Thursday saw three current Liverpool players discuss their future’s at the club. Midfielder Xabi Alonso rubbished reports linking him with a move to Spain and Italy, defender Jack Hobbs expressed his desire to earn a new contract, and goalkeeper Scott Carson told how he hopes the club will lower their asking price to allow him to leave.
Carson has been on loan to Aston Villa and Rafa Benitez has put a £10m price tag on the England international. But Villa are reluctant to pay such a high price for the keeper they have first option on this summer. 22 year-old Carson arrived from Leeds for just £1m and Villa paid £2m to take him on loan last season so Liverpool have already recouped the initial fee.
With Pepe Reina firmly established as Liverpool’s number one, having collected his third consecutive golden glove award this week, and Carson said “Liverpool have a great keeper in Pepe Reina and he’s going to take a lot of shifting, but I’ve played football for the last two seasons and I don’t think I’ll be content sitting on the bench.”
“It’s too much. It’s stupid money really. It may be time to move but I don’t know if anyone will agree a fee. “I don’t think Liverpool are stupid. They know what I’m worth. They would’ve recouped what they paid for me in loan fees over the last couple of years, so hopefully they can help me out.”
While Carson hopes to move on this summer, one man who doesn’t is Spanish midfield maestro Alonso, recently linked with Real Madrid and Juventus. Benitez’s desire to bring Gareth Barry to the club have added to speculation linking Alonso with a move, but he said ‘œI think I will be here next season even if Barry comes.” ‘œHe would bring good competition and he would be more than welcome. He can play different positions and if he plays in midfield then I could play with him. I have no problem with that.
‘œAt the moment I feel I could stay here for many years. I have been here for four seasons already; why not seven or eight? As long as I am performing well and the club wants me to stay then I will.’
He also dismissed any reports of a problem between him and the manager; ‘œThere is no problem between me and the manager and I would like to clarify that. I have read that we have had an argument but our relationship is the same as it has been since I joined Liverpool. I spoke to the manager only the other day. He has never said that he wants me to leave.’
Another man hoping to remain at Anfield is 19 year old Jack Hobbs, who has spent the latter half of the season on loan to Scunthorpe United. Hobbs said “I’m sure something will happen this summer. They will either extend my contract or sell me. I want to stay, but ultimately it comes down to playing first-team football.
“I’m at the age where I want to get out there and make a name for myself. It would be ideal if that was at Liverpool, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
