Liverpool Yet to Set Asking Price For Martin Skrtel

Liverpool have declared their intent on keeping unsettled defender Martin Skrtel at Anfield having yet to set an asking price for the Slovakian international.

Skrtel is understood to be tempted by a move to last season's Serie A runners-up Napoli where he would link up once against with Rafael Benitez, who brought him to the Premier League in 2008, following a season the 28 year old labelled as one of the worst of his career.

Despite beginning the campaign as Liverpool's first choice centre-back after signing a new long-term contract at the club, Skrtel fell out of favour as the season wore on, starting just three league games after the New Year as Jamie Carragher's opportunities improved during his final season before retirement.

Agent Karol Csonto, who a fortnight ago admitted Skrtel had asked fellow countryman Marek Hamsik about life at Napoli, says his client has no ambition to leave Liverpool.

"Martin to move away from Liverpool? I specifically say that Skrtel has never said he wants to go away, then it depends on the Liverpool market because everything could change," he told Tuttomercatoweb.

"It's true that the last two seasons were difficult but in football it can happen.

"Napoli? I think they haven't the financial possibilities to take him. Liverpool has not decided a price because they don't intend to sell the player. Anyway, I don't think that Napoli can afford his wage."

Despite making 25 league appearances last season Skrtel failed to adapt to Brendan Rodgers' passing style of football and, the centre back who penned a new long-term contract at the start of the season, claimed he would be open to any offer to leave Liverpool.

"I have not had any specific offers but if some should come and they interest me, I would probably consider it seriously," Skrtel said in May.

"The club has the biggest say in this in any case, because they have the right for it with me being contracted. I am not saying that I want to leave at any cost.

"I feel sorry for what happened in this season. But I have been here for five and a half years and I have built a position here.

"It was one of the worst seasons in my career and certainly the worst during my time at Liverpool.

"After the game at Manchester United, the coach decided he wanted to change the team and justified to me that we lacked the organisation and defensive leadership personality. That was Carragher."

Having already agreed a deal to sign Kolo Toure from Manchester City and been linked with Ajax's Toby Alderweireld and Wales captain Ashley Williams, Rodgers appears keen to bring in cover should Skrtel leave the club, a failure to do so which blighted last summers' transfer window.