English FA Premiership:The Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun has indicated to West Ham United that he wishes to leave the club, having been unsettled by confirmation that Liverpool have made a bid of around £3 million for him.
Rafael Benitez hopes to add Benayoun, whom he has tracked since his days at Racing Santander, to his ranks as he seeks further midfield options with Liverpool's chief executive, Rick Parry, confirming that a formal approach was made to West Ham last week. That offer was immediately rejected as the Londoners value the 27-year-old at nearer £5 million.
Benitez remains optimistic of reaching a compromise to land the Israeli but the Merseysiders' long-standing interest in Darren Bent will only result in a transfer if Charlton Athletic radically reduce their valuation of the England forward. The Championship club had agreed to sell Bent to West Ham for £17 million, only for the striker to reject the move following talks over personal terms at Upton Park.
Charlton have insisted that the valuation has effectively been set by West Ham's offer but Liverpool - who are competing with Tottenham Hotspur for his signature - would only be willing, and able, to offer around £10 million for the 23-year-old.
Furthermore, Benitez has other priorities to pursue in the market, with any deal potentially reliant on the sale of his Wales striker Craig Bellamy.
Jerzy Dudek is considering an offer to join Real Madrid at the end of the Spanish season after being told that his Liverpool deal would not be renewed.
The Polish international goalkeeper is wanted by the Bernabeu club to act as back-up for Iker Casillas and are keen to wrap up the free transfer next week.
Real Betis and Benfica are also said to be interested in securing the services of the player that was instrumental in the Champions League final penalty shoot-out two years ago for Liverpool.
Jose Reina though has become the number-one choice at Anfield and Benitez is keen to have a younger understudy.
Dudek's experience and willingness to be patient at Madrid has made him an attractive target and will allow the club to spend their budget on strengthening other positions in the side.
"After today's press speculation, I must admit that I have received an offer from one of the greatest clubs in the world, if not the greatest one," Dudek was reported in saying yesterday.
"I was able to keep it in the dark for a long time, because the first contact was established a dozen or so days ago.
"The offer is an honour for me. I am seriously considering it now. As for now, I can say that a few details have already been agreed upon."
Dudek moved to Liverpool in 2001 following a five-year spell in the Netherlands with Feyenoord.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are to make another attempt to prise Juande Ramos away from Spain despite the coach's public declarations that he wants to remain at Sevilla.
City's chief executive, Alistair Mackintosh believes Ramos can still be persuaded to fill the void left by Stuart Pearce's sacking and has not been deterred by the Spaniard's comments earlier this week that he had not had any contact and that his "dream" was to stay at Sevilla for at least one more year.
Publicly, Alvaro Torres, Ramos's agent, has described it as "nearly impossible" for his client to move to England, but insiders at City say there has been a very different message portrayed to them.
City are refusing to give up, having already missed out on their first-choice target, Claudio Ranieri, but they will have to wait at least one more week because Ramos first has to see out the Spanish season, with Sevilla still in with an outside chance of pipping Real Madrid and Barcelona to the title, and he has the final of the Copa Del Rey against Getafe to follow next Saturday.
City have distanced themselves from reports that former Juventus coach Didier Deschamps will be offered the job.
- Guardian Service
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