RAFA BENITEZ has issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested in Peter Crouch and insists the big striker still has a huge future at Liverpool.
The England hitman has scored just once in his last 10 appearances while Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy have struck up a formidable partnership in recent weeks. As a result several clubs, including Newcastle, have declared their admiration for the 6ft 7in former Southampton ace.
But Benitez says there are no plans to offload Crouch, 25, next month. The Kop boss insisted: “I’m happy with the strikers I have here. “We don’t want to sell Peter. We are not even thinking about it. We are in four competitions and I want to keep my strikers. I’m happy with Peter.”
Benitez has told Crouch his time will come again. The manager added: “When we played with Kuyt and Crouch we were winning five games in a row and people were saying the understanding between them is good.
“Now it’s being said about Bellamy and Kuyt. But Robbie Fowler is also a clever player. “All four are good and they must be ready because we have four games in a few days.” Benitez also admitted he does not expect to bring in major reinforcements in the January window. He added: “Top sides need to look for good players in the transfer market but at this moment in time it is not a priority.”
