Babel set to figure in Carling Cup clash

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has amended his thoughts about life at Liverpool and now insists he wishes to fight for his place at Anfield. Babel whilst on international duty three weeks ago, accused manager Rafael Benitez of broken promises and then proposed a loan move back to Ajax in January. Now Babel has made a U-turn and is likely to figure in the Carling Cup clash with Leeds United tonight.

“I didn’t say any of those things,” he said. “I did an interview in Holland and I don’t know who in England got hold of it but it was the worst translation I have ever seen," said Babel in the Echo.

"The fact is I'm very happy here and I don't want to leave to go anywhere."

“Yes, there is a lot of competition for places at Liverpool but that’s the same at every top club.

“It was like that when I was at Ajax and that isn’t a problem for me. I didn’t accuse the manager of anything.

“I heard about what was being reported when I was away with Holland.

“When I got back to Liverpool I went straight to the manager and told him it wasn’t true.

“He accepted that and there is no problem. Now I just want to concentrate on playing.”

Babel helped Liverpool secure their victory over West Ham on Saturday with his pin point cross to Torres, which the striker converted via a remarkable header into the net, and the Dutch international says he was happy to be part of the action.

“It was great to be out there and I’m really pleased I was able to help us get a crucial three points.”

“Before I came on the manager said I needed to bring some energy to the game and that I needed to run at them.

“I enjoyed it and that will give me some confidence. Now I hope to carry on like this.

“If I keep working hard then hopefully I can get some more minutes and in the end get a place back in the starting line-up,” he added in the Guardian.

Benítez is set to announce his squad for Leeds this morning and starts could be given to the likes of Babel, Diego Cavalieri, Andriy Voronin and possibly Daniel Agger, who has not played this season due to a back injury.

Benitez faces left-back dilemma

Rafael Benitez faces a selection dilemma at left-back ahead of Liverpool's Premiership meeting with Burnley. Emiliano Insua has made the position his own in the opening four matches but Fabio Aurelio is pressing for a recall after recovering from injury

The 29-year-old has faced a fitness race this week and Reds boss Rafael Benitez welcomes his return:

"Fabio is a player with quality" said Benitez in the Echo.

"His delivery into the box, especially when we play at home, is excellent. He provides good passes and crosses which is really important.

"He has no match fitness but he is much better and he hasn't been away with his country so he has been training hard. Fabio knows exactly what we expect from him."

"We have really good competition now on the left with Insua, Aurelio and Dossena.

"That means a headache for me but that's good. It’s up to me to pick the right player."

Albert Riera and Ryan Babel are both fighting for the left wing role and both have complained at their lack of first team action. Babel has even declared he wishes a loan move to Ajax in January but Benitez has dismissed talk of the winger leaving Anfield.

"I've already talked with Riera and that's not a problem and I will talk with Ryan and analyse the situation with him," he said.

"What is clear is that if they want to play then they have to compete.

"Ryan has to perform for us. He has to be ready for this game or the next one because we have a lot of games before January.

"I’m not thinking about the possibility of him going out on loan. I’m just thinking about getting the best out of him."

Babel looks for January Ajax return

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel is looking to return to Ajax on loan in the next transfer window. The Dutch international believes a lack of playing time with the Reds is damaging his World Cup chances next year, and insists promises made to him have been broken.

"There have been a lot of things promised, but they haven't been followed up," Babel told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf

"I would get to play for more minutes and have more chances, but after the first defeat, I only lost my place."

Babel says a move in the summer wasn't an option, but believes the situation will be reviewed in January's transfer window.

"I think half a season at Ajax with a view to the World Cup wouldn't be a bad idea. I can add something to the Ajax squad.

"Loaning me out was not an option (in the summer). Now we have agreed to review the situation in January.

"I see the current situation as a signal that I really have to get playing."

'LFC Alert' suggests playing with heart, conviction and giving 100% would boost Babel's chances of playing in the World Cup, not a change of location.

Transfer Speculation: Robben, Babel

Arjen Robben
"Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is believed to have stepped up his interest in Arjen Robben, after the Real Madrid player was reportedly offered to Manchester United," claims the Mail.

“The Spaniard has long been an admirer of the winger, and could go head-to-head with his bitter rival Sir Alex Ferguson over the player's signature,” says the story.

The Dutch international who is believed to be out of favour at Real Madrid, is looking to return to the Premiership has been valued at around “£18 million.”

