Ryan Babel could be the first high-profile departure from Liverpool as manager Rafael Benitez plans his summer restructuring.
It is understood that following talks with the Dutch international's agent, Benitez has told the winger he is free to talk to other clubs about a possible £11million move.
Babel arrived at Anfield in July 2007 and has scored 14 goals in 91 matches for the club - although only 42 of those were as a starter. But despite early promise, he has failed to hold down a regular place in the side and has mainly been used as an impact player from the bench.
He has reportedly asked for assurances that he will be given more of an opportunity next season.
But following discussions with the player's agent, Winnie Haatrecht, Benitez has been unable to offer such guarantees after starting with Babel only six times in the Barclays Premier League this term.






Comment 24 - 43 of 43
YNWA. Rafa should first and foremost sell ARBELOA! Then sell of the likes of Dosenna, Babel, loan out Lucas, Ngog. El zahr. Arbeloa is the most unreliable right back in a world class Football Team. If we want to wil the league next season, then lets throw off some of the mediocre players that done the Red shirt every week! Buy SILVA! - HE'S A MATCH WINNER JUST LIKE BENAYOUN
Lucas is a major concern as he seems to have issues infront of goal and can't string two passes together (see Hull)
Defence is the greater issue though clerly Jamie is concerned with some of his colleagues positional abilities and commitment to the game at hand.Agger had seemed to have the right characteristics (and a leathal left foot) but has not been able to hold down a 1st team place.
We need to have a stronger CONSISTANT defence(see last game vs Arsenal)and need players such as Piquet or Abidal to come into the squad
I agree with hardy.lfc92- Mank fans are sad enough to have to come to our pages to make a comment poor dears!!!
We should feel sorry for them
I was saddened but not surprised to see THE 1ST THING that Mank fans were chanting yesterday morning on GMTV was "The Scoucers arn't here" ????? PATHETIC
-EVERY OTHER CLUB'S FANS would be singing their clubs praises NOT THE MANCS THOUGH-all they can do is slag off Liverpool.
I supported Barca for that specific reason-NOT BECAUSE I AM A LIVERPOOL SUPPORTER!!!!!
I am glad to see a cheat like Ronaldo not win for a change--Why was he made Player of the Year????- with all that obvious skill why does he continue to dive or take the opportunity to go down-which he DID AGAIN last night-Scoles and Giggs don't seem to need to do it so why is he continually allowed to get away with it???????? and his clear attemps at cheating are brushed under the carpet.
He needs to see yellow and red cards--the ONLY WAY to stop it--the problem is his actions have changed to outcome of many games--would Mankyou be Champions of the Premiership otherwise????
I see some manutd fans are starting to review the history :S may be they know now how hard it is to win 5 times now :D
chelsea should few decent striker like lavezzi,teves or villa a young winger like young and sell ballack,deco,carvalho,drogba and shevchencko that should get about 50 million.
sell: Itandje, Dossena, Degen, Hyypia, Babel, el zhar, lucas, couple of youths that arent showing too much promise with buy back clauses.- should be between 20 and 30m for the lot.
buy: G Johnson, any 2 of, Mata, Silva, Lavezzi or Zarate. and then owen on a free if possible. keane money plus sales and owners should about cover it, dont really want tevez, just move kuyt up to be a sub striker as we get new wingers in.
Youth: m kelly, s darby, e insua, c buchtmann, j spearing, d plessis, a hammil, k nemeth and d pacheco. all are capable nest season of playing in carling cup and lower competition league matches with some showing enough talent to push for the first 11.
Babel and Lucas should go, both are unreliable, and as Babel himself said earlier this year he is too old to be considered a prospect, he has to deliver, both him and lucas missed sitters against Hull, with no pressure. would like to see another attacking winger/midfielder, Silva, definitely NOT Tevez.
Sell Babel, Voronin, Leto, Dossena bring in Tevez, Owen and Glen Johnson and i think we will be nearly there. Not crying for vintage Owen but if Torres was injured you cant imagine him not scoring goals in this Pool side with the service he would get.
mmmooose who did you actualy beat to be crowned world club chumpions?????????????????
I went to bed last night with a smile on my face,
The Mancs put firmly back in their place,
With goals from Eto'o and Messi too,
No Istanbul fightback from the scum of Manu!
OK Ronaldo, you can p*** off to the other bunch of losers in Madrid.
Tevez, come to a team that will appreciate your fighting spirit.
YNWA
If I were Benitez, I would sell Arbeloa and Dossena and sent N'gog and El Zhar on loan. Lucas looks like a decent player in the 2nd half of the season and is improving. Arbeloa is the worst right back off the BIG 4 teams and Dossena is struggling with the pace of the Premier League. Insua is much better than him. We should a right back(Castro or Glen Johnson), a right wing(Lennon) and a striker(Villa, Henry, Tevez)...
Babel is just the same as Nani. Both came in at the same time and made a bang in the Premier League in their 1st season but now both have failed to get enough starts.
players of today seem to forget that the manager decides if you play, when you play and where you play.
Babel just needs to improve his left foot, decision making and tracking back then he'll play more...
BTW not related, but Benayoun is a pretty good tackler.
mmmooose.... wahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahhaha barca outclassed u! were woz blue boy wayne 2nt? made up! haha
would someone please direct these manure scum to there own page or are they just to poor to afford there own
Nice to see the Mancs using our forums again...haha....after their humiliation tonight im suprised tbh..there's a lot to discuss!!!!!!!!!!
You can't buy success. Benitez does not have a clear idea of who he really wants. He buys, he tries, he sells. He should take a leaf out of David Moyes' book: buy well, buy longterm. I'd hate to have Benitez at Everton: he's another Ranieri.
It would make more sense to get rid of older players like Voronin and keep Young players like Babel that have potential. At least there is a chance of improving younger players when working with them. Plus what's the point of selling one the few players in the first team squsd with genuine pace, surely his technique would improve with games and playing with players like Gerrard, Torres and Alonso. If it doesn't work out Rafa can sell him next year.
Mike, i am drooling alrite, not quite wot you meant tho....I THINK NOT...HAHA
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account