Don’t price me out of a move from Liverpool, pleads Scott Carson

May 16 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

SCOTT CARSON has called for Liverpool to place a realistic price tag on his head as he revealed his desire to sort out his long-term future.

Carson spent the 2007-2008 campaign on loan to Aston Villa in a £1.5million deal after having previously experienced similar spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill is considering his goalkeeping options for next season with Thomas Sorensen poised to leave now that his contract has come to an end.

But, wherever his future lies, 22-year-old Carson wants a fair price to be asked by Liverpool for his services, with it thought Rafael Benitez could ask for as much as £10m for Carson.

The England goalkeeper said: “It’s too much (Liverpool’s valuation). It’s stupid money really. You pay £10m for a goalkeeper who is 27, 28 and the finished article.

“To be honest, I’m far from the finished article. I have got another five years of learning.

“I don’t think Liverpool are stupid. They know what I’m worth. They would have recouped what they paid for me in loan fees over the last couple of years.

“So hopefully, they can help me out and if there is a sniff of going somewhere, then hopefully they will respect my wishes and help me that way.”

Carson added: “I would like to get settled but it’s not up to me. Whether it’s Villa or anyone else, it’s up to them to try to sort it out.

“I haven’t got a clue what’s happening. I haven’t even spoken to Liverpool.

“But I want to play football. I have played football for the last two seasons and I don’t think I will be content with sitting on the bench.

“I still don’t know what’s around the corner. I have got a couple of weeks now to think about what’s going to happen.

“As it stands, I go back to Liverpool but I want to be playing first-team football. Liverpool have got a great keeper in Pepe Reina and he’s going to take a lot of shifting.

“It might be the time for me to move on but I don’t know Rafa’s thoughts and I don’t know if anyone is going to agree a fee with Liverpool. It’s going to be an interesting couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, O’Neill has reacted with fury to suggestions Aston Villa are prepared to let Gareth Barry join Liverpool.

Villa manager O’Neill has reiterated his determination to hold on to his captain, who was recently the subject of a £10million bid from the Merseysiders.

O’Neill said: “I have not said anything of the sort. To suggest I would be happy to sell Gareth is simply not true.

“I did say that no club would want to keep an unhappy player but at no time has Gareth expressed any displeasure about his time at Villa.

“We are doing everything we can. We are determined to keep Gareth at Villa Park. To say that I am resigned to losing him is simply not the case.”