Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has made it clear Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt will not be leaving Anfield this summer.
Midfielder Benayoun has been linked with Roma, and the Italian club have been making loud noises that the Israeli will be joining them.
Kuyt had become a surprise target of German club Hamburg, with a possible £16million price tag.
But Benitez has said: "Neither of them will be leaving."
It had been suggested that the Anfield boss would let both go to finance a deal for Gareth Barry.
But he has held talks with both players, and said: "It is true that Roma are interested in Yossi.
"I have talked to him and told him I want to keep him. He is a player with quality and has shown that during pre-season.
"I have no more news about Yossi - he will be staying with us. I also talked with Dirk Kuyt. I am really pleased with him and he will be staying with us."
Benitez seems no nearer having the capital to conclude the £18million move for Barry, after Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill gave the green light to the deal - if the terms are right for Villa - at the weekend.
It seems now that Benitez will look to sell Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Voronin to finance the move.
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Comment 1 - 8 of 8
rjweetch an @#$%...
vorinin has only put in a good performance against the weakest of opposition, this has been shown in the friendlies, so he would be no great loss. and the chance to sell kuyt and bring in a real winger would be great, too many times have liverpool struggled when a team decides to pack the midfield to stop liverpool play leaving them with no other options going forward
timj.clifton, you do realize that the article said that we're KEEPING both of them right?...
I WONDER IF THE LIVER POOL MANAGER EVER READS THESE COMMENTS OR LISNS TO HIS FANS I BET NOT!
Rafa get a life if Kuyt and Benayoun go you have no back up strike force both these are tremendous players, forget Barry now and work on what you have,Kuyt is the only player i have ever seen with so much passion and flair for the game if he is not atatcking the man is defending, Benayoun is skilled as proved in the pre season friendlies once he has the ball he will take on the opposition with one aim in sight GOAL!Please Please RAFA start listenng to the people who have been following LFC all their life STOP being stubon and unrealistic and lets get some trophies and not green shield savings stamps
rjweetch, I don't normally make comments directly but surely you must realise you're being unrealistic. Voronin and Pennant would only raise a small cash value. How do you expect Liverpool buy Silva or Aguero with just that! You'd have to be realistic and buy a lower-priced winger. To be honest though, Ryan Babel is a good enough left winger (although he is admitedly better up front) and Kuyt played to a satisfactory level on right wing for club and national level for most of last season. I say this all as a Man Utd fan though, so rule MAN UTD!!!
how much did voronin pay u to say that sruban he is useless no pace an no flare and couldnt finish a pack of crisps. sell them both keep alonso and leave barry where he is and buy a world class winger david silva left side or sergio aguero anywhere up front he is as good as ronaldo.....
sell pennant..he is gud 4 nothin but voronin is a gud striker i luv wen he pair up wit torres bt i wan liv 2 f gud winger so sell them...
Yep sell Pennant for £7 million and Voronin for £3 million that will do for starters neither were good enough for Liverpool in the first place Voronin was a free anyway so that is a profit on the sell on.Dont let Xabi go he is class keep him and put Barry on left midfield as we have nobody to play there apart from Babel who is an impact player and a great sub.
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