Rafa Benitez can get as angry as he likes (whether he wants to blame greedy players or his own board), but if reports are to be believed Lucas Neill has opted for first team chances and a bigger pay-package at West Ham instead of the bench and a cheaper deal at Liverpool.
Blackburn are being forced to sell Neill (out of contract at the end of this season) and to them it won’t really matter where Neill goes – if he’s not staying, the Rovers want some cash to bring in replacements. West Ham are also likely to match, if not pay more than, whatever Liverpool will put on the table, so that works for them as well.
Benitez has moved to attack the player’s character, but in reality Neill’s reluctance to sign for Liverpool says more about Liverpool than Neill – why else would an established international defender give up Champions League football to go play for a club likely to be relegated this season?
As for West Ham, if they can secure this signing, it will be 4 signings for almost 10 mil. That leaves space for a striker (although Ashley Young doesn’t want to come), but maybe they could get a loan deal instead of spending 10 mil cold.
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