Robbie Keane is due to arrive at Liverpool early next week to undergo a
medical and complete his £18million move from
Tottenham.
The deal will cast further doubt over Rafael Benitez's ability
to pay Aston Villa a similar figure for Gareth Barry. The England
midfielder is set to return to first team action against Odense at
Villa Park today in the InterToto Cup third round second leg for
the first time since he demanded a move to Anfield.
The issue of having to choose between his two main transfer
targets has been hanging over Benitez after he failed to raise
extra money by negotiating the £16m sale of Xabi Alonso to Juventus
or Inter Milan.
The Liverpool manager was absent from Melwood yesterday as
European Championship winner Alonso returned to training seeking
urgent talks over his future.
Benitez was believed to be busy finalising the Keane deal, which
could rise to £20m if Liverpool win either the Premier League or
Champions League during his time at Anfield. The Republic of
Ireland striker, 28, will sign for his boyhood favourites more than
a decade after turning down the chance to join Liverpool when he
left Crumlin United in Dublin to start his career in England.
Keane chose Wolves because he felt he would have a better chance
of first team football. He went on to play for Coventry, Inter
Milan and Leeds before moving to White Hart Lane where he has
become a crowd favourite over the last six years with his
consistent goal record.
It became clear he would be leaving when Tottenham boss Juande
Ramos did not even name him among the substitutes for Thursday
night's friendly against Hercules in Spain.
He also refused to discuss the Keane situation afterwards.
Benitez, however, is not giving up the chase for Barry - who was
abused by angry Villa fans when he played for the reserves against
Walsall in midweek - and still hopes to raise the money by selling
players or persuading the club to release more funds.
