It’s amazing to think that Robbie Keane is still only 27 years old. He seems to have been around forever. At the centre of a supposed transfer struggle between Liverpool and his current employers Tottenham, the Dublin-born Irish International has reputedly made clear that he wants to try Champions League football. There is no doubt he enjoys playing with Spurs but the indication he has given serves as a major doubt as to what he believes are Tottenham’s chances of finishing in the top four.

Perhaps he wants an immediate guarantee of such football, which is what Liverpool will give him. Perhaps, at a crossroads in his career, he feels the need for a final challenge at a bigger club, which Liverpool are.

Keane has more of a chance of silverware at Anfield. By that I mean the Champions League and not the Carling Cup. I don’t mean this as a detrimental statement concerning Spurs, who seem to be on the up and up on every level; yet Keane obviously has more of an idea as to the potential contained in the current Tottenham squad and their ability to be contenders for the bigger prizes.

After an impressive start to his career at Wolves and Coventry, Keane was the hottest property in British football yet found himself in tricky situations at Inter Milan and Leeds United after Marcello Lippi was sacked after signing the youngster and Leeds ran into their much-publicised troubles.

On signing for Spurs in 2002 Glenn Hoddle stated in typical fashion that Keane would find his ‘‘spiritual home’’at White Hart Lane. For once Hoddle was not wrong - 80 goals in 197 appearances is a good return from a man who is simply not just a striker.

Adored by the Spurs faithful, Tottenham’s insistence on having too many strikers who consider themselves first-team players stifled and frustrated Keane for some time. Mido and Freddie Kanoute kept him playing second fiddle during his third season at the club. Keane has shown great character and ability through troubled times, including a bust-up with Edgar Davids in training which went on to become a pivotal moment in galvanising the Irishman’s apparent love for the club.

Has Keane now seen the end of the road at Tottenham? Perhaps a continual battle to prove himself at a club where he should have always been first choice is/has began to grate on his psyche. Yes, he is at an age where he will be thinking about guaranteed top-class football. Even the might of playing in the richest league in the world is not enough for Keane. He has never played in the Champions League, which is a situation that a man with such talent will find frustrating. He has another five years at the top but if Spurs don’t make the top four this coming season it could be another wasted year in his eyes.

Hoddle once said of Keane, "He’s such a bubbly lad that anyone who meets him loves him’’. I don’t think Robbie is the type of guy who would intentionally want to upset people, especially those fans who have supported him at White Hart Lane. However, no one could blame him for wanting to further his career at this stage. Whether a move to Anfield would benefit him or not, Keane will not make this decision lightly. Unfortunately I cannot see him being first choice at Anfield if he did go - that privilege belongs to Fernando Torres. It’s difficult because Keane must know that he will not be the main striker at Anfield and even the possibility of more games if Rafa Benitez stuck him on the wing would not appeal.

If Juande Ramos can convince Robbie that Spurs can make that top four spot then he will stay. It’s an intriguing and very important decision for one of Britain’s top strikers; he really can’t afford to make the wrong choice - for his own sake.