Reds bid to lure Keane from Spurs

Liverpool are growing in confidence that they will be able to succeed in their audacious bid for Tottenham's Robbie Keane.

Spurs maintain that the Irish striker is not for sale, having rejected Liverpool's enquiry last week.

However, manager Rafael Benitez will not give up in his pursuit of the boyhood Liverpool fan.

The 27-year-old turned down the chance to join them in 1996 in favour of Wolves because he believed he would stand a better chance of his career progressing.

A few years later, though, he admitted he would love to play for the club one day "if I got the chance and I thought it was a good career move".

Keane signed a five-year deal last year, but Liverpool hope he will request a move much like Aston Villa's Gareth Barry did yesterday.

They are prepared to offer Peter Crouch to Spurs as part of the deal.