Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has done his best to deflect Charlie Adam transfer rumors throughout the window in the face of bids from Birmingham, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Holloway had been holding out for an eight-figure offer from one of the big four clubs for the 25-year-old Scottish international — calling the lower bids "derisory." But now that Adam has submitted a formal request for transfer, the tables have turned to an extent.
Still, while Holloway has acknowledged that it would be difficult to deny Adam transfer to Anfield, Blackpool did not approve his request, reiterating that the bid was too low and that he would like to keep Adam until the summer, according to The Telegraph.
"He has signed a contract and someone can come in, but it's not his choice and it's not their choice. He belongs to us," Holloway said. "I think he is still improving, and if someone wants to offer money I think they are wasting their time because we don't need to sell him at the moment.
"I had a pact with Charlie when he first came here that if one of the big four clubs came in for him — and Liverpool are one of the big four, though unfortunately for them not at the moment in terms of league position — then he could go," Holloway added. "So when Liverpool came in, I thought, fantastic. What a great club for him to go to next, and then when I heard the bid I thought it was disgraceful. What they offered is about the price Charlie would have been worth when Kenny [Dalglish] was last playing."
Still, Holloway know that he may be fighting an uphill battle.
"Has his head been turned? Yes. It can be turned. He understands Liverpool is huge. With Kenny Dalglish in charge, the club is so stable," he remarked.
"They have got new owners and they are going to get back to what they were and Charlie deserves to play for them one day.
"But that day, for me, isn't right for this football club at this moment in time. Maybe in the summer because it's a much better time to do business."
Blackpool rejected Liverpool's initial £4.5 million ($7.2 million) bid for Adam on Friday, though the Reds have reportedly upped the number to £5 million ($8 million). To pry the former Rangers player away from Bloomfield Road, it will likely take at least £7 million ($11.2 million).
By putting in a request, Adam forfeited a clause in his contract guaranteeing him 20 percent of his transfer fee as a bonus.
Blackpool signed Adam in 2009 for a club record £500,000 ($799,749). He has been instrumental in their promotion to the Premier League and their success thereafter.
