Football Gossip

Portsmouth have agreed the transfer of Peter Crouch for £10million from Liverpool. The England international has been linked to several clubs recently when Rafa Benitez the Liverpool manager confirmed that Crouch was no longer part of his plans for the coming season.

Linvoy Primus the Portsmouth right back claims that he is fully expecting the arrival of Peter Crouch this summer. Recently the papers have stated that the move to Fraton Park is imminent and could occur in the next 24 hours.  

Primus told The News: “It looks like it will happen. I don’t think it’s a secret. I just think the clubs couldn’t agree terms.

“It’s like Gareth Barry going to Liverpool - you just expect it to happen.

“I don’t think it was Peter stopping it - it boiled down to the two clubs getting together and sorting it out. That’s usually the reason why these things take so long.

“Once the clubs agree I’m sure it’s a done deal.”

Harry Redknapp the Portsmouth manager has not concealed his desire to re-sign Crouch Portsmouth and the deal appears to be edging ever-closer.

Primus said: “He’s (Crouch) going to be an asset and I’m sure a lot of fans would like to see him as well.

“I remember him first time around and he was always destined to go on and do well. You don’t score 18 goals in a struggling team and not go and push on - and he has.

“Everybody knew about his ability. We used to see it in training every day and it’s no surprise seeing him play for England and scoring goals. It was no surprise when Liverpool signed him.”

Peter Crouch has one of the most impressive scoring records for England, with 28 appearances and 14 goals.

Some of the best Peter Crouch goals:

Paul Ince the new Blackburn manager has confirmed his desire for David Bentley to remain at Blackburn this season.

Bentley has continually linked with big money transfer away from Blackburn, in order to continue to improve his footballing career this summer but Ince is set on retaining the midfielder.

Although there has been no official approach by any club Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa are the most likely suitors.

It was discovered in Thursday’s press that the former MK Dons manager held talks with the want-a-way midfielder restating his claim to keep the England international.

In an interview Ince said:

“We are going to have to deal with a lot of speculation but I want David here next season.

”I’m looking forward to seeing him for pre-season training.”

“We are obviously going to have to deal with a lot of speculation.

“But as far as I’m concerned, I want David here next season and I’m looking forward to seeing him on 7th July for pre-season training.”

Current estimations value the player at £15million, however, with Ince unwilling to sell his best players a transfer remains unlikely.

David Bentley’s superb finish against Salzburg:

Aston Villa have rejected another bid for the England midfielder Gareth Barry. It is believed that Liverpool have had a £16million deal turned down, insisting that the player is worth £18million.

This transfer saga is has taken this prolonged course as both managers are budging sparingly.

An Aston Villa club statement read,
“The report in today’s paper of a £17 million offer for Gareth Barry is inaccurate,”

“The club have received a renewed offer from Liverpool for the player but that still falls well short of Aston Villa’s evaluation, and has subsequently been rejected.”

In the meantime Barry has been disciplined by Villa having criticised manager Martin O’Neill and pleaded for a move to Anfield.

Rafa Benitez is irritated by Aston Villa’s high valuation of the player which is the only barrier preventing the transfer of the player but is happy to bide his time as there seems to be no other competition for the midfielder’s signature.

Barry has had a great season for Aston Villa and England. Due to his great England contributions he is viewed as a future partner for Steven Gerrad in the middle of the park. These impressive performances have clearly caught the eye of Rafa Benitez ready to find replacement for the outgoing Alonso.

Gareth Barry in action: