BraDeRz
11-05-02, 06:55 PM
Exclusive: Nicolas Anelka will play his last game for Liverpool on Saturday - with a £10million offer for Freddie Kanoute about to be made to West Ham.
Anelka's brief Anfield love affair is ending despite Paris Saint-Germain agreeing a fee for his permanent move to Merseyside and pushing for a quick completion.
Liverpool will make an opening, low offer for fellow Frenchman Kanoute over the weekend after meeting his agent Pape Diouf at Anfield yesterday.
Anelka has scored five goals during his loan spell but his demands for a contract of around £50,000 a week, plus the extras sought by his advisers, have put off manager Gerard Houllier and the club's money men.
A telling factor is also Anelka's style, which may be too similar to Michael Owen's. Right-sided and quick, the former Arsenal man may be too expensive simply to have as an option for the England star.
Anelka was brought in during one of Owen's worrying injury spells and, although they have played together, the Frenchman's arrival was always more in the shape of insurance cover. Kanoute is more adaptable, capable of playing on his own or with a partner.
His West Ham experiences have honed those skills, while his goal return has been impressive in an up-and-down side. West Ham are looking for £15m for Kanoute but if the former Lyon striker indicates he wants to move, it will be hard to keep him happy.
Anelka's brief Anfield love affair is ending despite Paris Saint-Germain agreeing a fee for his permanent move to Merseyside and pushing for a quick completion.
Liverpool will make an opening, low offer for fellow Frenchman Kanoute over the weekend after meeting his agent Pape Diouf at Anfield yesterday.
Anelka has scored five goals during his loan spell but his demands for a contract of around £50,000 a week, plus the extras sought by his advisers, have put off manager Gerard Houllier and the club's money men.
A telling factor is also Anelka's style, which may be too similar to Michael Owen's. Right-sided and quick, the former Arsenal man may be too expensive simply to have as an option for the England star.
Anelka was brought in during one of Owen's worrying injury spells and, although they have played together, the Frenchman's arrival was always more in the shape of insurance cover. Kanoute is more adaptable, capable of playing on his own or with a partner.
His West Ham experiences have honed those skills, while his goal return has been impressive in an up-and-down side. West Ham are looking for £15m for Kanoute but if the former Lyon striker indicates he wants to move, it will be hard to keep him happy.