Liverpool and Villa a laughing stock

Last updated : 25 January 2011 By INOIT

Holloway confirmed Adam had put in a transfer request but said there was no issue to discuss because Liverpool's offer of £4million does not meet his club's valuation.

"If I was the Liverpool manager I would want to buy him because they have never replaced Xabi Alonso," said Holloway. "But you have to come up with the right amount of money. I don't want to stand in his way, but they have to put up or shut up."

Holloway revealed chairman Karl Oyston had taken a call from the Reds' director of football strategy Damian Comolli on Sunday which merely left the picture even more confused.

"He ummed and aahed and apparently did not make much sense," said Holloway.

The Seasiders chief also confirmed he had given no thought to leaving Adam out of Tuesday night's high-profile encounter with Manchester United.

"Not a chance," he said. "If I tried to stop that boy playing against Manchester United he would probably kill me.

"Charlie loves this club and just because he puts a transfer request in doesn't
change that."

Houllier hits out at Holloway

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has launched a stinging attack on Ian Holloway, accusing the Blackpool boss of double standards over the Charlie Adam transfer saga.

Houllier believes Holloway has singled him out for criticism, despite the fact that other clubs have bid for the midfielder, who has handed in a transfer request, through the same channels.

The Frenchman is angry that Holloway distanced Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish from the offer made by the Anfield side, yet did exactly the opposite when talking about Villa's bid.

"I noticed this weekend that I was not treated the same way as my friend Kenny Dalglish," Houllier said. "Ian said 'it must not come from Kenny' when Kenny makes a bid, 'it comes from the club'.

"He called me all sorts of things because our club, officially, did the right things, and went to them. He went back to the press having a go at me.