Tottenham assistant manager Gus Poyet has ruled out selling Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane to Liverpool, claming the loss would be "too much" for the club.
Keane has reportedly been targeted by Rafael Benitez, with Peter Crouch being offered as a makeweight in a €19million deal.
Poyet has refused to entertain the possibility, however, telling the Sunday Star: "We can't afford to let Robbie go.
"We have lost Jermain Defoe and, hopefully Dimitar Berbatov will stay.
"If we lost Robbie it would be too much," said the Uruguayan. "We have to keep our best players if we want to achieve something."
It is the first comment from Spurs on the matter since the story broke last week.
Keane recently signed a new contract with the London club but it was thought he may have been tempted by a move to the club he supported as a boy and the promise of Champions League football.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are thought to be considering offering Irish full-back Steve Finnan plus €19m for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry.
The News of the Worldclaims the 32-year-old will be offered to soften the blow to Villa and help meet Martin O'Neill's valuation of €22m.
Barry is keen to leave the Birmingham club but Villa are not prepared to let him go got less than €22m. Liverpool have already offered €19m for the England international.
