Babel keen on Liverpool stay

(GSM) – Ryan Babel will remain at the Merseyside as Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that the Dutchman is an important part of his plans.

The 23-year-old Holland forward has repeatedly complained about a lack of first-team opportunities with the Reds in the run-up to a World Cup campaign and Birmingham had hoped this week to lure him to St Andrews with a £9million bid.

Benitez rejected that offer and wants Babel to remain at Anfield as he attempts to guide them back into the top four.

“I have not said that Ryan has to leave the club. We received an offer for the player and he said that he did not want to leave the club,” Benitez said.

“Therefore we rejected the offer. He is a good player and he works hard, I want him in the squad.”

Liverpool are under no pressure to get rid of Babel as they completed the £4.5million sale of Andrea Dossena to Napoli on Friday and are also close to offloading frontman Andriy Voronin to Dynamo Moscow in a £2million deal.

Benitez added: “The Voronin deal is nearing completion but both he and Dossena are different to Babel. They were not playing many matches and wanted to play regularly elsewhere.”