Crouch can go for £15m says Benitez

Benitez also confirmed that midfielder Harry Kewell and first-team coach Alex Miller would be leaving Anfield.

"Crouch wants to play every week, but knows he must fight it out with Fernando Torres," Benitez said.

"We keep seeing Portsmouth linked with the player, but we have had no offer as yet. A £15m price tag for Crouch would not be unreasonable."

Crouch has had limited first-team opportunities as Benitez has preferred to use Torres, who has netted 32 goals so far this season as a lone striker with Steven Gerrard supporting from midfield.

Crouch has been offered a new deal by Liverpool, but the 27-year-old is known to be concerned that a lack of first team opportunities at Anfield could affect his place in the England squad.

Crouch's team-mate Kewell will leave in the summer after the Australian reportedly rejected a new deal on reduced wages.

The 29-year-old winger's Liverpool career has been plagued by injury. He has made a mere 81 league appearances since his transfer from Leeds United in 2003.

Benitez announced that the search to replace Miller, who has left the club to manage Japanese outfit JEF United Chiba, has already begun and that he has "some names to consider."

Elsewhere, QPR parted company with first-team coach Luigi de Canio by mutual consent on Thursday.

The Italian took charge at Loftus Road at the end of October. A successor will be named in due course.