Livepool fail in £5m bid for Crouch
Jon Brodkin Wednesday June 8, 2005 The Guardian
Southampton have turned down a £5m offer from Liverpool for Peter Crouch. They are keen to hold on to the England striker to try to win an immediate return to the Premiership and instantly rejected the Champions League winners' overtures.
The Anfield manager Rafael Ben'tez has been highly impressed by Crouch, who scored 15 goals in 24 games under Harry Redknapp last season - including one in a win at home to Liverpool - and would like to add him to his forward line.
It's a wonder that Houllier's in Gerlandbring Maybe thats why Owen left for Madrid. He probably felt his skills were disintergrating in Houlliers system. He was also a greedy twat and glory chaser. I wonder how good our players will become...
He will purchase at least one striker this summer to join Djibril CissZ and Fernando Morientes, with Milan Baros almost certain to leave before the start of next season. Liverpool must now decide whether to make an improved offer for Crouch, who cost Southampton £2m from Aston Villa 11 months ago.
Redknapp will be delighted by his board's decision to turn down more than twice that figure. He has outlined the importance he attaches to keeping Crouch at St Mary's as he seeks to win promotion, though he has not made the 24-year-old's retention a condition for his carrying on as manager. Last week Redknapp said he would understand Crouch becoming unstettled "if a big club comes in for him".
Crouch has not requested a transfer and it is likely to take an offer in excess of £7m to tempt Southampton to sell him. A package to that value, involving money and a player approved by Redknapp, might be considered. When Wayne Bridge went to Chelsea, Southampton got Graeme Le Saux as part of a £9m deal.
Redknapp would prefer to sell other players as he looks to rebuild. He is willing to consider offers of about £2m for Antti Niemi, who is among the goalkeepers being considered by West Ham United. The newly-promoted club are looking for someone in that position after losing Jimmy Walker to a knee injury sustained in the play-off final.
-- Steve
