Benitez remains in the dark about how much spending money Liverpool will have this summer. Speculation is rife that co-owner Tom Hicks has only £10 million to spare, while George Gillett is desperate to jump ship.

So Benitez hopes to generate more than £25 million with a clear-out, although he has rejected a £25 million offer for captain Steven Gerrard from Inter Milan, according to The Sun.

Instead, Benitez is prepared to listen to offers for Xabi Alonso - Juventus and Barcelona are interested - to raise a further £15 million to make up for any shortfall in his plans.

But such a high price-tag on Crouch - who has started only nine Premier League matches this season, and will be available on a free transfer when his contract expires in June 2009 - has been met with derision by Portsmouth, who want to pay only £8 million.

'A £15 million price tag would not be unreasonable,' insisted Benitez, who also confirmed that winger Harry Kewell will leave the club at the end of the season.

Kewell gone, Riise and Crouch to go GONE Harry Kewell ... more

'I'm reading about £8 million. But if we receive only that, I would rather keep the player. He is a big name, an international player and everybody talks really well about him.'

This has reportedly infuriated Crouch, 27, who feels this is a tactic to dissuade clubs from pursuing him - thus consigning him to another season of bench-warming.

John Arne Riise is also available, having lost his place at left-back. Benitez is likely to give young Argentinian Emiliano Insua a chance away to Tottenham tomorrow.

Tottenham have personnel problems, too. They have indicated that they are resigned to losing Dimitar Berbatov at the end of the season.

Spurs boss Juande Ramos said Berbatov has made up his mind on his future, which will not be at White Hart Lane if a Champions League club come with a sufficiently large offer.

They have been looking at possible replacements for Berbatov, including Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE