Sunday, November 23, 2008

Liverpool To Swap Benayoun For Elano?


The latest reports from England suggest that Manchester City's unsettled midfielder Elano could be headed for Liverpool in January, with Yossi Benayoun going the other way.

According to the News of the World, the Reds are willing to offer Benayoun plus young right-back Stephen Darby to lure Elano to Anfield.

The City playmaker's future has been under cloud ever since he lashed out at manager Mark Hughes' selection policy, an outburst which earned him a £40,000 fine.

After being an integral part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, the 27-year-old has spent more time on the sidelines this term following the arrivals of Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips. The rise of Stephen Ireland has hardly helped either.

Meanwhile, on Merseyside, Benayoun has become similarly frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities, so much so that he publicly threatened to leave Liverpool should his situation not improve over the coming weeks.

But with new signing Albert Riera in fine form on the left and a revitalised Dirk Kuyt cementing a spot on the right, the Israeli midfielder's prospects under Rafael Benitez appear slim.

Both players only arrived at their respective clubs last year: Elano from Shakhtar Donetsk, Benayoun from West Ham United.

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