Skrtel to stun Liverpool by asking for Anfield exit this summer

The Slovakia international has two years remaining on his current deal but is keen to move on in search of Champions League football after a disappointing campaign on Merseyside

 

 

EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart | Northern Correspondent

Martin Skrtel will stun Liverpool this summer by asking to leave the club, Goal.com can reveal.

The no-nonsense defender, signed from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008, has become an outstanding performer for Kenny Dalglish's side during a largely unspectacular campaign. 

Skrtel's partnership with Daniel Agger has been key to Liverpool boasting one of the best defensive records in the Premier League but now appears intent on leaving Merseyside.

The 27-year-old enjoys a cult following among Reds fans but has grown disenfranchised with a lack of progression at the club over the past 12 months, despite a significant outlay by owners Fenway Sports Group.

February's League Cup victory has offered scant consolation for Liverpool's failure to qualify for next season's Champions League, which was the primary target for Kenny Dalglish set by the club's American owners last summer.

In spite of Liverpool reaching last weekend's FA Cup final, where they lost to Chelsea, Skrtel - who has made 173 appearances for the club in the past four years - is apprehensive about staying put.

The Slovakia international has two years remaining on his existing Liverpool contract, signed in summer 2010, but is on the verge of quitting due to the club's inability to contest for major honours and a desire to play Champions League football.  

Veteran attackers Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt are both destined to leave Merseyside during the summer months but Dalglish has insisted that that he has no intention of letting any players leave.

He said: "We're not looking to move anybody out.

"The only one that will be moving out will be Fabio [Aurelio], because his contract's up, but we'll not be looking to move anybody out so all we want to do is to add to the squad that we've had and see what happens from there.

"The transfer market brings up surprises. What the surprises are going to be, I'm not clairvoyant, I can't help you but I'm just saying that we're not actively looking to move anybody on."

 

 

Source : Goal.com