Liverpool FC rumourmill: Inter want Gerrard, Crouch unhappy, Benitez wants Behrami & Keita, Riise doubt

May 9 2008

According to Swiss media reports, Liverpool are preparing to approach Lazio with a formal bid for their highly rated defender Valon Behrami.

Behrami, 22, has become a potential transfer target for a number of top clubs since even before his match-winning display against deadly rivals Roma in March.

Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Milan, Liverpool, Valencia, Sevilla, West Ham, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Palermo are all said to be tracking the talented Swiss international, who is equally adept on the outside of defense or on the wing.

Asked about Liverpool's increasingly firm interest, Behrami's agent Alessandro Beltrami indicated that his client would be open to a move: "Maybe ... perhaps their interest will bring a rush for him."

Word is that the Biancoceleste are determined to hang on to Behrami, but would likely not turn down an offer in excess of 10m euro for the Kosovo-born wide-man, who still officially has three years remaining on his contract with the Italian capital club.  

Lazio president Claudio Lotito will now have to make a full-court press in order to try to keep the player, who openly criticised him for leaving the stadium well before the whistle during the 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Milan earlier this season.

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Norway International John Arne Riise's future looks uncertain, after Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has indicated that Riise may be for sale, one year before his contract is up.

At a press conference on Thursday, Benitez admitted he would listen to offers for the left-back, who has a year remaining on his current contract.

"He is not playing at the moment but he knows that if we receive an offer that is good for him and good for us, okay, we will talk," said the Spaniard to BBC.

"But at this moment he is our player. I am really pleased with him because he is a fantastic professional," Benitez said.

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Once again, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is being linked with an exit from Anfield, this time to Inter Milan for £25million.

A tabloid newspaper says the Italian giants want to make him their main signing as they begin their centenary celebrations.

A top Inter official is reported to have said: "We need to make a big signing for next season and Gerrard was at the centre of our thoughts.

"Liverpool gave us the most emphatic response he was not for sale.

"We have drawn up a list of alternatives. But if Liverpool decide to sell, Gerrard is our top priority."

It is not the first time Inter have tried to take the England midfielder.

Preliminary contact for the Kop skipper, 27, who has two years left on his current contract, was made during the Champions League second-round tie between the sides in February

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Elsewhere, Benitez is reportedly planning a ₤10 million swoop for Sevilla midfielder Seydou Keita.

The Mali international moved to Andalusia from RC Lens last summer, and has impressed during his debut season in Spain.

The 28-year-old has already garnered significant interest from Juventus, who are also chasing his Sevilla team-mate Diego Capel.

And according to a national newspaper, Benitez is prepared to splash out £10 million – a third of his projected transfer budget – on the defensive midfielder, thus activating a release clause in his contract.

An inside source said: “Rafa has Keita very high up on his list for this summer and may well make a bid for him.”

The Reds’ sudden interest in central players has sparked speculation that Xabi Alonso – also linked with Juve – could leave in the summer, but it could also mean that Benitez simply seeks reinforcements for the two holding spots in his 4-2-3-1 formation.

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Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is reported to want "showdown talks" with bossBenitez regarding his future at the end of the season.

His comments appeared today, after Benitez put a £15million price tag the striker.

Crouch told a national newspaper: "What I must do is speak to the manager. When all is said and done, I don't think I can have another season like this year where I've started nine Premier League games.

"Out of a 38-game league season, nine games is not the amount you want to be playing.

"I'll have to speak to the manager and see what his plans are. I need to see him and sort things out."

"I have to find out what he wants from me for next season and whether or not I can continue with that. In some ways I want to feel wanted. I've got a few questions I want to ask him, and I'm sure he has with me, too.

"So I'd like to speak to the manager and the club before I commit to anything and know whether or not I'll be here next year."

Speculation linking Liverpool to a new keeper has been steady for weeks, and the latest in line is Birmingham's Maik Taylor.

But the keeper has insisted that he is unaware if speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool is true or not.

Taylor said: "I don't know anything about it [Liverpool] but obviously I'm out of contract and would like my future sorted. But we have a big game on Sunday and that is the only thing on my mind right now."