Have it on good authority that this is true and reasons for the change of heart are thanks to SoS pressure on the heirarchy through the media in the last 48 hours. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6985441.ece Quote: Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has received assurances that he will be able to reinvest some or all of the proceeds from the potential sale of Ryan Babel, the striker, should a suitable replacement be available. Liverpool’s transfer strategy for this month had been to sell high-earning players deemed surplus to requirements because of their limited involvement in the first team and to keep their spending down with money being retained for the summer, a time when the club’s hierarchy believe that better-quality players will become available. In keeping with that policy, Andrea Dossena and Andriy Voronin have already departed for combined fees of about £6 million and Maxi Rodriguez is expected to complete his protracted transfer from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Benitez, however, had made it clear this month that Babel, who could fetch up to £11 million, would not join the exodus because of a concern that the manager would not be permitted to recruit a replacement immediately. On Tuesday, Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, had underlined the club’s position in an e-mail to a fan in which he admitted that money would not be made available to Benitez until the summer. “January is a poor-quality market,” Hicks wrote. “The summer window will be big.” But with Manchester City having illustrated their determination to win a place in next season’s Champions League, Liverpool can ill afford to allow their squad to be further depleted by the possible departure of Babel, who is interesting several European clubs, without Benitez being given the go-ahead to find a replacement.
Interesting, all depends who Rafa would bring in, in his place though. I don't know why but there is something inside me that would be disappointed to see him leave as the lazy fecker has the talent and is exactly the type of player we need eg flair and pace. Don't know what to think
Would happily let babel go as he just doesn't want it enough but knowing our owners and from previous lies i doubt rafa would get the full amount of what babel would go for.
Is there any serious links with decent strikers to bring in? Babel could have been great but his heart wasnt in it, however I would rather keep him and hope he pulls his socks up then sell him and bring in some third rate striker who will be filing in for Ngog the odd time.
If he hasnt done it for us in the time he's already been at the club, he aint gonna start now. decent talent, lazy ****
if the chamakh story is true and maxi is arriving i would keep him until the summer and use Babel as a backup striker leaving us with 4 options - torres, kuyt, ngog and babel. When chamakh arrives he replaces babel then.
Knowing our lot, he wont be sold until Jan 31th, leaving no time for anyone to come in, the player lined up will go to Arsenal or City and get 10 odd goals and secure the champs league spot, meanwhile Babels money will be used in the summer for the interest repayments.
if tìs is true then £9m for Babel has to be accepted. TBH I would'nt buy another striker if were getting Chamakh in the summer. Babel and Dossena mondy should get u Turan. If we end up with Turan and Maxi and have got rid of the 3 players that would be some window, anyway hope its true,but with purslow I wouldnt be surprsed if he said the 2 done transfers have gone to pepes new contract,thats what he calls reinvestment.
id gladly take Bellamy back, at least he will give a crap about the team and put in a shift unlike babel or most of our squad this season.
bellamys playin really well for city this season. why would they sell him let alone sell him to a rival.
yea prob not. only chance would be if bellamy was upset by hughes leaving which seems to be a whole load of fuss thats blown over since.