LIVERPOOL — English Premiership football club Liverpool have turned down a bid from fellow top-flight side Chelsea of £8million plus midfielder Yossi Benayoun in exchange for Raul Meireles.
Arsenal and French football club Lille have also approached Chelsea over the possibility of signing midfielder Benayoun.
The Blues may make another offer for midfielder Meireles after a summer-long pursuit of Tottenham’s Luka Modric.
Benayoun posted on Twitter on Monday that he was on the verge of leaving Stamford Bridge. Arsenal are looking to strengthen their midfield following the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
Benayoun (31) joined Chelsea from Liverpool for £5m in July 2010, but has seen only one minute of action this season.
It has been rumoured Benayoun would be included in an offer from Chelsea for Tottenham playmaker Modric.
“Negotiating with several teams . . . news soon,” wrote Benayoun on Twitter on Monday.
Newcastle have also been linked with the Israel captain, who was restricted to 10 appearances for the club last season due to an Achilles injury, which kept him out for six months.
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Benayoun spent two years at West Ham before joining Liverpool in 2007.
He scored 29 goals in 134 games for the Reds.
