Yossi Benayoun wants to stay and fight for his place at Liverpool, even if the club are willing to let him go.

The 28-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move away from Anfield, with Tottenham, Portsmouth and Ajax all reported as potential suitors.

“He is a good player so it is only normal that these clubs would be interested in signing him,” his agent, Ronen Katsav, told BBC Sport.

“But Yossi is very happy at Liverpool, everything is perfect for him there.”

He added: “He sees his future at Liverpool. Even if the club wanted to sell him, then Yossi would say he would like to stay.”

Benayoun arrived at Anfield for a fee of £5m from West Ham last summer after an impressive couple of seasons with the Hammers.

Despite struggling to hold down a regular first team place in Rafael Benitez’s side, the Israel captain still managed to score 11 goals in his debut season.

He starred in Liverpool’s record Champions League victory over Besiktas last November, scoring a hat-trick as the Reds ran out 8-0 winners.

So far this summer, Liverpool have allowed John Arne Riise to join Roma for £4m as Benitez looks to build a squad capable of challenging for the title next season.

The Liverpool boss has also turned down a £9m offer from Portsmouth for striker Peter Crouch, while he is set to follow-up the signing of Swiss full-back Philip Degen with the capture of Italian left-back Andrea Dossena from Udinese.

By Russell Barder
Ref From BBC SPORT

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill says Gareth Barry can leave for Liverpool - if the Anfield club meet their valuation of the England midfielder.

Liverpool had a second bid of £13m turned down two weeks ago and reports suggest Villa will only sell for £18m.

“If Liverpool meet our valuation, he will have his express wish to leave Villa Park granted,” said O’Neill.

Barry, 27, criticised Villa for not trying hard enough to keep him but O’Neill insists they want him to stay.

Barry has told Villa he wants to sign for Liverpool and they still hope to sell Xabi Alonso to Juventus to help fund the deal, but are yet to receive a firm offer.

BBC Sport understands that manager Rafael Benitez will make an improved offer to sign the Aston Villa captain in a renewed attempt to bring the acrimonious saga to a conclusion.

O’Neill has been critical of Liverpool’s pursuit of Barry, who signalled his intention to move when he complained on Sunday about Villa’s lack of urgency in speaking to him.

Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep Gareth - and he knows that

“There’s no going back, it’s time for me to move on,” he said.

“I’m desperate to play Champions League football and that’s why I have to leave Villa.

“Villa kept saying they wanted me to stay but I have not heard from the manager for weeks.

“It’s seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer’s found time to be a pundit at Euro 2008, he hasn’t found the time to speak to me.

“Have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my future is at Villa Park, not Anfield? Not a thing.”

But O’Neill has hit back to vehemently deny Barry’s claim.

“The chairman and I were surprised at Gareth’s comments,” he said.

“Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep him - and he knows that.”

Barry captained England for the first time and scored his first international goal during the recent friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Liverpool are keen to partner Barry in midfield with his England colleague Steven Gerrard and have declared their interest publicly, much to O’Neill’s fury.

Freeing up the required funds for Barry could pose a problem for Benitez, as the Anfield boss has admitted he is expecting to have a reduced transfer budget as a result of the feud between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Ref From channel4.com