LIVERPOOL’S Slovakian centre-half, Martin Skrtel, has confirmed that other clubs have made approaches for him but that first and foremost he is a Liverpool player.
It has been widely reported that, Premier League champions, Manchester City have shown an interest in the Slovakian international, who was rumoured to have become unsettled at Anfield due to the club’s poor league form in recent times.
Liverpool’s below par league showing last term cost, manager and Kop hero, Kenny Dalglish his position as the man in charge. However, Skrtel emerged from a disappointing campaign with plenty of plaudits, having been voted LFC’s Player of the Season.
Skrtel’s agent, Karel Csonto has said that the 27 year old will remain at Liverpool, and that negotiations surrounding an extension to the defender’s current contract, which has two years to run, have begun. Skrtel himself has been a little less committal, however, whilst making clear that he will honour the terms of his contract with the club.
In an interview with Slovakian newspaper Dennik Sport which has since been reported on skysports.com, Skrtel said:
“I am a player of Liverpool because I have a valid contract here. There exist a number of offers but without the permission of Liverpool nothing can move forward.
“We have been in talks about a new contract but it has not moved forward. At the moment I am a Liverpool player and what happens in future in football you can never foresee.
“Anything can happen but for now I have a valid contract and what is to come will come.”
New boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that he will rely on core players such as Martin Skrtel in the years to come and has no plans to let the defender leave. Skrtel, for his part, has been very impressed by what he’s seen from the manager so far. He went on to say:
“He [Rodgers] is absolutely OK. His motto is an open approach towards players and he is very human in the way he tries to communicate with us as much as possible.
“Thanks to him, the atmosphere within the club has changed. It is now more relaxed. It is difficult to compare but I must highlight the openness of the new manager,” added the centre-back.
“He told us right on the first training session we had the door open any time and anything we need we should come to him. He is a little bit different from Dalglish in this.”
You can catch Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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If LFC sell Skrtel we would be literally shooting ourselves in the foot especially to our PL rivals no matter whatever amount of money ,we need to keep our best players if we are seriously challenging for a top 4 finish. Coates is not ready to replace Skrtel and Carragher is not as young as he use to be.
Yep, couldn’t agree more. If we sell Skrtel it’ll be perhaps the most emphatic statement by the club yet that we’re in the business of letting out best players go.
Jst swap him with adam johnson, we need attacking football not deffending and loosing 7million plus adam johnson= skrtel, coates can adapt faster we shld aim @ attacking, the more we play attacking football the less other teams attack us eg barcelona
The fact Skrtel admitted ”We have been in talks about a new contract”, 100% proves he is willing and happy to stay at Liverpool, if he didnt want to stay, why would he be in contract extension negotiations?? These quotes will simply pressure LFC to speed up and improve their contract offer.
Sorry but i still think skrtel is totally average, he add nothing more to the team than downing did, I would like to see Kelly and Skrtel together or Coates but no skrtel anymore please, sell him for 15M£ Rodgers could buy one more player.