According to Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean, midfielder Steven Nzonzi has asked for a transfer, with Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly keeping tabs on the 23-year-old, the Daily Mail understands.
Subsequently, the Riversiders have placed a £10 million price tag on Nzonzi.
The former Paris Saint-Germain youth starlet was one of Blackburn’s top players last term, tallying two goals and five assists in 32 league appearances.
Nzonzi did not travel with Blackburn as they headed to their training camp in Austria to prepare for the 2012-13 English Championship season.
“Steven has asked for a transfer,” confirmed Kean. “I want players who want to be here. That’s the reason why Steven was left at the training ground when we went away.”
Nzonzi joined Blackburn in June 2009 via Amiens SC for a transfer fee rumoured to be around £500,000.
Now then, the £500,000 Rovers coughed up for the Frenchman was money well spent, with English Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea both tracking the holding midfielder.
“I’ve had a couple of meetings with his dad, who is his agent,” added Kean.
“He would like to play his football elsewhere, so we’ll be listening to offers if they come.
“We’ll see how it develops. At the moment we’re not planning to have him in the squad.”
A move away from Ewood Park seems a foregone conclusion despite Nzonzi having signed a five-year contract with the Lancashire based club in August 2010.
Rodgers keen on £10m rated Dempsey
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that the Reds are interested in £10 million rated USA international Clint Dempsey, the Daily Mail reports.
“Clint is a player we’ve enquired about, it is as simple as that,” said Rodgers.
“Ian Ayre, our managing director, has spoken with (Fulham) to see what the position is. That is where we’re at. Clint is a very talented player but we don’t like to talk about other clubs’ players.”
The Fulham talisman was amongst the top scorers in the English Premier League in 2011-12. In fact, only Arsenal’s Robin van Persie (30), Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (27) and Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero (23) scored more league goals than the American last season.
In addition, Dempsey was the top scoring midfielder in England’s top flight, beating out the likes of Frank Lampard and Rafael van der Vaart, who each netted 11 goals for Chelsea and Spurs respectively.
Fulham are expected to cash in on the 29-year-old, who has just 12 months left on his current contract, this summer, while Liverpool are in desperate need of another attacking threat.
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