Ryan Babel (Liverpool)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez rules out sale of Babel

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8438149.stm

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has ruled out selling Dutch forward Ryan Babel in the January transfer window.

The 23-year-old Babel joined from Ajax in 2007 for an £11.5m fee, but has failed to start regularly and has been linked with a move away from Anfield.

"He (Babel) will have a chance to play," said Benitez after his side's 1-1 FA Cup draw with Reading.

"He has to work hard. He's our player and he will have his chances. At this moment we are not trying to sell him."

The Netherlands striker, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, has often found himself playing out of position on the left flank and has scored just nine league goals since arriving at Anfield.

In December 2008 Babel tried and failed to engineer a loan move to former club Ajax.

Benitez refused to be drawn on the possibility of Dutch pair Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rafael van der Vaart arriving from Real Madrid, only saying it would be "very, very difficult" to sign players this month.

Newspaper reports have linked the Dutch pair with loan moves to Liverpool, while speculation has also focused on the possible departures from Anfield of Andriy Voronin, Andrea Dossena and Philipp Degen.

Voronin has been on holiday in Miami over the Christmas period, having been frozen out by Benitez since a disappointing appearance in the Champions League draw in Lyon.

Atletico Madrid's winger Maxi Rodriguez and Greece international full-back Vasil Torosidis have also been linked with moves to Liverpool.

Liverpool are short of cover at right-back with Glen Johnson out for up to two months with a knee injury, while 19-year-old Martin Kelly is also currently sidelined.

Asked if he was considering signing a full-back, Benitez said: "Yes, we are working hard (on transfers) and trying to do our jobs, and we'll see if we can do something.

He added: "We are looking in the market but it's not easy to find good players available because the majority of them are playing in top sides. But we are trying to find solutions if we can.

"We have some good players who people are interested in because they're not playing too many games for us, but we have to manage carefully."

Off in the summer instead then

Hmm.

Just because he said that doesn't mean it's not going to happen.

He could just be being safe. If he came out with 'yes, we're getting rid' and then no deals came about it would look pretty bad.

From that i take it Voronin and Dossena are top of the list to go.

he is hardly goin to come out and say yes we want rid of him,unless he did an arry redknapp sellng darren bent of course
he wiil swop him for turan hopefully

Id say Rafa has priorities in what he wants to let go, and Babel wouldn't be top of that. But i doubt he has ruled it out completely, just isn't top of the list.

i remember when Rafa was being interviewed in the post match last season, and he was asked if he will sell Robbie Keane, he said "No..."
but then, the next day..Robbie Keane was sold back to Spurs.

Means lesser money for us to spend this time round.

Liverpool are short of cover at right-back with Glen Johnson out for up to two months with a knee injury, while 19-year-old Martin Kelly is also currently sidelined.

Are they serious?

I hope Babel doesnt turn into one those players who just wont F**k off when theyre not wanted.

I hope Babel doesnt turn into one those players who just wont F**k off when theyre not wanted.

Same
I hope he turns into one of those players who decides to book his ideas up and just starts working for his place in the squad.

I only hope Rafa's comments are code for

'Please somebody buy Ryan Babel.'

I only hope Rafa's comments are code for

'Please somebody buy Ryan Babel.'

He's playing a blinder trying to get back as much of his 11 million as possible

Are they serious?

I think Darby is the only fit right back, so at this stage they are serious and correct.

yeah he wont admit he will sell him,but a decent enough offer and he will

Same
I hope he turns into one of those players who decides to book his ideas up and just starts working for his place in the squad.

If he does buck his ideas up it can only be at training because he will not get played despite the appalling form of Kuyt.

If he does buck his ideas up it can only be at training because he will not get played despite the appalling form of Kuyt.

Totally disagree Kuyts work rate has been second ton none , Think you have been watching differant games to me!

I think Darby is the only fit right back, so at this stage they are serious and correct.

Degen is not injured, is he? And Kelly should be back in 2 weeks. I don't think buying a right back is of any priority at the moment

If he does buck his ideas up it can only be at training because he will not get played despite the appalling form of Kuyt.

Totally disagree Kuyts work rate has been second ton none , Think you have been watching differant games to me!

Big difference between form and effort though, mate. I could never fault Kuyt's workrate but I'm losing count of the number of attacking moves that break down due to his poor first touch or hurried pass.

Babel & kuyt have the worst first touch I have ever seen in any dutch players. .

Totally disagree Kuyts work rate has been second ton none , Think you have been watching differant games to me!

I thought the poster was referring to Babel upping his work ethic not Kuyt - I dont disagree with Kuyts work rate its his performances that have been shocking.

We have Kelly, Degen and Darby for right-back. Rafa said that Kelly should be back in 1 week. I think Darby and Kelly are great, just a matter of playing games.

From the title, I thought we'd somehow resigned him!