Bellamy saga takes another twist

4:40pm Tuesday 1st May 2007

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BLACKBURN target Craig Bellamy appears to be edging closer to the exit door at Liverpool after he allegedly admitted he wants to quit Anfield this summer.

Former Wales international, Malcolm Allen, claims the striker confided in him at the weekend, and during that conversation he said Bellamy cited his lack of first team opportunities under Rafa Benitez as the reason he wants out.

Bellamy has since issued a strenuous denial, describing Allen's comments as complete garbage', but sources on Merseyside believe the striker is simply trying to limit the damage amid fears it may wreck his chances of being part of Liverpool's Champions League semi-final clash with Chelsea tonight.

News of the latest revelations has alerted Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, who, given the slightest encouragement that Bellamy might be available, will launch a bid to bring him back to Ewood this summer, a year after he left Rovers for Liverpool in a £6 million transfer.

Aston Villa manager, Martin O'Neill, and Sunderland chief, Roy Keane, are also ready to enter the race for the Welshman should Liverpool make him available.

However, Hughes is hoping the fact he was instrumental in resurrecting Bellamy's career during his previous spell at Blackburn may yet work in his favour.

Speaking on BBC Wales, Allen, who was reporting on Liverpool's game at Portsmouth, said: "I spoke to him (Bellamy) before the game here on the pitch and he told me it has been a very disappointing year for him, that he hasn't got a working relationship with Rafa Benítez, that they hardly speak to each other at the moment, and that the situation has become clear that for his own sake, and for his own career, he wants to play consistently, he wants to play in the first team week in, week out, and he hasn't been getting those opportunities at Liverpool."

Bellamy responded by releasing a statement of his own but, while he scotched rumours of a fall-out with Benitez, it was perhaps significant that at no point did he say he was happy to stay at Anfield next season.

The 27-year-old told Liverpool's official website: "A journalist working for BBC Wales has told people I have problems with Rafa and haven't even got a working relationship with him. That's complete garbage.

"I have gone on record recently and I will say it again now that I have learnt more from Rafael Benitez than any other coach I have worked with.

"I am a much better player for the time I've spent working with him and if I do go on to manage at some point in the future he's the model I'll use in my career.

"I can't make my respect for him any clearer than that."