Birmingham City made a move this afternoon to deny the reports in the press this morning that they had agreed a fee with Liverpool for the transfer of Jermaine Pennant.
The statement, issued through their official website, reads as follows:
CLUB STATEMENT REGARDING JERMAINE PENNANTContrary to reports in today’s media, Birmingham City Football Club has not agreed a fee with Liverpool FC for Jermaine Pennant.
The two clubs have talked on a couple of occasions but Birmingham City and Liverpool Football Club are a long way off in their respective valuations of the player.
Until Birmingham’s valuation is met, the Club will not even consider a move for Pennant.
As Birmingham City have continually stated, they are not looking to sell any of their best players.
Claims of transfer fees being agreed and bids being made are forever appearing in newspapers, but it’s unusual for clubs to make statements like this. The statement hints that Birmingham are ready to sell the player, although they are going to lengths to make sure they aren’t perceived as actually offering their players to other clubs.
The media event at Anfield yesterday to help launch the club’s new partnership with Adidas will have given Liverpool an opportunity to drop hints about targets if they so wished.
Today’s story in the Mirror from David Maddock quoted £6million and that the deal was done. Chris Bascombe of the Echo is quoting £5million, and says the deal is not yet done.
Rafa wants to get some players in, that’s no secret, but he’d not reveal who. He did confirm though that the policy remains the same over transfer fees – Liverpool will not be ripped off. He said: “We are continuing to work to bring in more players, but it’s difficult to say where we are at this moment, it depends on two or three factors. We are closer with some players, but I’m not the kind of manager who will say ‘I want this player and I’ll pay £20m to get him’ if his value is only £10m. We don’t have the money for doing this and we have a responsibility. We will try to sign the best players for us with the money we have.”
Rafa also said that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he had to wait to clinch the transfers until January again, like he did with Daniel Agger last season. “I’m really happy with the squad now, but we will continue working and I think this week we can make one or two signings. If not, we can wait a little longer.”