Liverpool set Bellamy's asking price at £12m
Striker set to leave Anfield after just one year
Aston Villa and West Ham possible destinations
Liverpool have warned rival clubs hoping to take advantage of
Rafael Benítez's desire to reshape his squad that Craig Bellamy,
one of the players for whom the manager would listen to offers,
will only be sold for around £12m.
The Wales international moved to Anfield from Blackburn Rovers last
summer for half that amount but, despite Bellamy struggling to
adapt to Benítez's squad rotation system, Liverpool hope for a
significant profit on his sale. Blackburn are keen to re-sign the
forward but could now be priced out. West Ham and Aston Villa have
expressed interest and could make formal bids.
Bellamy has scored nine goals in 42 appearances this season but was
involved in an ugly fracas with his team-mate, John Arne Riise, on
a mid-season training camp in Portugal and was an unused substitute
at the European Cup final in Athens.
Benítez said in the wake of the 2-1 defeat to Milan that he would
listen to bids for his players - "The number we bring in depends if
we get big offers for the players or not," he said - with the
Spaniard intent upon spending substantial sums.
It remains to be seen whether the manager will be given the money
he desires, having issued a warning to the club's American owners,
George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that they must act quickly and
lavishly in the market if Liverpool are to displace Chelsea and
Manchester United at the top of the Premiership.
He would like to sign the likes of Valencia's David Silva and,
possibly, Sevilla's Daniel Alves having made improvement of the
supply-line to his existing forwards his priority. However, should
Bellamy join Robbie Fowler in leaving the club then he would also
need to add to his strikers.
Benítez's demand for transfer funds prior to the team's departure
from Athens was aimed at kick-starting a summer of spending at
Anfield, and Hicks and Gillett remain intent upon liaising
extensively with their manager in the next few weeks to discuss and
secure his targets.
Asked last week whether he would be spending significant sums in
the summer, Hicks told the Guardian: "It depends upon the player.
What we have said to Rafa is that if there is really somebody he
thinks can change the team, then let's go get 'em.
"But let's don't just spend money to say we spent money. We have
really got to use his judgments. He will say we have got this
talent, we have got these areas covered, we need this to help
compete better in the Premiership. We need this young guy to help
us continue our progress. It's that kind of conversation we will
have."
Gérard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager, has resigned as
Lyon's head coach after guiding them to a record sixth, and his
second, successive league title.
Jlloyd Samuel will become Sammy Lee's first signing as Bolton
manager after agreeing a free transfer from Aston Villa.
