Liverpool have told Ryan Babel he can leave.

The Sun says the Dutch star's agent Winnie Haatrecht met Rafa Benitez last week after Babel made only six league starts all season.

But his demands for more regular action cut little ice with the Liverpool boss.

And Benitez followed up by admitting Babel, 22, who has three years left on his contract, had the green light to look for other clubs if he was so determined to get assurances of being picked.

Ajax, who banked £11.5million from selling him to Liverpool two years ago, tried to sign him on loan in January.

Babel's wages, of around £60,000 a week, would be beyond the Dutch outfit though.