Scott Carson’s plea to Rafael Benitez

Jul 2 2007 by David Prentice

LIVERPOOL have turned down a Bolton bid to take Scott Carson on loan next season.

But the Reds goalkeeper now wants talks with manager Rafael Benitez about his role at Anfield.

Carson was one of Charlton’s players of the season during a 12-month loan spell at The Valley last season.

But Benitez confirmed the player would be returning to Liverpool and said: “He must fight with Pepe Reina now for a first team place.”

Carson, however, wants to discuss just how fair a fight that contest may be, with Reina only missing a handful of cup ties last season.

“Scott doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers,” said an Anfield official today. “He just wants to discuss the situation with Rafa. They will be perfectly amicable.”

The enquiry for Carson was the second goalkeeping raid on Anfield by former Reds’ coach Sammy Lee, with an offer also lodged for out-of-contract Jerzy Dudek.

The hero of the 2005 Champions League success, however, already has his sights set on a switch to Real Madrid.

“I made a decision to leave England but Bolton’s offer has made me have a rethink,” said Dudek.

“I still haven’t signed anything with Real Madrid and I have other offers to consider very carefully.”

Liverpool’s pursuit of Fernando Torres moved a step nearer over the weekend with Atletico Madrid agreeing a fee for Villarreal’s Diego Forlan.

A statement on the Atletico website read: “Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and the representative of Diego Forlan have reached an agreement for the transfer of the Uruguayan player to the Rojiblanco club for the next four seasons.”