David Bentley vow to go alerts top clubs

Jun 16 2008 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has been alerted to the availability of England midfielder David Bentley after the player insisted he is determined to leave Blackburn this summer in search of European football.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from Ewood Park with the player admitting he wants to play at the top in club football having broken into the senior England squad.

Liverpool are believed to have been tracking Bentley for several months as they look to resolve their long-standing right wing dilemma.

And Bentley’s vow to quit Ewood Park during this summer’s transfer window is sure to have whet the appetite of a number of managers.

Benitez drafted in another former Arsenal starlet Jermaine Pennant two years ago, but he failed to hold down a regular place in the side last season with striker Dirk Kuyt finishing the campaign on the right flank.

Like Aston Villa’s unsettled captain Gareth Barry, Bentley’s motives for a move are down to a desire to play Champions League football to supplement his international career. But yesterday’s admission that he wants to leave this summer also leaves the door open for clubs competing in the UEFA Cup, a factor which may interest Everton manager David Moyes.

Bentley declared: “I made it clear to the club what I wanted to do.

“The situation is I want to move on. I want to be playing Champions League football, or in Europe.

“And the club’s situation has changed over the last few weeks so I’m not really up on where they are at. They have got to sort out which manager is going to come in. I’ve been here for three years and I love the club and I love playing for them but I feel like I’ve done everything I can. I want to move on and try and push up the ladder and push on and try and be as successful as I can be in football and I believe that lies elsewhere. I want a new challenge. I believe I have done as much as I can at the club and want to push on somewhere else.”

After failing to make a breakthrough at Arsenal, Bentley joined Rovers in January 2006 having initially arrived at Ewood Park on loan at the start of the season.

Although he remains grateful for the chance given to him by the Lancastrians, Bentley remains adamant that he now wants to move on, insisting he has repaid any debt owed to the club.

He said: “I owe so much to them and I hope I’ve repaid them with the way I’ve played. But I need to be pushing and moving on somewhere else so we’ll see what the summer can bring and in this transfer window hopefully something can be sorted out.”

Blackburn are looking for a new manager after Mark Hughes left for Manchester City but Bentley denied this had been a contributory factor in his decision.

He said: “I discussed things with the manager then and the chairman and I made it clear I wanted to move on.

“Their situation has changed but mine hasn’t. I need to be pushing on and moving on and that is what I am looking to do.”

Meanwhile Thierry Henry has hailed Anfield as his favourite away ground.

“It’s the atmosphere I love, he said. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve played in a lot of stadiums but there is nothing like playing at Liverpool.”