Henry happy to let unhappy players leave Anfield

(GSM) – Liverpool owner John W Henry insists he does not want any unhappy players to remain at the club.

The future of many players – including star striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina – has been the subject of intense speculation and Henry admits no players will be kept at Anfield against their will.

Henry’s warning will surely alert clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, who are interested in reportedly-unsettled Liverpool players.

Henry admits the club wants the club to be able to attract and keep the best players while expressing his surprise at the lack of commitment to contracts in English football.

“It is a completely different system here to what we are used to. If a player has a contract in the United States they fulfil the contract. Over here, it seems players have much more say-so about where they are,” said Henry.

“Frankly, we don’t want a player at the club who doesn’t want to be at the club. It’s really up to us to provide the kind of leadership, on and off the field, that any player at the club or who is coming to the club wants to be here.”

Henry says he has spoken to a number of players and was encouraged by what he heard from them.

“I was upset about the assertion that they were leaving,” added Henry. “There was one day when I read reports that we were not going to be involved in the transfer window because we do not have the funds. The next day I read that Torres and Reina were leaving.

“I have spoken with a number of our top players and was really heartened by the response. I was heartened by the intelligence of these players, who understand more about Liverpool than we do. They were good discussions.”