A DAY after Robbie Keane’s latest humiliation at the hands of Rafael Benitez, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp confirmed that he would be interested in bringing the Republic of Ireland skipper back to White Harte Lane but stopped some distance short of launching a bid for the striker.
“I wouldn’t sit here and say I wouldn’t like to have Robbie Keane at my football club, I’d be a liar, but he belongs to Liverpool so it is not an option unfortunately,” he said at a press conference to confirm the signings of Carlo Cudicini (18-month contract) and Pascal Chimbonda, the latter the second player to be brought back to north London by the manager in a little over a week.
“As a player and a person I have a lot of time for Robbie Keane. I think he’s fantastic,” added the former West Ham and Portsmouth boss who has been linked with moves for a number of strikers, including Kevin Doyle, if he can first generate the cash required by offloading Darren Bent.
Although he grew up a Liverpool fan and has only been at the club a matter of months, Keane’s position at Liverpool is really starting to look untenable in the wake of Sunday’s failure to make even the bench for the FA Cup game against Everton.
Neither his manager’s explanation that: “He was not selected (because) I have a very good squad,” nor the observation that: “He is working hard and the most important thing for me is that players work hard”, is likely to have consoled the 28-year-old much either.
Having explained that he had overlooked the Irishman on the basis of teenager David Ngog’s two goals in a midweek reserve team game, however, Benitz did at least show some awareness of Keane’s likely state of mind just now when he admitted: “I don’t think he will be happy.”
Keane’s problem is that while his prospects at Anfield look limited so too do his options outside of it. The bookies were touting for business on where he might end up next with Everton the favourites but a return to Tottenham looks the most plausible escape route given that the cancellation of future instalments of the €21.2 million fee agreed for him last summer would be more palatable than taking a hit of perhaps half that amount or more on letting him go to somewhere like Goodison Park.
As it happens Keane is just one of a dozen players included by Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni last week in his 25-man squad for the Georgia game who might switch clubs by the time the transfer window closes next Tuesday (see panel).
The most prominent amongst them is Shay Given who, along with his solicitor Michael Kennedy, is reported to have held talks with Newcastle United officials yesterday about a move to Manchester City, said to be worth around €10 million.
Given is unlikely to play at City tomorrow night as all parties would prefer the player was not involved and there has been mounting speculation as to who might travel the other way as part of the deal with Richard Dunne’s name popping up regularly.
Stephen Ireland, meanwhile, has voiced strong support for Manchester City manager Mark Hughes amid ongoing speculation that the club’s owners may seek a more high-profiled replacement for the Welshman as they try to recruit world-class players.
During his negotiations with the club, Kaka is said to have insisted upon Hughes’ removal before he would contemplate completing any move to Eastlands. Ireland, though, insists Hughes has the support of the players who are anxious to play for him despite their poor run of form over the past few months and the recent problems with star player Robinho.
“The gaffer is working hard and he’s a great man,” said the Corkman via the club’s official website. “He’ll do great things for the club. He cares a lot about the game, his job and his players, so it’s important that he stays here. Everyone’s really happy, even Robinho, he is smiling back in training. Training is great. We just need to get on a winning streak.”
A star performer in his 29 games for the club this season, the midfielder said he had particularly benefited from Hughes’ consistent willingness to hand him a central role. “Looking back over last season, I was played out of position a lot on the left and the right by Sven (Goran Eriksson),” he said. “He didn’t want to leave me out of the team but this year the gaffer has kept me in the same position and I’m really hungry this year as well. I’m really sick of not being up there with the best and I really want to prove to the fans and to myself I have the strength to do it. I don’t want to look back on my career and have regrets.”
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT: IRISH PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
Shay Given
After more than a decade at Newcastle, during which time he has played more than 350 games, the goalkeeper looks set to complete a €10 million move to Manchester City. Few will blame him for finally tiring of the St James' Park circus.
Dean Kiely
Arrived at West Brom a year ago but has since being displaced from the first team by the arrival of Scott Carson during the summer after featuring just once. Given his age, he may seek one last shot at regular action. Said to be of interest to a number of Championship sides.
Paul McShane
Recalled from a successful loan spell at Hull City, the defender went straight into the Sunderland team against Aston Villa. Was blamed for the visitors' winner and missed Saturday's meeting with Blackburn due to being cup-tied.
Steve Finnan
With Espanyol keen to cut their losses on the former Liverpool full-back who has been plagued by injury since moving to Spain in August, Hull, Tottenham and Newcastle led the chase for the Irish international. Spurs only wanted a loan deal which ruled them out while the player failed a medical at Hull and Newcastle have since looked to France for a right back, leaving his future very much up in the air.
Richard Dunne
A regular winner of City's player of the year award in recent seasons, speculation has suddenly developed around the Dubliner's future at the club because of a dip in form and talk of high-priced replacements. Newcastle want him and he might just end up being part of the Shay Given deal.
Kevin Kilbane
Moved to Hull in an attempt to secure regular first-team football after slipping down the pecking order at Wigan. His versatility is highly prized by Phil Brown who had also been anxious to add top-flight experience to his squad.
Aiden McGeady
Disciplinary problems have dented his relationship with Gordon Strachan and while his decision not to challenge a fine imposed for the dressingroom row he had with the manager has helped patch things up, their truce is said to be an uneasy one and he could still head south in the final flurry on transfer activity.
Liam Miller
Having slipped below Roy Keane's radar this season, the Corkman's prospects didn't appear to improve much when Ricky Sbragia took charge and he was allowed to leave for QPR who are said to have signed him on the recommendation of Giovanni Trapattoni. Has yet to make his debut for the Londoners.
Stephen Hunt
Has made no secret of his desire to make a swift return to the English top flight and has a clause allowing him to leave for around €5.3 million. Spurs, Wigan and Everton are all said to be interested.
Caleb Folan
After a couple of false starts, the big striker got his international career started under Giovanni Trapattoni which may have the effect of hastening his departure from Hull. Has started just one game since scoring the winner on the opening day of the season and QPR are reported to have targeted him.
Kevin Doyle
Also believed to have an escape clause with the required trigger likely to be something approaching twice the €5.3 million needed to prise Hunt away. Spurs and Villa have been the clubs most regularly linked with the striker.
Robbie Keane
Things have gone bad to worse for the Irish captain at Liverpool with the Dubliner unable even to make the bench for Sunday's FA Cup game against Everton. Has been dignified about his problems at the club to date but apparently didn't attend the derby game prompting a wave of speculation that his relationship with the manager has broken down. Harry Redknapp said yesterday that he'd like to bring him back to White Hart Lane.
A handful of more peripheral Irish players have been on the move (or talking about it) too with Willo Flood either about to make his loan spell at Dundee United permanent or, perhaps, make a switch to Celtic and Darren Potter having gone from Wolves to Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
– Emmet Malone
