KUYT HEADS FOR THE EXIT
DIRK KUYT is set to lead an Anfield exodus this summer as Liverpool begin the task of rebuilding their squad. The popular Holland forward, who played a crucial role in helping Liverpool win the Carling Cup in February, is no longer considered a regular starter.
He will be joined in moving on by the experienced South America pair of Maxi Rodriguez and Fabio Aurelio.
Kuyt will have 12 months remaining on the contract extension he signed last April at the end of the season but he will not be short of options this summer if, as is likely, he ends a six-year stay on Merseyside that has been littered with important goals.
Fiorentina have retained a long- standing interest in Kuyt, while Roma would also be keen to take him to Italy. Turkish side Galatasaray are also among his admirers, as are, intriguingly, his old club Feyenoord.
Sporting director Martin van Geel has said Kuyt, 31, who left Feyenoord for Anfield in a £9million deal in August 2006, would be ‘welcome back at any time’ but would have to take a significant pay cut to fit in with Feyenoord’s wage structure.
Adjusting to life as a squad member has been difficult for Kuyt and easily his biggest disappointment of the campaign was not starting at Wembley against Cardiff City, even though he went on, scored a goal in extra time and converted a penalty in the shoot-out.
Along with Kuyt, Argentina winger Rodriguez, who has made 15 appearances this season, and Brazilian left back Aurelio will be allowed to move on.
Rodriguez has been a success in the two-and-a-half years he has been at the club but he has only 12 months left on his contract and Liverpool will not stand in the 31-year-old’s way if he receives a suitable offer.
It is no surprise that Aurelio, signed from Valencia in the same summer as Kuyt, will leave. He has barely played this season and has spent the last two years battling injury problems. His departure would allow academy graduate Jack Robinson, Liverpool’s youngest player when he made his debut against Hull aged 16 and 250 days in May 2010, to step up and become Jose Enrique’s deputy.
Meanwhile, Juventus have stepped up their interest in Luis Suarez. According to reports in Turin, the Italians made contact with the Anfield club yesterday to declare their interest in the Uruguayan, and are expected to make a bid for the striker at the end of the season.