Benitez dismisses Crouch rumours

Crouch has already cost clubs £15.56m in transfer fees

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says he will not be selling Peter Crouch in the January transfer window.

Reports on Friday suggested Benitez would sell Crouch to Newcastle to fund the purchase of Valencia's David Villa.

However, Mapgpies boss Glenn Roeder described the reports as "pure speculation" and Benitez said: "We are not interested in Villa.

"He's a fantastic player but at this moment we're not thinking of buying him and we're not planning to sell Crouch."

Interview: Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder

Newcastle were rumoured to be prepared to pay £12m for 25-year-old Crouch, who cost Liverpool £7m 18 months ago.

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But Roeder said: "It is pure speculation and I would be surprised if he ended up becoming a Newcastle player.

"Someone knows more than I do. As far as I am concerned, there has not been a deal even spoken about."

And he added: "I really hate managers talking about other managers' players.

"Peter Crouch is a Liverpool player and I do not think Rafael Benitez would appreciate me talking about Peter Crouch when he is not a Newcastle player.

"I said a month ago when I was asked, he is very talented and certainly deserves his place in the England team, in my opinion.

"But anything outside that would be unfair to Liverpool and the manager there."

Roeder is in the market for a striker with Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi injured and loan signing Giuseppe Rossi on his way back to Manchester United after Saturday's trip to Everton.