Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Liverpool FC In Hunt For Espanyol Winger Albert Riera

Liverpool are back in the hunt for want-away Espanyol winger Albert Riera – but will not allow themselves to get caught up in a bidding war.

Manager Rafael Benitez is lining up a £9m offer for the former Manchester City winger but will resist the Spanish club’s attempts to inflate his value.

Espanyol initially insisted that Riera would only be allowed to leave if a club triggered his release clause of £16m, way beyond what Liverpool are prepared to pay.

They are ready to come down to accepting £12m but Benitez will be loathe to pay over the odds for the 26-year-old.

Liverpool’s transfer budget is unaffected by the £33m loss that was revealed yesterday in the accounts of Kop Holdings Ltd – the company set up by George Gillett and Tom Hicks when they bought the club.

But the money needed to prise Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, after the Midlands club already rejected bids of £10m and £12m, means Benitez is unwilling to enter into an auction.

He is wanted by a number of clubs across Europe, after they were alerted to his availability following an outburst against Espanyol at the end of the last campaign when fans protested against the team’s displays.

Riera said: “I want to leave Espanyol. I don’t want to be part of a club that does not take care of or protect its players.

“I do not know if I will go to Liverpool or some other team. But I do not want to be at a club where supporters have no love for the players.”

Riera, who is a left-sided midfielder, played in the Premier League for Manchester City when he was on loan from Espanyol towards the end of the 2005-06 season.

Benitez is keen to add to his options in wide areas, and has already tied up deals for full-backs Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena.

Benitez’s stance on players’ valuation has the full support of the man he paid a club record transfer fee for, Fernando Torres.

“If we can’t keep up with them (United and Chelsea) economically, then we have to get it absolutely right in the transfer market,” said Torres.

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