Liverpool eye Whitehead

Liverpool eye Whitehead

SPECULATION over the future of Dean Whitehead has begun ahead of the January transfer window, with European Champions Liverpool being linked with the former Oxford United player. The midfielder has been Sunderland's star performer this season and it would have been a surprise not to see him involved in talk of a possible move.

But the player signed a new and improved contract last month and Mick McCarthy will want to hold on to a player who has been one of the few bright lights in a miserable season. Whitehead's outstanding performances for Sunderland over the course of the current campaign have not gone unnoticed by Premiership opposition and both Liverpool and Manchester United were rumoured to be tracking him.

But speculation in Liverpool's interest intensified over the weekend with Rafa Benitez said to be readying a bid which could be as high as £4million for the services of the 23-year-old. It might seem an unlikely scenario on the face of it with Whitehead still a relative unknown at a basement club and with Liverpool boasting one of the best squads in Europe. But Whitehead has been up against some of the best midfielders in the world this season and not looked out of company once.

And for Benitez he would be an ideal squad player. His side faces a huge workload for the remainder of the season - the European Champions currently returning from the other side of the world having competed in the Club World Championship competition in Japan.

There is a gruelling Champions League programme coming up along with the bid to get a Champions League place for next season and FA Cup commitments and the purchase of Whitehead would allow the manager flexibility in resting players. Whether Sunderland will be tempted to sell will probably come down to the bid they might be offered.

McCarthy will not want to part with his star player but if a fee in the region of £4million proves to be accurate, then the club will struggle to reject the offer. It would give the manager plenty of room for manoeuvre in the transfer market as he seeks to rebuild a squad which just has not come up to scratch so far this season.

19 December 2005 1289941