Liverpool's Robbie Keane hasn't settled since his move from
Spurs
Robbie Keane is on the verge of a G15million return
to Tottenham
after being ditched by Rafael Benitez for Liverpool's
most important game of the season against Chelsea
today.
Benitez, who has also won important contract concessions from
the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett,
effectively ended Keane's six-month Anfield career yesterday when
he left the mercurial striker out of his squad to face Luiz Felipe
Scolari's side.
Liverpool must win today if they are to stay in the race for
their first League title since 1990. But the omission of Keane, 28,
prompted Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, reeling from the loss of
Jermain Defoe for several weeks with a foot injury, to move fast to
secure the Irishman as a replacement.
Keane, the Republic of Ireland captain, scored 107 goals for the
White Hart Lane club between 2002-2008 and although he upset some
fans with the manner of his departure for Anfield last July, most
are likely to welcome him back.
Spurs, lying 14th after a 3-2 defeat at Bolton yesterday, are
unwilling to repay the full G20.3m they received from Liverpool,
but the clubs are likely to agree a fee before Monday's 5pm
transfer deadline.
The departure of Keane from Anfield is a significant victory for
Benitez in the power battle that has threatened to derail
Liverpool's title ambitions this season. Benitez was unhappy that
Liverpool paid the full blocking his G18m move for Aston Villa's
England midfielder Gareth Barry.
Liverpool signing Keane with manager Rafael Benitez
Keane has scored only seven goals in 28 games for Liverpool and
publicly showed dissent whenever substituted by Benitez, whose
preferred attack is Fernando Torres, supported by Steven
Gerrard.
The Keane issue was one of the reasons Benitez demanded
authority over chief executive Rick Parry in choosing how Liverpool
spend their money in the transfer market. Both owners are in
England for the Chelsea game and hope to sort out Benitez's
contract concerns so he can agree a new four-year deal before they
return to America.
Hicks met Benitez for lunch yesterday and the Liverpool manager
is expected to meet both owners once Gillett arrives on Merseyside
this morning.
The Americans, who have been split on several issues, have
joined forces to try to secure Benitez's signature. One of the most
significant changes on the new deal offered to Benitez is that he
will now report to the owners on transfers.
A source said: 'There has been a lot of communication between
the owners and Benitez in the past 72 hours. Some changes have been
made to the original contract offer and there is a hope that
Benitez will agree to it. The idea is for him to be in charge of
football matters, and leave Rick Parry to do the commercial
side.
'If Manchester United were in the market for two players who
cost the same money, the board would let Sir Alex Ferguson choose
which one he needed the most - the same applies for Arsene Wenger
and David Moyes. The owners understand Rafa should be given the
same deal.'
Keane, a boyhood Liverpool fan, will be distraught at having to
leave but has been unhappy at the deeplying role he has been asked
to play. Benitez indicated last night that he had not sanctioned
paying G20m for Keane, insisting: 'The club spent it.'
He is apparently indifferent as to whether Keane attends today's
game, saying: 'It's a day off for the players not in the squad. We
don't insist they come to the game.'
