Ex-Liverpool star Martin Skrtel offered to Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez by Fenerbahce, according to reports
Toon manager brought Slovakian international to Anfield in 2008
NEWCASTLE UNITED have reportedly been offered ex-Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.
The 33-year-old Slovakian international is available for a cut-price fee from Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
He only has a year left on his deal in Istanbul and has been linked with joining up with his old Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard at Rangers.
However, claim that Rafa Benitez has also been given the opportunity to sign Skrtel this summer, a decade after bringing him to Liverpool.
Having kept the Magpies in the Premier League following last year’s promotion, the Spaniard wants assurances that he will be allowed to bolster his squad.
Although it looks increasingly likely that he will stay St James’ Park, the Newcastle chief has still yet to publicly declare his future to the club.
Meanwhile Skrtel is believed to be desperate to the return to the English top-flight.
He left Liverpool two years ago after making over 250 appearances for the Reds.
RIP NEALE Fergie's former Aberdeen hero dies aged 54
Although Scottish side Rangers would certainly be keen to recruit to the centre-back, the star’s agent ruled out a move to Ibrox due to the wages on offer.
And he also denied that Fenerbahce were looking to offload his client.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
Skrtel’s representative Karol Csonto said: “Martin would be very happy to play under Steven Gerrard.
“But sometimes, regarding transfers, you need to put so many things together and in this situation it’s impossible.
“When there is only a small difference then you can find a solution, but in this case, the salary of the player in Turkey is four or five times more than what Rangers could offer.
“Also, Fenerbahce will never let him go because he is their most important player and they need him for the Champions League qualification.
“Eventually, the chief executives of the clubs did speak about a transfer but they both agreed the difference between them is too much.”