[lfc-news] Frustrated Benitez to step up chase for Kuyt - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 16 June 2005
Frustrated Benitez to step up chase for Kuyt
By David Prior, Daily Post Staff

RAFAEL BENITEZ will step up his attempts to bring Feyenoord striker Dirk
Kuyt to Anfield as he looks to relieve a frustrating summer in the
transfer market so far.

The Liverpool manager is finding it difficult to make any headway as he
plans an overhaul of his side in time for the new season, with his
transfer kitty of around £20million allowing little room for manouervre.

He has, however, made the 24-year-old Kuyt his number one target - but
only if he can force Feyenoord down from their current £10m valuation to
around £7-8m.

Kuyt, who scored 29 goals last season in the Dutch league, has already
voiced his desire to come to Merseyside but unless Liverpool can lower
his club's asking price, Benitez will have to look elsewhere.

But he will mount one last effort to persuade Feyenoord to release their
star striker and claim a player he has wanted for some time.

The Spaniard has already had to cool his interest in Peter Crouch after
Southampton demanded £7m for the tall frontman's services.

And reports in Spain yesterday suggested Real Madrid were monitoring
Benitez's difficulties closely - and were prepared to test his
willingness to keep hold of Steven Gerrard.

Real are known to have placed the Liverpool captain at the top of their
shopping list and, one report claimed, would test the Anfield club's
resolve in their upcoming contract negotiations with Gerrard - and then
offer highly--rated Juanfran as part of any deal.

Gerrard this week insisted "the ball is in Liverpool's court" regarding
his new deal, which he confirmed he intends to sign before the start of
next season.

Ideally, Benitez wants Gerrard to stay, but he is also understood to be
interested in several Real players - including winger Juanfran - and
will face a difficult decision were Real to submit a £30m-plus bid for
his skipper.

Unlikely to interest Benitez, however, is Luis Figo.

Qatar club Al Rayyan claim they are in a bidding war with Liverpool for
the 32-year-old, who could become available on the cheap this summer,
albeit on high wages.

His financial demands would probably put a strain on Liverpool, and
Benitez told the El Mundo Deportivo newspaper:

"There are many people at Real Madrid that we are aware of, but we
really know our limitations."

Raul was also suggested as a target last week, but he is considered by
president Florentino Perez as the embodiment of the Spanish giants and
seems destined to spend his entire career in Madrid.

"There are players that cannot leave and there are others we do not
want," Benitez added.

Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, has backed Benitez to build a team capable
of winning the Premiership title - the last of their 18 league crowns
was in the old First Division in 1990.

"We want to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but we also
want to challenge for the title," said Carragher.

"I am sure the manager will be looking to change things because he has
come from Valencia who won the league, so he's used to winning."

Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/