by bunglemark2 » Tue Jan 19, 2010 11:08 am
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/2010/01/19/liverpool-fc-close-in-on-sunderland-s-kenwyne-jones-as-galatasaray-plan-ryan-babel-swoop-9
2534-25630339/
LIVERPOOL have been told they must splash out at least £10million to sign Kenwyne Jones – as Galatasaray prepared to end Ryan Babel’s increasingly controversial Anfield career.
Rafael Benitez has targeted Sunderland striker Jones as he looks to bolster a forward line further weakened by the absence through injury of Fernando Torres.
While an attempt last week to broker a swap deal between Jones and Babel floundered, talks have remained ongoing between Liverpool officials and their Wearside counterparts.
The Anfield outfit were confident they could snap up the Trinidad and Tobago international Jones on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent switch. But Sunderland have decided that any temporary move would not be in their best interests, and slapped a £10m price tag on the 25-year-old.
Sunderland yesterday distanced themselves from claims that Jones, signed by the Black Cats from Southampton for £6million in 2007, was due on Merseyside to undergo a medical.
But, tellingly, chairman Niall Quinn stopped short of giving a cast-iron assurance the striker would leave this month.
“Kenwyne Jones knows exactly what I think of him,” said Quinn. “I love him as a footballer. He’s got the complete package and if things work out for him in the second half of the season, he’s vital to us.
“Behind the scenes agents may be setting up things with football clubs, but it happens today. We don’t want to get rid of anybody at the football club.”