Liverpool striker Milan Baros, missed out of the squad for last night’s Champions League game, is attracting interest from West Ham United. Their manager, Alan Pardew, says that he would be definitely interested in a move for the player – if Liverpool are wishing to sell him.
Pardew said: "I’m not going to talk directly about Milan because he’s still under contract – but we are after a striker and if someone of his quality is available I am going to go for him."
Baros complained publicly about his treatment last season, unhappy about being played out of position in a wide role or being on the pitch for too little time. With Liverpool struggling for strikers last season due to injuries Baros got more time on the pitch than perhaps he might have done, and with Liverpool adding Peter Crouch to their squad the Czech international could find himself warming the bench regularly.
Subject to passing a medical this morning Crouch will sign for £7million and will join Morientes, Cisse, Le Tallec, Mellor and Sinama-Pongolle as part of the Reds’ striking options.
Rafa Benitez hinted that Liverpool have had offers for the player, but in the world of contracts that trigger differing payouts depending on who instigates a move, wouldn’t publicly state he wants to sell him. Rafa said: “Milan is a good player, he was top scorer last season, but we have more options now and maybe some offers.” "He is a player that is important for us – but we know the market sometimes changes."
With so many strikers at the club now every one of those frontmen needs to fight to play a part in the season. Mellor and Sinama-Pongolle are both injured but expected back in action soon to fight along with the others. Benitez said: “They will have to work hard if they want to play and that is good for me. If you have more competition it is good for us”.
Rafa was asked if Baros still had a future at Anfield, and he said he does – for now: “At the moment we are working with all our strikers and Baros does have a future here. I am not preparing for anyone to go. I am working with my players, but if we receive any offers maybe some of them can go. It depends on the offers and it depends on the player also."