The 25-year-old was told yesterday that he is free to leave and
can start talking to other clubs, joining the likes of Andriy
Voronin, Peter Crouch and Scott Carson on Rafa’s scrapheap.
The former Arsenal man is a long-term target of both Newcastle and
West Ham, and they may have to fork out in the region of ₤7 million
as Benitez seeks to recoup what he paid Birmingham City for the
player in 2006.
Pennant has impressed in spurts during his time on Merseyside, an
excellent run of form during the second half of the 2006-07 season
culminating in a brilliant showing during the Champions League in
Athens, where the Reds lost 2-1 to AC Milan.
But injuries have ravaged Pennant’s season, as he suffered dual
stress-fractures in his shins earlier in the term and has struggled
to regain his place since due to the all-action efforts of Dirk
Kuyt on the right side of attack.
The former Notts County youth did impress recently in Liverpool’s
lame-duck league fixtures, putting in a match-winning performance
against Fulham and a match-saving turn against his old club at St
Andrew’s.
But he was absent from the squad for the final two games of the
season against Manchester City and Tottenham, signalling the
almost-certain demise of his Anfield career.
Pennant has been offered as a makeweight in Benitez's bid to bring
Gareth Barry to Anfield, but his exit could also facilitate a move
for fellow Arsenal product David Bentley, who has long been linked
with Liverpool.
Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes remains steadfast in his desire
to keep hold of his star winger, and Benitez may have to devote a
hefty portion of his transfer budget to secure the England
international, ₤15 million being touted as the going rate.