Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists Peter Crouch is not for sale but has to earn himself a new contract.
The Spaniard was reacting to growing speculation that Manchester City will try to sign the England forward in the January transfer window.
Crouch has 18 months of his current contract still to run, and there is a growing fear at Anfield he may see out that deal without signing a new one and be able to leave for nothing - just like Steve McManaman once did at Liverpool.
Benitez, who may well use Crouch from the start on Sunday at home to Bolton, has made it clear he has not been offered a new deal yet, and the player has not intimated that he would reject such an offer.
This uncertainty over his future has increased rumours that City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is waiting to pounce.
But Benitez said: ‘Peter knows how to win a new contract. He has to work really hard, play very well and score a lot of goals. So he has a chance to win a new contract because he can do all of this.
‘For now, though, we have to win a lot of games and then we will talk about his future later on.
‘He does not play every game, but now with two games every week for some while he will get his chances to impress.’
He added: ‘I do not think it will be the situation that he will walk away for nothing in 18 months, that will not happen. For now, though, I just want him to score more goals.
‘The key is for him to score, play well and be happy. Then we will have the conversation about a contract.
‘We do not want to sell Peter, we are really happy with him. Players in top sides know they cannot play in every game, but you can see how important he is for us.
‘Against Porto in midweek he and Harry Kewell were key substitutions that helped us win the game. We do not want to see any transfer movement involving him.
‘I want to see Peter score a lot more goals for us, he is not for sale. He is a good professional, he is always ready and waiting for his chance.’
Crouch has revealed this week that he will ‘do everything’ to stay at Anfield, and Benitez clearly does not want the giant hitman to leave.
He said: ‘In a top side you need good players, but they cannot play every game, that is impossible.
‘Crouch is a key player for us, we do not want to sell him. But when someone is not playing every game other clubs ask about them.
‘They will be trying to get close to the player. But we do not want to sell him, we want him here to help us win the title.
‘"They all want to be involved. Sometimes it can be a problem for him when he is not playing, he can see the other strikers doing well.
‘But he is a key player for us and hopefully that will continue in the future.’
He added: ‘Manchester City have done well this season, and they have some money to spend. But they will not have Peter Crouch.’
