Transfers: Idol Gossip: 8-05-2008
Arsene Wenger hopes Alex Hleb will stay at Arsenal, while Martin O'Neill reckons Liverpool have undervalued Gareth Barry...
WENGER HOPES FOR HLEB STAY
Who? - Alex Hleb
Where is he? - Arsenal
Who is he linked with? - Inter Milan
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is determined to keep Alex Hleb at the Emirates Stadium after losing fellow midfielder Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan. The Gunners boss hit out at France international Flamini earlier in the week following his decision to snub a new contract offer and join the Italian side on a free transfer. But Wenger has no intention of allowing 27-year-old Hleb to join Milan's city rivals Internazionale. Reports claim the Belarus international will seek to buy himself out of the remaining two years of his contract and join the reigning Serie A champions. "What people say about the buy-out clause, it is not as simple as it looks," said Wenger. "It is much more difficult and the clubs are reluctant to do that. We want to keep Hleb, we want him to be part of our team next year. It is as simple as that. We have lost one player. We do not want to lose more."
O'NEILL: LIVERPOOL UNDERVALUED BARRY
Who? - Gareth Barry
Where is he? - Aston Villa
Who is he linked with? - Liverpool
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has warned Liverpool that their £10million bid for Gareth Barry has undervalued his skipper. The England international was the subject of a player-plus-cash approach from the Anfield club last week. But while O'Neill claims he is not interested in selling his captain, he has warned Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez that his original offer is nowhere near good enough to secure the 27-year-old midfielder. "Is Barry undervalued at £10million? Absolutely, without question," said O'Neill. "He is playing for England. Liverpool talked about a £10million bid, which was some cash and some unnamed players. That is very presumptuous of them, that the players they might be talking about are the ones you would want - that is why I dismissed the whole thing. The whole story seems to have grown arms and legs and seems to be saying 'whatever Liverpool are asking for, they will get' but I don't see that as being the case. That is not to say we want to give a certain valuation and then, if Liverpool come up with it, we will do business. That is not what we want to do at all."
CROUCH PONDERS FUTURE
Who? - Peter Crouch
Where is he? - Liverpool
What is he linked with? - The exit door
England striker Peter Crouch has admitted that he is undecided about whether to remain with Liverpool next season, having struggled to make his mark this term. The 27-year-old has made just 21 starts in all competitions this season, with Reds manager Rafa Benitez having brought in Fernando Torres last summer to be his number one striker. Crouch told the Daily Mirror: "When all is said and done, I don't think I can have another season like this year where I've started nine Premier League games. "Out of a 38-game league season, nine games is not the amount you want to be playing. I'll have to speak to the manager and see what his plans are. I need to see him and sort things out. I have to find out what he wants from me next season and whether or not I can continue with that. In some ways, I want to feel wanted. So I'd like to speak to the manager and the club before I commit to anything and know whether or not I'll be here next year." Crouch joined Liverpool for £7million from Southampton in the summer of 2005 and has scored 42 goals in 134 appearances for the Anfield club.
MCFADDEN STAYS LOYAL TO BLUES
Who? - James McFadeen
Where is he? - Birmingham City
What is he linked with? - Staying
Scotland forward James McFadden has vowed to remain with Birmingham City, even if they suffer relegation from the Premier League. The 25-year-old moved to St Andrew's from Everton in January and has scored four times in 12 appearances for Alex McLeish's side. The Blues must beat Blackburn Rovers this weekend to have any hope of escaping the drop, but McFadden says he will not be jumping ship if his side are relegated back to the Championship. He commented: "I haven't really given my own situation much thought, although there's obviously a good chance we could go down. I have only just arrived at the club and I'm not looking to leave in a hurry. Hopefully we will get the right result on Sunday, we stay up and I won't need to worry about anything. I don't think playing in the Championship would affect me in terms of Scotland. If I'm playing every week and scoring goals, it shouldn't make a difference what level I'm playing at."
CALDWELL HOPES FOR SAMARAS STAY
Who? - Georgios Samaras
Where is he? - Celtic (on loan)
Who is he linked with? - Celtic (permanent)
Celtic defender Gary Caldwell is hoping that Georgios Samaras will make his loan move to the club permanent in the summer. The 23-year-old joined the Hoops from Manchester City in January and scored the crucial winner in their 2-1 victory over Motherwell last weekend. "Georgios has been great," Caldwell told the Daily Record. "His goals have been all important, they have helped us. It's the manager's decision but we'd love him to stay here as it is great for the squad to have competition for place up front." City are understood to value Samaras at around £3million.
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