[lfc-news] Baros faces Euro snub - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 12 July 2005
Baros faces Euro snub
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

MILAN BAROS will not figure in Liverpool's plans tomorrow.

The striker's omission from the Liverpool team for the Champions League
qualifier with TNS will underline his uncertain future at Anfield.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez doesn't want the Czech star cup-tied
because it may scupper the player's chances of securing a transfer
before the start of the season.

Baros finds himself in a similar position to Michael Owen last year.

The club don't want to make him an unattractive target for potential
admirers so Baros will have to be content with a place on the bench.

The 24-year-old was destined for Valencia after reaching an agreement
with the Spanish team in May.

However, that switch broke down in June, leaving Baros in limbo.

His two goals against Wrexham on Saturday suggested the forward is happy
to try to regain the favour of Benitez, but it's a long road back.

Benitez certainly won't be rushing to cup-tie the striker against the
Welsh side.

The Anfield boss won't be confirming his line-up until tomorrow, but he
suggested Baros could be struggling to force his way into the team.

"With Morientes now fully fit and available in Europe, there are more
options for us. We need to work out how many players we have and which
are the right players for this game," he said.

Meanwhile, Antonio Nunez has been told he will leave Anfield if the Reds
receive an acceptable bid.

"I've spoken to Nunez and explained we've tried to find a club for him,
but at the moment we haven't had the right offer," said Benitez.

"Celta Vigo are interested but there are other options."

Meanwhile Mohamed Sissoko today revealed the prospect of teaming up once
again with Rafael Benitez helped persuade him to turn down Everton.

The Mali midfielder is expected to finalise his move to Anfield in the
next few days after completing his medical.

Everton thought they had secured a deal to take the 20-year-old to
Goodison but Sissoko, who played under Benitez at Valencia, says that
once Liverpool entered the race it was an easy decision to make.

He said: "I understand that the Everton fans are angry but I am going to
be happier at Liverpool. I'm sure they will give me a hard time in the
derby match.

"I appreciated the Everton offer but I was not convinced about everything.

"And when Rafa Benitez appeared, it made my mind up. I could never turn
this offer down. If Rafa was not Liverpool boss it might have been
different."

Benitez remains hopeful of adding Southmapton's Peter Crouch to his
squad this week, though his hopes of landing Luis Figo he says are
fading after Real Madrid suddenly reneged on their promise to give the
Portuguese international a free transfer.

They are now demanding a £2m fee which Liverpool will not pay. Benitez
is now looking for other options.

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