Crouch set for summer exit?

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Crouch may play against City, even with Fernando Torres likely to have recovered from a hamstring scare, but there is a summer of transfer speculation awaiting the England striker.

The England striker said: "I know the summer is going to bring speculation about my future. It is something we always have to live with in this game, unfortunately."

He added: "And when a player is not playing as often as he would like, then people will always say these things.

"I am just going to ignore it and concentrate on my football like I always have with this stuff in the past."

Crouch knows his situation is unlikely to get any better next term. Benitez has offered a new contract and "wants him to stay."

There are many who feel Benitez has a blind spot when it comes to Crouch, who has hit 10 goals this term from limited opportunities.

Crouch added: "I have not played anything like as much football this season as some of the other lads. I feel fresh and it has been great to be involved again.

"I know when I signed there was no guarantee about starting games. No one has that divine right to be picked so it is down to how you do when you get your chance and whether you can hold a place down.

"I'd like to think I have shown what I can do, I was given my chance recently at Arsenal (and scored) and kept my place for the European game that followed."