Keane's future undecided

LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez remained coy about the future of Robbie Keane after the striker was left out of his side's crucial 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Although Benitez said that he believes Keane will still be at Anfield after Monday's transfer deadline, there were suggestions on Sunday that the Republic of Ireland international is on the verge of returning to his former club Tottenham in a 15 million-pounds deal.

Keane, who only joined Liverpool in pre-season, was forced to watch from the main stand as Fernando Torres struck twice in the dying moments to reduce Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premier League table to two points and keep Liverpool's title hopes alive.

Even if Keane doesn't leave on Monday, his long-term future must be in doubt but the Liverpool manager appeared irritated having to answer questions about the former Leeds star's future after Sunday's win.

"I think so," Benitez said unconvincingly when asked whether Keane would still be at the club after the transfer deadline had passed.

Pressed for an explanation as to why he left Keane out of his plans for Chelsea, Benitez said: "You have to decide on all the players you have.

"We have some good players and we were thinking about the best way of approaching this game. I haven't received any offers (for Keane). Has the club? I don't know.

"I spoke to him before and after the game. He was pleased after because the team had won."
Pressed further about Keane's future, Benitez added: "I will not talk about if, if, if. He's here, he's our player and that's it. I want to enjoy this win. The situation is we have won three points."
Keane has played just six minutes of Liverpool's last three games and has now failed to feature in four of the last seven outings.

He has not completed a full 90 minutes for the club since the 3-1 Champions League victory in Holland against PSV Eindhoven on December 12.

Keane cost 20 million pounds when he moved to Anfield from Tottenham but reports on Sunday suggested that Harry Redknapp is ready to bring him back to White Hart Lane.

According to various sources in the English press, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £15 million deal that will see Robbie Keane return to White Hart Lane.

The Irish forward arrived at Anfield only six months, but he has failed to make an impact since his £20m dream move to the club he supported as a child.

And now, after being omitted from the Reds’ critical 2-0 victory against Chelsea yesterday, the 28-year-old is expected to rejoin a Spurs side desperate for some attacking options.

The Lilywhites have already re-signed Jermain Defoe, but the England forward will miss the next three weeks through injury. That leaves only Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko up top, and that partnership hasn’t gelled particularly well.

Thus, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants Keane to reclaim the second-striker role and forge an understanding with Pavlyuchenko that could prove as profitable as his much-heralded pairing with Dimitar Berbatov.

No word from either club as yet, though, so it remains to be seen whether the deal has actually been struck

LONDON, England - The Gunners and Zenit St Petersburg have still not agreed a fee for the Russian international but the midfielder has decided to travel to the capital in case that changes.
Arshavin is staying in a hotel in Hertfordshire near to Arsenal's training ground and will travel there for a medical if a late deal is agreed.

The proposed transfer of the playmaker has been one of the most talked about and debated deals of the transfer window with Arsenal said to be unwilling to pay more than £12 million for a player that Zenit originally valued at £20 million.

Last week Arsene Wenger reiterated his desire to sign the Russian but insisted the club would not be held to ransom.

"If we can find an agreement, we will do it, if we cannot we will not overspend what we have planned to do," he said.

Arshavin, who was one of the stars of Euro 2008, has reportedly agreed to repay Zenit half of a £4m signing-on fee to leave the club, and he is thought to have agreed to a salary cut in order to secure a move to the Emirates.