Napoli target happy to remain at Anfield.
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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel claims he never thought about leaving Liverpool this summer, despite several rumours linking him with moves away from the club, Sky Sports reports.
The Slovakian international has been with the club since moving from Zenit St Petersburg in 2008, and despite being a regular for the club he suffered a dip in form that saw him dropped by Brendan Rodgers for much of last season.
This led to speculation that his time with Liverpool could be at an end, with former manager Rafael Benitez reportedly keen to sign him for Serie A side Napoli.
However, despite the late signings of two new defenders, Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho, as well as the free transfer of Kolo Toure earlier in the summer, Skrtel has been kept around at the club, and he says he is happy and not concerned by the competition for places.
“Players come, players leave, it’s a normal thing and we will see how it develops,” he said.
He added that rumours linking him with a move away were not accurate, as Liverpool hadn’t received offers from any other clubs for his services.
“I’m staying at Liverpool. The rumours were never as strong as it was made out,” he said.
“There has been no contact with other clubs because the Liverpool management told me that they were counting on me. That is why a transfer was never in my plans.”
Another defender, Daniel Agger, had also been linked with a move away from the club this summer, with Spanish giants Barcelona thought to be keen on the Dane, but Liverpool have managed to hold on to their best players and build an improved squad to challenge for the top four this year.