ROBBIE KEANE moved closer to his dream transfer to Liverpool yesterday as the Merseysiders prepared to make an offer worth in the region of €25.3 million for the striker, and Juande Ramos, the Tottenham manager, admitted his club would be duty bound to consider it.
Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has identified Keane as a realistic target up front - he envisages him forming a partnership with Fernando Torres - and as the club's move for the Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry encounters difficulties they have made Keane their priority signing.
Liverpool reason that having sold Peter Crouch to Portsmouth, and with funds tight, their need is more urgent for a replacement striker. They had hoped to sell the midfielder Xabi Alonso to Juventus to swell the transfer kitty but the Italian club signed Christian Poulsen from Sevilla instead and have declared their summer spending is over. Although Liverpool still want Barry, who is also desperate to join them, they have refused to pay Villa's asking price of €23 million. The Barry saga has rumbled on since the end of last season to damaging effect and Liverpool, who have opened a channel of communication with Tottenham, do not want a repeat over Keane. They intend to act decisively.
Tottenham have maintained neither Keane nor Dimitar Berbatov, their other leading striker, who is the subject of a €25.3 million bid from Manchester United, are for sale. They have not encouraged the interest in either player and, as ever, the chairman Daniel Levy will play hard ball with their suitors. United will have to increase their offer for Berbatov and appear content to play a waiting game, yet things are expected to move more quickly with Keane and Liverpool.
Alex Ferguson, the United manager, refused to mention Berbatov by name yesterday but he did confirm his club was in the market to sign at least one new player.
"We have made a bid for one player who would enhance us a great deal," he said.
Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has signed a new five-year contract with the Scottish champions. The 21-year-old Republic of Ireland winger received the club's player of the year award last night.
