Blackpool tell Liverpool 'put up or shut up' over Charlie Adam

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Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has told Liverpool to "put up or shut up" over their pursuit of Charlie Adam.

Holloway confirmed Adam had put in a transfer request today but said there was no issue to discuss because Liverpool's offer of £4million does not meet his club's valuation.

"If I was the Liverpool manager I would want to buy him because they have never replaced Xabi Alonso," said Holloway.

"But you have to come up with the right amount of money. I don't want to stand in his way, but they have to put up or shut up."

Holloway revealed chairman Karl Oyston had taken a call from the Reds' director of football strategy Damian Comolli last night which merely left the picture even more confused.

"He ummed and aahed and apparently did not make much sense," said Holloway.

The Seasiders chief also confirmed he had given no thought to leaving Adam out of tomorrow night's high-profile encounter with Manchester United.

"Not a chance," he said.

"If I tried to stop that boy playing against Manchester United he would probably kill me.

"Charlie loves this club and just because he puts a transfer request in doesn't change that."

Meanwhile, Holloway has confirmed defender Stephen Crainey will miss tomorrow's game with an ankle injury, but striker DJ Campbell will play having missed Saturday's home defeat to Sunderland after being struck down by a bout of food poisoning.

Goalkeeper Richard Kingson is also fit after being forced out of the weekend encounter as he needed stitches in a head wound.

"I am realistic about this game," Holloway said.

"When we were supposed to play Manchester United, they had just beaten Blackburn 7-1. They only won 5-0 against Birmingham, so that is a bit better.

"If we are not two goals down after 10 minutes I think we will have done well."