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Spurs look to rescue Keane from his Liverpool misery with cut- price bid in January sales
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:44 PM on 07th December 2008
Tottenham Hotspur want to bring Liverpool striker Robbie Keane back to White Hart Lane and will attempt to resign him during the January transfer window.
Former Spurs forward Keane joined Liverpool for £20m last summer but has had a disappointing start to life on Merseyside.
He has scored just four times this season, played 0 minutes just three times and and been substituted 15 times.
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Robbie Keane
Keane was also an unused substitute in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Blackburn yesterday which suggests Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has run out of patience with the Republic of Ireland frontman.
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Benitez is considering shaking up his squad in January and Keane has until the end of the year to convince the Kop boss not to sell him.
[i]Liverpool agreed to pay Spurs £20m in instalments which means Spurs could offer part of the summer fee and waive the estimated £10m still owed, reports The News of the World.
£20m Keane facing Anfield exit but Liverpool stay top
By Joe Bernstein Last updated at 1:06 AM on 07th December 2008Rafa Benitez could be calling time on Robbie Keane's Liverpool career in January after the £20million striker was forced to watch yesterday's victory from the bench.
While Blackburn's defeat piled more pressure on their struggling manager Paul Ince, striker Keane is also sweating on his future.
Scroll down for more
Lonely striker: Robbie Keane takes his place on the bench against Blackburn
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But the Liverpool manager had few regrets about his treatment of Keane after seeing his side stay a point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League with a fluent attacking performance that laid down a marker to their title rivals.
Benitez said: 'It wasn't easy to leave him on the bench, but I had to do what is best for the team. He didn't come on because I wanted to swap players who play in the same position. So, when I needed to bring Babel off, I chose El Zhar - a winger for a winger.'
Keane has scored in only one Premier League game so far - at home to West Brom - and been substituted in 15 of his last 18 games.
So, it was particularly pointed when Benitez added: 'We were more clinical than in previous games.
'We knew Blackburn would put pressure on us but the players showed they could cope with it.'
There have been whispers within the Anfield corridors that certain players were finding it difficult to play with the individualistic Keane, a boyhood Liverpool fan, who hailed his summer switch from Spurs as 'a dream move'.
While Keane sat stony-faced and resorting to gentle neck exercises to keep him awake, Liverpool - also without the injured Fernando Torres - hit the form which belied their two previous results at home, both 0-0 draws.
Huge lift: Xabi Alonso of Liverpool celebrates scoring the first goal with Alvaro Arbeloa
Once Xabi Alonso had broken the deadlock after 69 minutes, Liverpool looked home and dry.
Yossi Benayoun added a second and, although Roque Santa Cruz pulled a goal back late on, Steven Gerrard restored Liverpool's two-goal advantage in injury-time.
To add to Keane's woes, Benitez then sent out a message by sending on two late subs, Lucas Leiva and Albert Riera.
Meanwhile, Liverpool old boy Ince remains under severe pressure despite an improved performance yesterday.
His Blackburn side remain second-bottom after 10 games without a win. Saturday's derby at Wigan is now a must-win game for Rovers, with Ince criticised for missing training sessions and the players reportedly unhappy with some of his coaching staff.
Ince admits he is under pressure along with the team, but said yesterday's game could be a turning point.
Disappointed: Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson
'It was a harsh scoreline. Anyone who says different doesn't know football,' he said.
'The way the players performed showed me they were playing for the manager - and that has put a smile on my face. Now we have five cup finals and I hope this is a turning point.'
Ince's former Manchester United team-mate, Roy Keane, left Sunderland last week and with Mark Hughes under pressure at Manchester City, this is not a good period for Sir Alex Ferguson's former charges.
But Ince insisted: 'If we carry on playing like that, we should be mid-table rather than in a relegation fight. I can't fault anyone's effort.'
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:44 PM on 07th December 2008
Tottenham Hotspur want to bring Liverpool striker Robbie Keane back to White Hart Lane and will attempt to resign him during the January transfer window.
