: Tottenham’s Robbie Keane has yet to pen a deal with Liverpool, who are already thinking of fielding him against Rangers in a friendly next Saturday. The striker’s dream transfer moved a step closer on Thursday night when he was left out of the Tottenham side for the friendly in Alicante. Keane is expected to complete a £20mil switch to Merseyside early next week. It seems unlikely the deal will be done in time for him to line up in the Reds’ next warm-up fixture at Villarreal on Wednesday. The trip to Scotland to play against Rangers at Ibrox three days later is the more likely option, assuming there are no problems with his medical. Liverpool chief Benitez is refusing to panic in his efforts to land Gareth Barry despite Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill’s attempts to place a deadline on the transfer. Benitez has refused to budge from his stance that Barry is overpriced at £18mil while a growing cash crisis at Valencia is raising the possibility of the Kop manager moving for David Silva instead. Valencia have debts of £400mil and the Spaniards are looking to fund a new £250mil stadium. And owner Juan Solares is desperately trying to sell the club. But until he does, the need to raise cash has become desperate and some of Europe’s big guns are circling Silva, David Villa and Joaquin. Solares was furious with figurehead president Juan Villalonga for rejecting Atletico Madrid’s £17mil bid for Silva – an obvious sign he was ready to do business at that price. The figure is lower than Benitez and Co expected them to demand and, with no immediate end in sight to the war which is tearing Valencia apart, Liverpool could get the Spain winger for a cut price. Villa is Valencia’s jewel in the crown and Real Madrid will swoop if they are forced to concede defeat in their bid to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo. Liverpool’s Spanish stars Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa returned to training yesterday following their Euro 2008 heroics. Benitez believes their success can inspire everyone at Anfield. He said: “They return with confidence and that is a good thing because players who win trophies have a winning mentality, and that can rub off on other players around them.” – The Sun, London
