Liverpool are insisting Tottenham offered them striker Jermain Defoe in January.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was furious with Reds boss Rafa Benitez's revelation yesterday and issued a statement denying the claims.
However, the Guardian says Liverpool remained privately insistent last night that Tottenham had been in contact in the January transfer window - claims that Levy denies - offering them the chance to buy Defoe, who has started only 17 games this season and only five of the last 12 matches.
The initial approach was apparently made with the warning that another club, believed to be Chelsea, had made a £15m offer for the player.
Although Liverpool retain an interest in Defoe, they did not have the finances to complete any deal in January and declined to make a bid.
Anfield officials privately claimed that a follow-up offer from Spurs, involving Cissé as a makeweight in the deal, was also rejected, with BenÃtez unwilling to lose his striker in mid-season.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was furious with Reds boss Rafa Benitez's revelation yesterday and issued a statement denying the claims.
However, the Guardian says Liverpool remained privately insistent last night that Tottenham had been in contact in the January transfer window - claims that Levy denies - offering them the chance to buy Defoe, who has started only 17 games this season and only five of the last 12 matches.
The initial approach was apparently made with the warning that another club, believed to be Chelsea, had made a £15m offer for the player.
Although Liverpool retain an interest in Defoe, they did not have the finances to complete any deal in January and declined to make a bid.
Anfield officials privately claimed that a follow-up offer from Spurs, involving Cissé as a makeweight in the deal, was also rejected, with BenÃtez unwilling to lose his striker in mid-season.