Former Spurs forward Keane joined Liverpool for £20m last summer but has had a disappointing start to life on Merseyside.
He has scored just four times this season, played 0 minutes just three times and and been substituted 15 times.
function
Robbie Keane
Keane was also an unused substitute in Liverpool's 3-1 win at Blackburn yesterday which suggests Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has run out of patience with the Republic of Ireland frontman.
More...
- £20m Keane facing Anfield exit but Liverpool stay top
- Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3: Rovers boss Ince has five games to save his job
Benitez is considering shaking up his squad in January and Keane has until the end of the year to convince the Kop boss not to sell him.
[i]Liverpool agreed to pay Spurs £20m in instalments which means Spurs could offer part of the summer fee and waive the estimated £10m still owed, reports The News of the World.
£20m Keane facing Anfield exit but Liverpool stay top
By Joe Bernstein Last updated at 1:06 AM on 07th December 2008Rafa Benitez could be calling time on Robbie Keane's Liverpool career in January after the £20million striker was forced to watch yesterday's victory from the bench.
While Blackburn's defeat piled more pressure on their struggling manager Paul Ince, striker Keane is also sweating on his future.
Scroll down for more
Lonely striker: Robbie Keane takes his place on the bench against BlackburnMore...
- Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3: Rovers boss Ince has five games to save his job
- Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3: All the action as it unfolded
- Liverpool's Benitez roasted at charity dinner as fans gang up with Sky pundits
- LIVERPOOL FC: All the latest news from across the web
But the Liverpool manager had few regrets about his treatment of Keane after seeing his side stay a point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League with a fluent attacking performance that laid down a marker to their title rivals.
Benitez said: 'It wasn't easy to leave him on the bench, but I had to do what is best for the team. He didn't come on because I wanted to swap players who play in the same position. So, when I needed to bring Babel off, I chose El Zhar - a winger for a winger.'
Keane has scored in only one Premier League game so far - at home to West Brom - and been substituted in 15 of his last 18 games.
So, it was particularly pointed when Benitez added: 'We were more clinical than in previous games.
'We knew Blackburn would put pressure on us but the players showed they could cope with it.'
There have been whispers within the Anfield corridors that certain players were finding it difficult to play with the individualistic Keane, a boyhood Liverpool fan, who hailed his summer switch from Spurs as 'a dream move'.
While Keane sat stony-faced and resorting to gentle neck exercises to keep him awake, Liverpool - also without the injured Fernando Torres - hit the form which belied their two previous results at home, both 0-0 draws.
Huge lift: Xabi Alonso of Liverpool celebrates scoring the first goal with Alvaro ArbeloaOnce Xabi Alonso had broken the deadlock after 69 minutes, Liverpool looked home and dry.
Yossi Benayoun added a second and, although Roque Santa Cruz pulled a goal back late on, Steven Gerrard restored Liverpool's two-goal advantage in injury-time.
To add to Keane's woes, Benitez then sent out a message by sending on two late subs, Lucas Leiva and Albert Riera.
Meanwhile, Liverpool old boy Ince remains under severe pressure despite an improved performance yesterday.
His Blackburn side remain second-bottom after 10 games without a win. Saturday's derby at Wigan is now a must-win game for Rovers, with Ince criticised for missing training sessions and the players reportedly unhappy with some of his coaching staff.
Ince admits he is under pressure along with the team, but said yesterday's game could be a turning point.
Disappointed: Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson'It was a harsh scoreline. Anyone who says different doesn't know football,' he said.
'The way the players performed showed me they were playing for the manager - and that has put a smile on my face. Now we have five cup finals and I hope this is a turning point.'
Ince's former Manchester United team-mate, Roy Keane, left Sunderland last week and with Mark Hughes under pressure at Manchester City, this is not a good period for Sir Alex Ferguson's former charges.
But Ince insisted: 'If we carry on playing like that, we should be mid-table rather than in a relegation fight. I can't fault anyone's effort.'
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