I'm Sorry To See Peter Crouch Go: Rafa Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has admitted he wanted to keep Peter Crouch as the England striker prepares to complete his move to Portsmouth.

Crouch has completed a medical at Fratton Park and the finer points of his £11million move back to the south coast are almost complete with Pompey set to formally confirm the move soon.

"He is a good professional and a nice person, and we would have wanted him to stay, we offered him a new contract."

"But sometimes you have to understand the player, he wanted to play a lot more, and with Fernando Torres now first choice, that was always going to be difficult."

"I can understand Peter's situation, but he did very well for this club and we always supported him when people doubted the decision to bring him to Anfield."

Benitez made it clear that he will now try to sign a replacement striker, and refused to rule out a possible move for Spanish star David Villa.

"We have Torres, Andriy Voronin, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard, who can play as a second striker."

"But we will try to bring in another option. Villa is a player we know all about and he is on our list. But maybe it will be difficult."

Harry Kewell and John Arne Riise have already left Anfield with Peter Crouch set to depart soon.

Andrea Dossena and Philip Degen have been the new arrivals so far and they could be joined by Aston Villa's Gareth Barry if his club is willing to agree to Liverpool's renewed offer.

I think £11million is too much for Crouch, yes, he's good in the air and a good finisher but £11million?