Liverpool’s interest in Aaron Ramsey is unlikely to lead to a formal offer being made for the Welsh wonderkid.
The Reds have monitored Ramsey’s progress for more than a year and Rafa Benitez is an admirer of his obvious talent but the Liverpool manager knows his priority is to improve the first team this summer and is reluctant to spend a sizeable chunk of his transfer budget on a teenager with just 22 games to his name.
Cardiff City have accepted bids in the region of £5m for the 17-year-old midfielder from Man United, Everton and Arsenal but at that price, Liverpool’s interest is likely to cool.
Benitez has identified several areas of his squad which he is keen to strengthen with the full-back and wide positions being top of his list and Liverpool’s transfer activity will be centred on those areas.
Philipp Degen has already been snapped up and Liverpool are waiting for the formalities of Andrea Dossena’s medical to be completed before finalising his transfer from Udinese.
The £7m fee Liverpool have agreed with Udinese is based on an up front payment of £6m with add-ons and incentives.
Though Benitez would like to be able to move for Ramsey he is not willing to sacrifice other transfer targets whom he feels will have a more immediate impact.
As the Reds boss reshapes his squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign there is no shortage of interest in those members of his squad who have fallen out of favour.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has admitted for the first time that he would like to take Peter Crouch back to Fratton Park, although he is unwilling to meet Benitez’s £15m asking price.
While Roma have firmed up their long standing interest in John Arne Riise with an opening offer for the Norwegian only for it to fall short of Liverpool’s valuation.
Redknapp said: “I don’t know if the avenue for Peter Crouch is shut or not. If Liverpool are asking £15m for him it is certainly shut.
“I like Peter, but he belongs to Liverpool at the moment.
“If the price is right something could happen. If they wanted £10m it would certainly be more interesting. We do need another front man.”
Meanwhile, Steve Finnan has revealed he is considering coming out of international retirement to play for new Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
The Ireland manager is keen to persuade the Reds right back to return to the international fold and Finnan says he is planning to hold talks with Trapattoni.
“We’re going to have a chat,” he said. “When a new manager comes in that's normal, and out of respect you have to do so.
“The opportunity to work with someone of that experience is very tempting. He's got a great CV and he’s done really well at lots of clubs. Everyone in my position would consider it.
“No deadline's been put on making a final decision but I take it he'll want to know before the first World Cup qualifier.”
The Reds have monitored Ramsey’s progress for more than a year and Rafa Benitez is an admirer of his obvious talent but the Liverpool manager knows his priority is to improve the first team this summer and is reluctant to spend a sizeable chunk of his transfer budget on a teenager with just 22 games to his name.
Cardiff City have accepted bids in the region of £5m for the 17-year-old midfielder from Man United, Everton and Arsenal but at that price, Liverpool’s interest is likely to cool.
Benitez has identified several areas of his squad which he is keen to strengthen with the full-back and wide positions being top of his list and Liverpool’s transfer activity will be centred on those areas.
Philipp Degen has already been snapped up and Liverpool are waiting for the formalities of Andrea Dossena’s medical to be completed before finalising his transfer from Udinese.
The £7m fee Liverpool have agreed with Udinese is based on an up front payment of £6m with add-ons and incentives.
Though Benitez would like to be able to move for Ramsey he is not willing to sacrifice other transfer targets whom he feels will have a more immediate impact.
As the Reds boss reshapes his squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign there is no shortage of interest in those members of his squad who have fallen out of favour.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has admitted for the first time that he would like to take Peter Crouch back to Fratton Park, although he is unwilling to meet Benitez’s £15m asking price.
While Roma have firmed up their long standing interest in John Arne Riise with an opening offer for the Norwegian only for it to fall short of Liverpool’s valuation.
Redknapp said: “I don’t know if the avenue for Peter Crouch is shut or not. If Liverpool are asking £15m for him it is certainly shut.
“I like Peter, but he belongs to Liverpool at the moment.
“If the price is right something could happen. If they wanted £10m it would certainly be more interesting. We do need another front man.”
Meanwhile, Steve Finnan has revealed he is considering coming out of international retirement to play for new Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
The Ireland manager is keen to persuade the Reds right back to return to the international fold and Finnan says he is planning to hold talks with Trapattoni.
“We’re going to have a chat,” he said. “When a new manager comes in that's normal, and out of respect you have to do so.
“The opportunity to work with someone of that experience is very tempting. He's got a great CV and he’s done really well at lots of clubs. Everyone in my position would consider it.
“No deadline's been put on making a final decision but I take it he'll want to know before the first World Cup qualifier.”
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