Football Corner

After Rafa Benitez announced the asking price for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch many clubs have been linked with making a move for the player. Crouch, who hasn't really been playing enough games this season for his own liking, has been linked with several clubs in recent days after Liverpool apparently contacted a number of Premier League sides earlier in the week.

Newcastle, Portsmouth, Man City and Aston Villa are just four names that have been linked with the striker who scored another international goal last night for England in their 1-0 win against Austria. Crouch has fallen way down the pecking order this season due to the arrivals of Andriy Voronin and Fernando Torres this summer.

Benitez has been told that he must sell players before buying more in January and Crouch is almost certain to be one of the players to be sold. Crouch, who has actually be playing in recent weeks, really needs to start playing first team football week in week out. I really hope Crouch leaves Liverpool in January and starts getting his club career back on track.

Atletico Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez has admitted that he would be open to a move to Liverpool after the Reds revealed an interest in the player. The player has impressed Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez in recent months with some terrific displays for the Spanish outfit. The player joined Bilbao last year from Osasuna.

"I see Premier League matches on the television and the atmosphere is wonderful," he told skysports.com. "But I don't really know anything [about the interest] as I haven't spoken with anyone. "My sole mission at the moment is to work hard for Athletic and help the team. "If an offer does arrive I would look at what is best for two parts, myself and Athletic."

Martinez is one of the most highly rated midfielders in Spain at the moment. If Liverpool are to sign the player in January that will almost definitely see the end of Momo Sissoko's stay at the club with Everton, Inter Milan or Juventus the most likely candidates to sign the Mali international. I would be surprised if Liverpool don't face competition for Martinez' signature in January.

Everton manager David Moyes may be set to make a January move for Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko after the Mali international admitted that he may have to leave Anfield to start getting first team football again.

The midfielder is said to be finding it hard to understand why he hasn't received much first team football this season after such a good campaign last year.

The player said last month that he regretted not leaving Liverpool during the summer after an offer of £7 million from Italian giants cam in. It now looks as though Everton are one of the front runners for the 22-year old along with Juve and Inter Milan. Sissoko is now fifth in the pecking order at Anfield for a centre midfield place behind Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano and Leiva.

I can understand why Rafa isn't playing the player because he has got a lot of quality in that area already. I am almost certain now that Sissoko will leave the club in January but it's just who will he join. I think Sissoko is a good player and would do well somewhere else and I for one wish him the best of luck. My guess is that he may opt to go to Italy and join either Inter or Juve.

Source: EatSleepSport