[lfc-news] Keegan's leading race for Henchoz transfer - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 17 Nov 2004
Keegan's leading race for Henchoz transfer
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post

MANCHESTER CITY have emerged as favourites to prise forgotten defender
Stephane Henchoz away from Liverpool in January.

The 30-year-old's first-team fortunes have plummeted under Rafael Benitez
and his successful five-year Liverpool career will end when his contract
expires at the end of this season.

City, however, will offer the Swiss international an escape route in the
transfer window, provided he is allowed to leave Anfield on a free.

Kevin Keegan moved for Henchoz on transfer deadline day but refused to meet
Liverpool's £1million asking price for a player with only 12 months left on
his contract.

But his interest remains and City will ask Liverpool to drop demands for a
nominal fee in January in exchange for taking on the remainder of his
Anfield deal - worth in the region of £500,000.

Charlton and Everton are among a number of clubs monitoring Henchoz's
situation, although David Moyes's interest has cooled since the summer due
to the excellent form of Alan Stubbs and David Weir and the fact he is now
seeking younger alternatives.

Henchoz arrived at Anfield in a £3.5m deal from Blackburn Rovers in 1999
and was an integral part of the club's early success under Gerard Houllier.

But having made only three appearances under Benitez this season - two in
the Carling Cup and one in the Champions League qualifying defeat by Graz -
he now accepts a January move would suit all parties.

Benitez, meanwhile, is willing to hand Steven Gerrard an immediate
Premiership return at Middlesbrough this Saturday.

The influential Liverpool skipper felt no reaction to his broken metatarsal
after making his first appearance for two months in the reserve win over
Wolves on Monday night.

And his hopes of being included in the trip to Teesside will be granted
should he come through training unscathed this week.

Benitez said: "Steven had another x-ray before the reserve game just to
confirm the injury is in good condition now.

"He is kicking and shooting without any problems and if he keeps training
well this week then he will have a good chance of playing at Middlesbrough."

The Liverpool manager has also pencilled in Antonio Nunez for a comeback at
Leeds reserves on November 25 as his bleak injury list begins to improve.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Nunez is yet to appear for his new club after
suffering a relapse in his recovery from the knee injury sustained on his
first day's training as a Liverpool player.

But Benitez added: "It is a lift for everyone at the club to have Steven
Gerrard back and it will be important for the team when Nunez returns as well.

"Everyone knows what a fantastic player Gerrard is and Nunez can give us
more options on the right as we can use Steve Finnan and Luis Garcia in
different positions.

"The reserve game was too soon for Nunez, although he is training with the
rest of the squad now."


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