Liverpool FC Forum

Benítez keen to make sure that Pennant fits the bill
By James Ducker
JERMAINE PENNANT is expected to sign for Liverpool before the end of the week, provided that the controversial Birmingham City winger can convince Rafael Benítez, the manager, that he has the temperament to succeed at Anfield and that there is no late twist in the Merseyside club’s long-running pursuit of Daniel Alves.

Liverpool have had a £3.5 million bid for Pennant rejected by Birmingham, who demanded £8 million when first approached about the player a little more than three weeks ago, but Benítez is confident that the Coca-Cola Championship club will lower their valuation and agree to meet them halfway.

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Aside from the haggling over a price, which is complicated by the fact that Arsenal, Pennant’s former club, are entitled to 25 per cent of any transfer fee as part of a sell-on clause they had inserted in the player’s contract when he moved to St Andrew’s from Highbury for £3 million 12 months ago, there are two further sticking points.

Much as he did with Craig Bellamy, who joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers five weeks ago, Benítez would first want to talk to, and ideally meet, Pennant to assess the personality of a player with a chequered past, even though the manager is scheduled to fly with his squad to Switzerland today for a pre-season training camp.

And while Benítez has virtually conceded defeat in his attempt to sign Alves, the Seville right back, a deal could be resurrected at the eleventh hour in the unlikely event that the Spanish club lower their £12 million valuation of the player to about £10 million.

Any move for Alves would end Liverpool’s interest in Pennant, although Benítez believes that Pennant represents better value, especially because his arrival would also leave money available to spend on another striker.

Whether Liverpool opt to renew their interest in Dirk Kuyt, the Feyenoord and Holland striker, for whom they have already had a player-plus-cash deal rejected, is dependent on the outcome of their search for a solution to their problems on the right side of midfield, and, to a lesser extent, the need to find buyers for the likes of Jerzy Dudek, Djimi Traoré, Salif Diao, Anthony Le Tallec, Florent Sinama Pongolle and Jan Kromkamp.

What is certain, however, is that Birmingham will not allow Pennant to leave cheaply. “We had an offer from Liverpool which we rejected and until they meet our valuation they will get the same answer,” Steve Bruce, the manager, said.

Bellamy will get another chance to impress Benítez on Saturday, when Liverpool play 1FC Kaiserslautern in Liechtenstein, then again on Tuesday against Grasshopper in Zurich and finally against FSV Mainz 05 in Germany three days later, but the Wales striker’s new team-mates already like what they see.

Liverpool had difficulty turning good chances into goals on occasion last season, but Steven Gerrard believes that Bellamy could be the “missing ingredient” that allows the club to challenge Chelsea for the Premiership title.

“He has been a nightmare to play against in the past so it is nice to have him in a red shirt now,” the Liverpool captain said.

“There were times last year when there were little droughts in front of goal and I think it was important that the manager brought in a player who can get 20 league goals.”

INS AND OUTS

Liverpool’s budget: £10 million plus money recouped through sales

Targets: Jermaine Pennant (Birmingham City, £6 million), Daniel Alves (Seville, £12 million) Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord, £10 million), David Trezeguet (Juventus, £12 million or loan)

For sale: Jerzy Dudek (goalkeeper), Salif Diao (midfield player), Jan Kromkamp (defender), Anthony Le Tallec (forward), Florent Sinama Pongolle (forward), Neil Mellor (forward), Djimi Traoré (defender)

Pennant on his way to Liverpool
By Tom Cary
(Filed: 26/07/2006)

In pics: Summer moves

Liverpool are on the brink of capturing winger Jermaine Pennant in a £6 million-plus move from Birmingham.

Sources close to the Championship club claim that a deal has been agreed and that the player is on his way to Liverpool for further talks.

Liverpool have followed Pennant for several weeks, but had Sevilla's Brazilian right-sided midfielder Daniel Alves as their prime target.

But the Spanish club are insisting on a £12 million deal, and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez deems that too high, fearing it would wipe out his entire summer transfer budget.

Benitez claimed on Monday that Liverpool could have another two players in by the weekend, and his first target was clearly Pennant.

Birmingham have confirmed that they have turned down one bid of £3.5 million from Liverpool, and manager Steve Bruce said he was insisting on an £8 million fee due to the 25 per cent sell-on clause in the deal when he signed the player from Arsenal for £3 million a year ago.

In talks yesterday Liverpool are believed to have agreed a £6.2 million deal, which will leave Benitez funds to bring in another striker.

That could be Feyenoord's Holland international Dirk Kuyt, but they will have to try to negotiate down the Dutch club's £12 million asking price.

If the deal for Pennant finally goes through, it will solve a year-long problem for Benitez. He has tried to sign a right-sided attacker in each of the past three transfer windows.

Bruce confirmed he had rejected an offer of around £3.5 million from Benitez. He said: "Until they meet our valuation, they will get the same answer." But he could use the money from a Pennant deal for Coventry striker Gary McSheffrey. Birmingham have had two bids rejected for Coventry's leading scorer last season, and Bruce is keen to sign up support for DJ Campbell, Mikael Forssell and Cameron Jerome after the sale of Emile Heskey to Wigan.