by Scottbot » Wed May 30, 2007 4:52 pm
Kewell keen on staying
Oliver Kay and Gary Jacob
May 31, 2007
HARRY KEWELL intends to fight for his place at Liverpool, despite interest from Aston Villa.
Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, is understood to be lining up a double bid to sign Kewell and Craig Bellamy, who is surplus to requirements at Anfield, but Kewell hopes to earn an extension to his Liverpool contract, which expires next year.
Kewell has been given a boost in the past week - with both his left-wing rivals, Boudewijn Zenden and Mark Gonzalez, about to leave the club - but coach Rafael Benitez hopes to bring in a top-class reinforcement in that position. Florent Malouda, of Lyon, is the favourite and is available for about pound stg. 10million ($24.2m).
Mancini, the AS Roma winger, is a possible target, while Benitez is also monitoring the situation of Carlos Tevez, the West Ham United forward.
Wigan Athletic has stepped up its efforts to sign Liverpool's Sami Hyypia, despite his claim he plans to stay at Anfield for the final year of his contract.
The Times