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GH: Players must deal with transfer gossip

Paul Rogers

8th May 2004 - Latest News

Emile Heskey might be playing against Birmingham tonight but if the newspapers are to be believed, he'll be playing against Liverpool at St Andrews next season. This sort of transfer gossip is just part of the game, insists Gerard Houllier.

Asked yesterday whether there was any truth in the rumours linking his No.8 with a move to the Midlands, the Liverpool manager simply said: "It is an area of the game you have to be able to deal with. Speculation is something that happens at every club these days.

"At Liverpool there is always speculation and rumour, it is the nature of a big club. If you come here then there will always be stories about players being bought to fill your position, or players being sold.

"If you want to play for Liverpool then you have to be man enough to deal with it. You have to get on with your work. Of course it can create problems and uncertainty but it is the way you deal with it that matters. My players are experienced now and I expect them to deal professionally with it."

Houllier, however, did tip Heskey to maintain the form he showed in the second-half of our match against Middlesbrough.

"I am pleased for Emile and the way he has come back to form. Like me, he has been under heavy criticism this season. But Emile scores very important goals when it really matters, such as the winner against Blackburn in 2002 that saw us take second place. I am confident he will keep going the way he is at the moment."

Tagged: heskey , transfers