Liverpool and West Ham hope for Benayoun reunion
Published:Liverpool have thus far kept their powder dry on deadline day, but they remain hopeful of offering Yossi Benayoun a Chelsea escape.
Of the two clubs believed to be most seriously interested in Benayoun, the Israeli international has previously played for both, and could return for a chance of regular first-team football.
Benayoun has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge, and spent last season on loan to the Blues’ local rivals Arsenal.
Now 32, he is keen to see out the final year of his Chelsea contract elsewhere, with Liverpool and West Ham prepared to offer him the chance to do so.
His £70,000 per week wages could prove a stumbling block, though Chelsea would likely pay a large portion of that to get rid of a player clearly surplus to requirements.
And Liverpool could be his preferred destination, with Benayoun’s playing style thought to be perfectly suited to the ideals of new Reds chief Brendan Rodgers.
He has already made over 90 appearances for the Anfield club, having spent three years on Merseyside after joining from West Ham in 2007, where he had first tasted English football.
Despite the Hammers giving Benayoun his break in England though, he is more likely to rejoin the club where he has scored Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup hat-tricks.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
