Liverpool honeymoon over for Skrtel

Martin Skrtel of Liverpool competes with Junior Hoilett of Blackburn Rovers during the Barclays Premier League match at Ewood park on April 10, 2012 in Blackburn, England. (GETTY)

Published Thursday, June 21, 2012

By Staff

Manchester City are lining up a £20 million bid Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, according to the Mirror.

After being priced out of a move for Brazil star Thiago Silva, City boss Roberto Mancini is planning a raid on Anfield for Liverpool's Player of the Year.

The Slovakia defender has become Mancini's main target after his Italian club AC Milan wanted £35m for 27-year old Silva.

It will test the resolve the resolve of new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers who faces his first major battle after taking over from Kenny Dalglish.

In a classic case of good news bad news for Rodgers, centre-half and Denmark Euro 2012 star Daniel Agger has expressed his desire to extend his Anfield contract, the
Mirror added.

But the other half of last season’s impressive central defensive partnership, Skrtel, is the focus of serious interest from Roberto Mancini’s title winners.

Rodgers will meet the defender in an attempt to persuade him to remain at Anfield.

Skrtel got married at the weekend and has put any question of his future on hold until he returns from his honeymoon in a fortnight.

After four years at Anfield, he has also been the subject of interest from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

The defender hasn’t ruled out a move to the Premier League champions, after admitting his frustration at Liverpool’s eighth-placed finish and failure to reach the Champions League.

The Reds were hoping to persuade Skrtel to pen a new contract, but it seems it is Agger who will be first to extend his current deal.

“It’s no secret that I’m happy to be in Liverpool. Otherwise, I would not have been there for six years,” he told sporten.dk.

“I have not yet discussed a new contract but if they come with an offer I will surely sit down and talk with them. If they ask, I will listen.”

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