[ZEUS]

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has slapped a £15million price tag on England striker Peter Crouch.

And the Anfield chief also revealed that he had held talks with Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill over the potential transfer of midfielder Gareth Barry to Liverpool.

Crouch hinted earlier this week he could be forced to leave Anfield this summer after growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of first-team action.

Benitez accepts that the England international could look to leave in search of regular action but the Spaniard insists he will not be going on the cheap.

Portsmouth have been strongly linked with a move to bring Crouch back to Fratton Park, but Benitez claims he has had no offers for the unsettled forward.

"Crouch wants to play every week but knows he must fight it out with Fernando Torres," Benitez said.

"We keep seeing Portsmouth linked with the player but we have had no offer as yet.

"A £15m price tag would not be unreasonable."

Benitez also explained further the pending saga over Barry, and revealed that nothing more will happen until after this weekend's closing round of league matches.

"I have spoken to Martin O'Neill, he knows my ideas," added Benitez.

"But we agreed to wait until the end of the season for any more discussions."

source

£15m for that lame. They've got to be joking. We sold Van Nistelrooy for a lower price. I wonder who would pay that money for a player who hasn't performed regularly this season and consists of nothing but bones.

[GocartMozart]

you forget, english players, by hook or by crook have a 10 million pound premium placed on them.

[funkdoctorspock]

Not only is there a preminum on English players, think about this.

If Darren Bent was sold for 18 million pounds, why wouldn't Crouch be in the same bracket.

In fact, he should be valued higher, since he's played more for club and country.

I've actually taken a liking to the beanpole's game. I appreciate strikers that know and are willing to balance shots on go for team involvement. He has really improved involving his team in play and off the ball movements.