Ryan Babel
Rafa is still hoping the American owners will still make more funds available but could also raise further cash through the sale of Ryan Babel. “Benitez is believed to be losing patience with the youngster, and a bid of around £8 million might tempt the club to sell the underperforming winger to fund a move for Robben,” says the story.

“Benitez is believed to have been a long-term admirer of Robben's ability, and Madrid even considered offering the Dutchman as part of the deal for Alonso as they attempted to sign the midfielder earlier this month. Benitez, however, will be confident of persuading Robben to join him at Anfield, and may see him as the world-class winger he has been looking for, at a price more affordable than previous targets David Silva and Franck Ribery,” speculates the story.

Transfer Speculation

Glen Johnson
Speaking of the deal, the Telegraph says: “two Liverpool bids, in the region of £12 million, were turned down by Portsmouth last summer and in January but Benitez is confident a £10 million fee paid over two years, plus an agreement to write off the £7 million the south coast club still owe for Peter Crouch, will be enough to land the former Chelsea player.” The Independent also says the deal will make Johnson “one of the club's highest earners” with his “substantial wage, thought to be £80,000-a-week net of tax.” Today’s Echo says “the deal is likely to be held up because the player is on holiday.” And “Johnson only recently started his summer break following his exertions for England in the World Cup qualifiers and Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie is currently in Israel for talks with club owner Sacha Gaydamak.”

David Villa
The Guardian’s ‘Rumour Mill’ section says: “David Villa has told 'close friends' that he only wants to play for Rafael Benítez in the Premier League.” Sky Sports is also running an interview the player gave to the press following the game in Bloemfontein. He was unwilling to divulge the name of the club, but said the following: “I have made my decision. My agent knows my wishes, and he is now working on that - so I am relaxed. There is no deadline on the subject, and I really do not have any more details as this whole thing is not totally dependent on me."

Ryan Babel
Also in the Guardian: Frank Rijkaard, the new coach of the Turkish side Galatasaray, “has approached Liverpool about signing Ryan Babel. The Dutch international was a peripheral figure at Anfield last season and is likely to be sold should Liverpool receive a significant bid for a player bought for £11m from Ajax in 2007.”

Pepe Reina
The Independent claims: “Barcelona are set to launch a bid for Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina according to various reports.” Contract talks with current number one Victor Valdes have apparently broken down according to the article and Valdes “has a year left on his contract, has been pushing for parity with Xavi, who is paid £150,000 a week.” Barcelona are refusing to go that high and have been considering their options, and believe a bid of £17m for Reina “would test Liverpool's resolve, especially considering the financial difficulties the Anfield club are currently in.”

The article also suggests Liverpool may also face a battle to keep midfielder Javier Mascherano. This is of course old news, so I’m not sure how much weight the Reina story carries, considering the papers source is: “various reports”. I could speak to ‘The Main (Stand) Man’ and next doors cat about a transfer then claim the same thing.

Andrea Dossena
The Telegraph says “Benitez may sacrifice two full-backs to ensure he has the funds to bolster his attack, with Andrea Dossena edging closer to a £6 million move to Juventus.” However, the Mail is running an interview with Dossena's agent Roberto La Florio, who said: “At the moment, there are no updates. The Bianconeri club (Juventus) have yet to decide whether to consider my client or (Lyon's) Fabio Grosso. If they decide to target my client then we would evaluate the offer. He (Dossena) is happy at Liverpool but Juventus is Juventus, and he's a little nostalgic for Italy.”

Alvaro Arbeloa
The Telegraph also states Arbeloa “could also be sold, with the Liverpool manager braced for an £8 million approach from Real Madrid once Spain's involvement in the Confederations Cup ends. Arbeloa has just 12 months left on his contract and, while Benitez had suggested he would be offered a new deal, his failure to sign one indicates his time on Merseyside is drawing to a close.”
The story is also reported by Sky Sports, which has an interview the player made to Spanish newspaper ‘Elmundo’: "I am happy at Liverpool, but I have something to prove in Spain as I did not show my best form in La Liga. One day, I'm sure I will return. It is always nice to be linked to big teams - even to this Madrid side in a time of transition. They are working hard to build a great team. I have one more year remaining on my Liverpool deal, but anything can happen. A contract renewal is in the air. I am contracted for one more year, but if Liverpool get an offer they will consider it. It is all in the hands of my agent."

