Charlie Adam was Liverpool 'third choice' says Ian Holloway

Charlie Adam was a target of Liverpool's (GETTY IMAGES)

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has accused Liverpool of not wanting to sign Charlie Adam enough.

The highly-rated Scotland midfielder was linked with a move to Anfield throughout January but the clubs failed to agree a fee, while Tottenham were also unsuccessful with a late bid.

Adam's agent Kenny Moyes was quoted criticising Blackpool for their handling of the situation, claiming his client had been "seriously mucked about".

However, Holloway feels Liverpool were more interested in completing deals for Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll and that Adam deserved better.

The Seasiders manager said: "I think his agent should be very careful what he says, if it's true.

"I've already had enough of this Charlie Adam thing. He's my captain and if you look at how well he played last night (against West Ham), for me there's no rush.

"The boy will go to a top club eventually but he has to go on the right footing, where they really want him, and to be perfectly honest I didn't feel that was the case.

"Charlie is someone I care about immensely and I believe he's improving. I believe he's a great professional and I believe he should walk into a club when they really want him.

"He shouldn't be third choice, they shouldn't be doing two other deals, Suarez and Carroll, and putting their energy into that and doing nothing for Charlie."

Holloway branded the events of transfer deadline day "total madness", but insisted his club had acted in the right way.

"The whole thing is sharks swimming trying to bite pieces off my players, and at the end of day Charlie will get what he deserves," Holloway added. "He's still only 25. This is his first season in the Premier League.

"I'm very proud of us. The chairman stood there resolute and said, 'That's not good enough'. I think I'll be proven in time that what Charlie will eventually go for will be a decent amount of money for this football club.

"He's so important to us and that was difficult for him. It's difficult for all our lads really when you actually find out what other people are paying. Some of the West Ham wages last night leave us in the shade by a zillion miles."

Adam again led by example in the 3-1 defeat to West Ham, scoring Blackpool's goal, and Holloway had nothing but praise for the midfielder's contribution.

He said: "I think Charlie was magnificent last night. His professionalism pleases me and astounds me and that's why he's still my captain."

As well as ensuring Adam would remain a Blackpool player until the end of the season, Holloway also brought in four players on transfer deadline day.

Midfielder Andy Reid started against West Ham while James Beattie and Jason Puncheon were on the bench, and Holloway is hoping the final member of the quartet, striker Sergei Kornilenko, will be ready to play in around a fortnight's time.

The Belarus international has joined on loan for the rest of the season from Zenit St Petersburg and Holloway believes he will be a big success in the Premier League.

"He's mid pre-season training and I've told him to go with the fitness coach to carry that on," Holloway said. "He thinks it'll be at least two weeks until he's fully ready but his attitude's quite refreshing.

"He's a hell of a unit and apparently he doesn't stop running and caring and chasing and fighting, and that's us, so he'll fit in nicely.

"He knows where the back of the net is, we're going to need some goals, and he's really hungry. He turned down some massive clubs and a lot of money to come here for very little."