Redknapp Ready To End Keane's Liverpool Hell?

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Tottenham Hotspur are ready to offer former striker Robbie Keane a way out of his Liverpool nightmare, when the transfer window opens in January, according to the Daily Mirror.

28-year-old Keane left White Hart Lane for Anfield in a £20million deal in the summer, but despite featuring in the first 15 Premier League games for the Merseyside club has only found the back of the net twice in the Premiership. This led to Reds boss Rafa Benitez dropping the Republic of Ireland International from the starting line-up that beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 on Saturday at Ewood Park.

Keane did not even make it off the bench against Blackburn, despite Liverpool’s top-scorer from last season Fernando Torres being injured. This has led to speculation about Keane’s future on Merseyside, with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp reportedly ready to bring the striker back to the North London club.

The paper suggests that Redknapp is ready to offer £5million for Keane plus midfield duo Aaron Lennon and Jamie O’Hara in order to bring Keane back to White Hart Lane, with the former Portsmouth boss a big fan of the Irishman.

However, Benitez has always maintained that Keane will not be leaving Anfield and that the player just needs support to help him through this difficult period. A sentiment echoed by Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry.

On the other hand, Lennon has featured heavily for Spurs since Redknapp took over and as much as the Tottenham manager might want Keane back in North London it remains to be seen if he is willing to part with Lennon or indeed O’Hara, who has impressed this season to achieve that.

Benitez Drops Keane To Fuel Liverpool Exit Speculation

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has dropped Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane for the Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday. Which is sure to fuel speculation about the striker’s future at the Merseyside club just four months after Keane’s £20million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite EURO 2008 winner Fernando Torres being out with a persistent hamstring problem, Benitez has not included Keane in the Liverpool squad that travelled to Blackburn, but has insisted that there is plenty of time left in the season for the former Inter Milan player to feature.

Keane has featured in all 15 of the Reds Premiership matches this season, but has only managed to find the net twice in the Premier League since his big-money move from White Hart Lane in the summer.

However, while Benitez has claimed there is plenty of time left this campaign for Keane to come good on Merseyside. The Spaniard also declared that Keane is just “another player” and that no one at Anfield is guaranteed a place.

Benitez said: “He is working hard in training as always. The best way to support him is by talking about how he can improve. We have to analyse everything because we have to think about him and the team.

“There are six months of the season left so I can pick him lots of times but I cannot guarantee a position to anyone.

“He is a normal player, another player. As a player you have to work hard and try and do the things we are practising in training.

“We have to win. He is in the same situation as the rest of the players. Can I guarantee the position of Agger, Hyypia, Aurelio, Dossena, Carragher, no?

“The players have to play the best that they can every week and then afterwards you decide.

“We can talk about players costing £15m-£20m at other teams and they are on the bench every week but people are not talking about them.

“For me it is not a question of the price tag of the player, he is just another player.”

Benitez also refused to be drawn on how negotiations are going on a new contract for him at Liverpool, which the former Valencia coach had hoped to be done and dusted by the end of November.

“My advisors are in contact with the club and that’s it,” he said.

“I would like to concentrate on football because they are doing their job.”

Sweet & Sour Injury News For Liverpool Boss Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that he expects Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane to be fit to face Fulham at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, but captain Steven Gerrard is a major doubt for the visit of the Cottagers.

Keane, who injured his shoulder in the win against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend has withdrawn from the Ireland squad to face Poland this week, but Benitez has insisted that the withdrawal from the Irish squad was merely a precaution.

“Robbie Keane's injury is not serious,” Benitez told the club's official website.

“He had a problem but [withdrawing from the international duty] was just a case of prevention. I think he will be okay.”

However, the Reds boss will be without his skipper Gerrard after a groin strain forced the midfielder to pull out of Fabio Capello’s squad to face Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Benitez believes the Champions League clash with Marseille is a more realistic target for Gerrard, who will be out for 7-10 days after having a scan.

“Steven had a scan and he will be out for seven to ten days, depending on how he progresses,” added Benitez.

“He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is different. We have to start working with him and see how he does.”

Banks To Reposses Liverpool As Reds Face Financial Meltdown?

Premier League club Liverpool are on the brink of financial meltdown if they cannot refinance the £350million loan owed to the bank or pay the amount off in January, according to Keith Harris the person at the centre of several takeover deals in the Premiership.

Harris has expressed concerns that unless the Merseyside club can repay or get a six-month extension to the loan due in January. Then there is even the possibility of Anfield being repossessed by the banks that the loan is owed to in light of the recent credit crunch.

The Reds American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr owe a reported £350million to two banks, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, both of which have suffered in the current financial climate, with Harris believing that Liverpool will have to cash in on some of their star players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane in order to balance the books at Anfield or face being repossessed in the worst case scenario.

Harris has also revealed that it is very much a buyers market in terms of selling clubs, with potential investors not so ready to part with their money to own a Premier league club.

“The one that worries me is Liverpool. It has never been more difficult to find buyers,” Harris said.

“It's no longer a question of price negotiation - it's should we? People are wondering if now is the time to spend.

“Liverpool's debt is due in January, with maybe a six-month extension.

“The two banks which are the principal lenders - the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia - are two of those that have suffered. Whether they want to lend it again or not, they may not be able to.”