Babel wants to stay and fight for his place

Ryan Babel wants one more season to prove himself at Anfield. The dutch international has struggled to maintain a regular place since his £11m move from Ajax two years ago and was recently told to find another club by Rafa. Last night the player insisted he wants to stay and fight for his place. The Echo reports that his agent Winnie Haatrecht said: “Ryan is very happy at Liverpool and clearly doesn't want to leave. He still has a three-year contract.”

But it appears that Rafa may have changed his mind about letting the player leave the club. Speaking on Tuesday, Benitez revealed his thoughts about the squad for the next campaign: “I'm positive because we were talking recently about how Fernando [Torres] and Steven Gerrard didn't play together for a long time,” he said. “Hopefully, they will manage that more next season – and we also have good young players like David Ngog, Nabil El Zhar, Ryan Babel and Emiliano Insua coming through. We have a very good squad but we can still improve a little bit. How much – enough to win the title? I'm sure it will be enough to compete.”

Speaking in May Benitez said: "Ryan has done well as an impact player, which is not easy when you are young, but we think he can do more than that. Our view of Ryan is a player who starts games and has an impact from the beginning. But first of all he has to improve tactically."

Babel’s agent insists player won't leave Liverpool

Transfer Speculation

Today’s Independent is running the story that “Ryan Babel will not leave Liverpool this summer”. Babel’s agent Winnie Haatrecht, insists "He is not done here yet," Haatrecht told AD Sportwereld. "I will sit down soon with Mr Benitez to evaluate the season. We haven't found time to do that yet. "Ryan went from Ajax to Liverpool to win trophies. So far that hasn't happened. Ryan wants to leave Liverpool as a regular starter with a trophy in his pocket." The 22-year-old made six starts all season and was a substitute 21 times.

Ryan Babel is told he can leave Anfield

Today’s Daily Post is stating that “Ryan Babel could become the first high-profile casualty of Rafael Benitez’s summer shake-up after being told he can leave Liverpool.”

The article goes on to say: “Babel’s agent Winnie Haatrecht met with the Anfield manager to discuss the player having a more prominent first-team role next season. Benitez, though, was unable to offer such guarantees and has informed the Holland international he may now speak to other clubs during the transfer window. That is likely to spark a chase for Babel, who became the third-most expensive player in Liverpool’s history when arriving for £11.5million from Ajax in July 2007. Liverpool will want to recoup of much as that fee as possible, with Babel likely to command a price tag of around £8m.”

The article adds: “Ajax, who yesterday appointed Martin Jol as new coach to succeed Marco van Basten, are thought eager to re-sign Babel but could be put off by the asking price and the player’s wages. Babel is also certain to attract interest from Italy and Spain, with Benitez open to the possibility of using the 22-year-old as a makeweight to facilitate a possible big-money transfer. Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Arsenal have all been linked with a summer move for Babel and could make any interest formal.”

Clearly Benitez means business and wants his summer transfer activity completed as quickly as possible. The story states “Babel has scored 14 goals in 91 appearances for Liverpool. However, only 42 have been in a starting role – a mere six coming this calendar year – with the Dutchman having completed the full 90 minutes on just 15 occasions. With Benitez needing to generate funds to supplement his existing transfer budget, the Spaniard is keen to swiftly move on those players who no longer form part of his plans.”

Unfortunately Babel, who initially showed much promise in his first season, has been one of the most disappointing in this campaign. He has appeared lazy and uninterested. One could argue he needed more regular starts, but this hasn’t undeterred other players who where in the same position as him. Yossi Benayoun fought his way into the starting eleven after a disappointing start to the season and finished the campaign in sizzling form, terrorising defences and scoring valuable goals. It is clear that Babel has lost his confidence at Liverpool and a recuperation of his massive fee would probably be best for both parties. One fears however, Babel could recapture his potential at another team and turn into the player we all thought he could become with Liverpool.

Speaking about the ongoing dilemma with Sebastian Leto, the article says: “Benitez also wants to solve the work permit problem for Argentine winger Sebastian Leto, who has spent the last season on loan to Greek club Olympiacos. “We will try to work something out, I do not want him to go,” said the Liverpool manager. The reasons for refusing the permit were his lack of international and club experience. Benitez was critical of that decision, but is likely to sell Leto if the permit is refused once again.”