Eindhoven, December 9:

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has rubbished speculation Robbie Keane could be off-loaded in the January transfer window and suggestions he has demanded a huge pay hike.

Benitez has begun negotiations on an extension to his current deal, which expires at the end of next season. But he said reporters they had hit a snag over his personal financial dema-nds were wide of the mark.

Keane has failed to sparkle at Anfield so far and recent reports have suggested his former club Tottenham could try to re-sign him in January. But Benitez dismissed the stories as speculation, despite having dropped the Irish striker to the bench for Saturday’s win at Blackburn.