AS ONE leading Irish international, Richard Dunne, appears to have found some peace after a flurry of transfer speculation, another, Robbie Keane, is now plunged into the rumour mill over a potential shock move from Tottenham Hotspur to Liverpool.
Keane has been the subject of intense scrutiny for the past 48 hours and is reported to have requested to leave White Hart Lane after hearing Liverpool had offered Peter Crouch plus €6.3 million for his services.
The story is, however, emerging from London and has been greeted with some scepticism in the northwest of England, where observers closely connected to Liverpool said yesterday the Anfield club simply did not have sufficient finance at present to conclude such a deal for Keane.
Keane, 28 next week, signed a new five-year contract at Tottenham last year and has looked as committed as ever during a season that saw him lose manager Martin Jol, to whom he was close, for Jaunde Ramos. Keane also won the League Cup at Wembley in February and must feel he and Tottenham are in a prime position to build upon that and challenge in the Premier League for a Champions League place next season. Keane appears a Tottenham man and it would be a surprise that he should submit a transfer request.
There may, however, be internal politics at White Hart Lane of which we are unaware. And the notion of playing Champions League football for Liverpool alongside Euro 2008 winner Fernando Torres and in front of Steven Gerrard and his expected new midfield partner, Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, is an attractive one.
But the doubts as to the overall story begin with Barry, whose controversial move from Villa to Anfield is yet to be finalised. One reason for the delay is that to fund the possible €22.75-million deal, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez must sell players.
In relation to Barry there is a direct link to Xavi Alonso's proposed €20-million transfer to Juventus. But that is progressing less swiftly than had been imagined, and yesterday Alonso cast doubt on whether his move to Italy would happen at all.
"I have no idea (what the future holds); right now I am just thinking about going on holiday, sitting back and relaxing," Alonso said. "We all need time to sit back and think about what we (Spain) achieved and to take it all in. I will be able to think about all that has gone on and what is going to happen regarding my future later on. We will see what happens when I get back."
Liverpool have a new stadium to build and interest payments on loans were mentioned yesterday, which, in part, is why Benitez is having to listen to offers for Crouch, Scott Carson and Yossi Benayoun. Benayoun has been linked to Ajax but the Dutch club could hardly equal the wages Benayoun receives on Merseyside.
Liverpool will also accept about €2 million for Steve Finnan, but while the former Ireland international has interested Fulham, from whom he moved five years ago, wages are again an issue that may prevent his return there.
Hence Finnan may stay at Anfield - he signed a new three-year contract last July - meaning it may be his full-back rival Alvaro Arbeloa who is sold. The impression is that before Benitez can look at players such as Keane, he has several other priorities.
An intriguing aspect of the Keane-to-Liverpool story, which has been mooted, is that it may be Tottenham's manager Ramos floating the thought of Keane leaving Spurs.
Richard Dunne, with a new manager in Mark Hughes in place at Manchester City, and with the club willing to up his salary considerably, will doubtless feel some relief that he is no longer the subject of daily speculation about his future.
In the wake of Sven-Goran Eriksson's dismissal and with City owner Thaksin Shinawatra acting unpredictably, Dunne was thought certain to leave Manchester. Tottenham and Portsmouth led the race to sign the centre-half but on Monday night the Portsmouth chief executive, Peter Storrie, conceded Dunne would not be moving south.
"We're not expecting anything to happen," Storrie said of Dunne, "it looks like he's going to stay at City."
Another Irish international with a question about his future, the Wolves midfielder Darren Potter, is interesting Burnley. The 23-year-old former Liverpool player has been told by Mick McCarthy he can leave Molineux.
SOCCER: Page 2
