Martin O'Neill is cooling his interest in signing Liverpool
striker Craig Bellamy after learning he would have to pay between
£10-12million for his signature. Bellamy could become surplus to
requirements at Anfield after just one season with the Merseysiders
and he was only a substitute for the Champions League
final.
O'Neill worked successfully with Bellamy during a loan spell at
Celtic two years ago but is not prepared to pay significantly over
the odds for the Wales international. He will instead seek better
value for money elsewhere unless the Reds drop their price.
West Brom full-back Paul Robinson is being monitored by O'Neill
following the Baggies' failure to regain their top-flight status.
Robinson has two years left of his contract and, although remaining
committed to the Baggies, he also expressed a desire to play in the
Premiership again after the play-off final defeat by Derby on
Monday.
Wilfred Bouma filled the left-back role for most of last season but
the departure of Jlloyd Samuel to Bolton leaves him short of cover
and competition in that department. O'Neill's summer targets are
being bankrolled by club owner Randy Lerner but the fact other
clubs, including West Ham and Newcastle, have financial muscle
could make his task more difficult.
"West Ham made their intentions very clear in January and they have
made them clear now so I expect them to be (signing) very big
players in the transfer market in the summer. "They have got
renewed life from staying up and there's no doubt that, if they
were already making inroads in January, they are certainly going to
go for it now as well. "Newcastle will be giving it a big go now as
well - as they always do."
