Pool’s Kuyt deal could fly again

LIVERPOOL are believed to have reopened talks with Feyenoord for striker Dirk Kuyt after completing the final details of Jermaine Pennant’s arrival at Anfield.

Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant signed a four-year deal and is reported to have cost £6.7million.

Boss Rafael Benitez – currently with the senior squad at a Swiss training camp — is trying to offload some of his fringe players to give him the financial muscle to attempt another move for Dutch international Kuyt.

Initially, Feyenoord were talking about £12million for Kuyt, which would have wiped out all Benitez’s summer transfer budget but if he can sell some fringe players he may well be able to come up with an offer in instalments.

Feyenoord have turned down one cash-plus-players offer from Liverpool believed to have involved Jan Kromkamp and Jerzy Dudek, and failed to meet a deadline a week ago from the Dutch club for a second offer.

And with both Djimi Traore and Salif Diao interesting Charlton at around £1million each, Benitez can now go back to Feyenoord with another package.

Bolton expressed an interest in signing Traore, but Charlton – who have Diao on trial -have jumped to the head of the queue to sign the versatile defender.

And Liverpool are also on the brink, claim Greek sources, of signing 20 year-old striker Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, who has been on trial.

Two deals Liverpool concluded yesterday involved youngsters Paul Anderson and Scott Carson, who have both signed new contracts.

Anderson, star of Liverpool’s FA Youth Cup-winning side last season, has penned a new four-year deal while Carson – England’s number three keeper in their World Cup squad -has agreed a five-year deal.

Winger Anderson, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday, has figured in both of Liverpool’s first-team friendlies this season.

He only joined Liverpool from Hull in January after a successful trial period in a swap deal with John Welsh.

The youngster was famously released by West Brom when Adrian Boothroyd – now Watford boss – was in charge of The Hawthorns youngsters.

But Benitez recognised Anderson’s potential and saw him score a fine goal in the friendly at Wrexham earlier in the month. Now Anderson has signed what is effectively a three-year extension to his current deal.

Liverpool are also likely give Carson the boost of virtual confirmation as their second-choice goalkeeper after he signed a new five-year contract.

Carson spent much of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, who have been trying to extend that deal this summer.

Now Carson, who joined Liverpool for £750,000 in January 2005, has penned a deal that extends his current contract by two years.