Benitez target: France winger Florent
Malouda
France World Cup winger Florent Malouda has emerged as one
of two players Rafa Benitez has identified to launch a summer of
hectic transfer activity at Anfield. The Liverpool boss has
demanded urgent action from his board and claimed he had lined up
two targets, valued at £8-10million, who could be signed straight
away.
It is understood Malouda, capped 28 times, is one of them and
Lyon's president has said he is ready to listen to offers for
France's newly-crowned player of the year. The 26-year old, who is
Benitez's preferred option on the left side next season, is likely
to cost around £9m after playing a key role in another
title-winning campaign for his club.
Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o remains a potential recruit up front, but
current Liverpool striker Peter Crouch insists he has been assured
of his Anfield future. Crouch, linked recently with a move to
Newcastle, said: "The manager has told me I'm part of his plans,
and that is good enough for me.
"At a club like Liverpool, there's always going to be competition
for places, especially as the manager likes to chop and
change."
