Liverpool have launched a surprise move to sign Tottenham striker Robbie Keane - but may be priced out of a deal for the Republic of Ireland star.

Spurs boss Juande Ramos is an admirer of Liverpool forward Peter Crouch and Anfield boss Rafael Benitez is happy to make him part of an exchange deal.

BBC Sport understands Liverpool would be willing to offer Crouch plus cash to sign 28-year-old Keane.

But they fear Spurs will demand £20m for Keane, wrecking a possible deal.

Spurs have not received a transfer request from Keane, despite reports claiming he had demanded to leave White Hart Lane.

Liverpool’s transfer plans are currently focused on concluding the protracted and acrimonious pursuit of Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry.

Barry has publicly stated his desire to move to Liverpool - and while Villa boss Martin O’Neill admits he is willing to do business, the current price tag of at least £18m is out of Liverpool’s reach.

Benitez’s interest in Keane is an unexpected development but, with Crouch likely to go and Portsmouth still his most likely destination and Andriy Voronin struggling to make an impact, he is seen as an ideal partner for Spain’s Euro 2008 hero Fernando Torres.

Keane is under contract with Spurs until 2012, having signed a new five-year contract in May 2007.

He was an influential figure last season, scoring 23 goals in a campaign that was capped by the Carling Cup going to White Hart Lane - and Liverpool’s move will receive no encouragement.

But reports suggest Keane may be tempted to make the switch by the lure of playing Champions League football at Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy.

He joined Tottenham from Leeds for £7m in August 2002 and has also played for Wolves, Coventry and Inter Milan

Liverpool, meanwhile, may have to wait until European champion Xabi Alonso returns from holiday before they can sort out the Spanish midfielder’s future.

Alonso is on a three-week break after being part of Spain’s successful Euro 2008 squad, leaving a possible £16m move to Juventus in limbo and boss Benitez waiting to discover if he will get a fresh injection of transfer funds.

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