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Tottenham angered over Robbie Keane's Liverpool transfer
Liverpool last night completed the signing of Robbie Keane from Tottenham on a four-year contract for an initial fee of £19 million, but the move did not pass off without controversy.
By Graham Chase
Last Updated: 4:01PM BST 29 Jul 2008
Walk on: Robbie Keane's move to Liverpool angered Spurs chairman Daniel Levy Photo: PA
Although Liverpool apologised for the 'inappropriate' way that their official website had reported comments made by manager Rafael Benitez regarding Keane – prompting the London club to drop an official complaint to of tapping up – Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was still left furious by events.
"I have already made my opinion clear on this transaction," Levy said. "I don't regard it as a transfer deal – that is something which happens between two clubs when they both agree to trade – this is very much an enforced sale."
"I was incredibly disappointed when I first heard not only that Liverpool had been working behind the scenes to bring Robbie to Anfield, but that Robbie himself wanted to go and he submitted a transfer request to this effect.
"They have apologised and agreed to make a donation to our club's main charity. Tottenham has therefore agreed not to pursue its official complaint to the Premier League."
After weeks of talks between the clubs, Keane passed a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground, having already agreed personal terms that will see him paid in the region of £80,000 a week, with manager Rafael Benitez hoping to include him in the squad for a friendly against Spanish team Villarreal tomorrow.
Although Benitez, who has not given up hope of signing Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, has already brought in five players this summer, Republic of Ireland captain Keane, 28, represents his first major addition ahead of the Premier League campaign.
Keane's price could eventually rise to £20.3 million, with a further £20 million to be committed to his wages. Initially Liverpool were keen to include Peter Crouch in part exchange but he moved to Portsmouth so they had to settle for a cash deal, which is a major gamble for Benitez.
After playing for Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds and Spurs between 1999 and 2002, Keane established himself as a consistent performer at Premier League level at Tottenham. Yet while he scored more than 10 league goals in each of his six campaigns there, the most he managed was 16 in the 2005/06 season.
£58m
The amount, in cumulative transfer fees, that has been spent on Robbie Keane over the course of his career.
It is the largest amount lavished on any British or Irish player, ahead of the likes of Rio Ferdinand (£47.1 million) and David Beckham (£23.3 million).
However, Keane is still not in the top five all-time most expensive players. Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka leads that list on £84.8 million
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