Ian Holloway warns Liverpool over Charlie Adam saga

Ian Holloway has told Liverpool to “put up or shut up” over their pursuit of Charlie Adam after Blackpool turned down a transfer request from their captain on Monday.

The 25-year-old midfielder submitted his request to leave the Seasiders on Monday afternoon but the Blackpool manager says the club will not allow him to leave unless their valuation of the player is met.

“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.”

Adam has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs this January transfer window and both Birmingham and Aston Villa have registered their interest in the Scotland midfielder, but Liverpool are the favourites to sign the Scot after having a £4m bid rejected at the weekend.

Blackpool are thought to want around £8m for their star player and are holding firm with their efforts to hold on to Adam, who has scored four goals this season.

Holloway also revealed that he has not considered dropping Adam for Tuesday night’s Premier League clash with league leaders Manchester United at Bloomfield Road.

“Not a chance,” he said when asked about the prospect. “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.”