Could Liverpool be ready to axe their 31-year-old Dutch international this summer?
We asked this week if Liverpool were forcing Dirk Kuyt out, and it seems so.
The once near ever-present attacker has only completed 90 minutes 10 times out of 34 league games this season, and was also left on the bench for both the club’s trips to Wembley so far this season.
The Mail report today that German club Hamburg are interested in his signature, with Fiorentina, Galatasaray and Feyenoord also interested.
But the maddening part of the report, is that he would be available for as little as £1 million.
“Kuyt is one of several fringe players Liverpool will look to offload this summer and has been made available at £1million.”
We can’t help think that this could be a monumentally bad decision for Liverpool to offload him for such a small price.
The report adds that his £80,000 per week wages will be a stumbling block to any deal, and there would of course be the positive for Liverpool’s finances to get him off their books for that kind of money.
What that does not take into account is Kuyt’s potential impact on the football pitch.
He has been superb for Liverpool over the past few years, scoring several crucial goals, including this season’s winner over Manchester United in the FA Cup, adding to his hat-trick scored past them last year.
For just £1 million in return, he is worth hanging onto.
If he wants out because of a lack of chances, Dalglish should sit down with him and work out an amicable solution in trying to get him to stay.
When King Kenny took over last January, Kuyt was his standout player, and the manager should try to get the best out of him again.
He is still only 31 and has plenty of football left in him. The Telegraph claim the fee is a release clause in his contract agreed when he extended it last season, in which case the club were crazy to agree to such a low figure.
His contract expires next summer, and while a 31-year-old is unlikely to demand a huge fee, surely having him in next season’s squad is preferable to selling him for such a paltry sum.
Another link claims Kuyt is still keen to stay so Dalglish must ensure he does not force out a potential match winner in favour of more duds.
How would you feel if Kuyt left for £1 million?
image: © k1ngk0ng
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