Neil Mellor says he is ‘gutted’ to be leaving Anfield. The striker is expected finalise his move to Preston North End tomorrow having been told he has no future at Liverpool. Mellor had hoped to line up for the reds’ reserves tonight against Manchester City, but Liverpool wouldn’t allow him to play in case he got injured and they couldn’t sell him before Thursday's transfer deadline.
Speaking exclusively to TLW, he said:
“I’m gutted that they want me to leave, but I just want to prove I can play now. I just hope to play regular first team football and find my level.” The striker was prepared to play in the reserves and fight for a place in Rafa Benitez’s squad, but the recent arrivals of Robbie Fowler, Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt have pushed him right down the pecking order and he has been forced to admit defeat in his battle to establish himself with the reds.
He won’t be the only player heading for the exit door before Thursday’s transfer deadline. Jan Kromkamp is close to a move back to Holland with PSV Eindhoven, whilst Florent Sinama-Pongolle is expected to link up once more with the man who brought him to Anfield, as Gerard Houllier’s Lyon close in on his signature.
Houllier has been tracking Pongolle ever since taking over at Lyon, and tried to lure him back to France last summer, as revealed on TLW at the time. Rafa Benitez put the blocks on it a year ago, but is more than happy to offload the young Frenchman now.
Should Kromkamp’s move go through, Lucas Neill will be hopeful of securing his dream move to Anfield before the transfer window shuts.
