£15 Transfer Kitty on the cards

Liverpool have moved to reject reports their summer transfer kitty is empty, and insist manager Rafael Benitez has £15 million to spend.

The Anfield outfit were rumoured to have less than £5m to splash in the transfer window, after failing to qualify for the Champions League last season and accruing debts of £473 million. According to the News of the World, the club's hierarchy have handed the under-fire Spaniard the money to spend, as well as giving him permission to invest any cash generated from player sales.

Yossi Benayoun has been tipped to leave the club in the summer, while Benitez will also look to offload the likes of Albert Riera as he attempts to rebuild his squad.

There will be no big-money splashes on superstar names though, as Liverpool feel the pinch after a season to forget on and off the field.

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La Liga winger almost certain to join Liverpool

Winger Simao Sabrosa could be set for a transfer to Liverpool this summer, where he will be paired with fellow former Atletico Madrid star Fernando Torres.

The 30-year-old wide man is being lined-up by Rafael Benitez in a bid to solve the Reds' left-sided problems, with Albert Riera currently out of favour.
Despite having only three years or so left at the top level, Simao could end up costing Liverpool as much as £8million - although cash-strapped Atletico are reportedly keen to sell the player to raise funds.

Simao never actually played alongside Torres, as he arrived in the summer of 2007 at the same time as the Spanish striker left for Anfield.
Benitez believes Simao's pace and crossing threat could reduce the pressure on his star striker by adding a creative element down the left.
But the Portuguese has played down talk of a move.
'Nobody has spoken with me in the last days about this subject,' he said.
'I only say that some people in Madrid have suggested that Atletico are preparing my sale, but I don’t know too much.
’I have always been interested in playing in the Premier League, but my head is in the World Cup and I have a deal with Atletico.'
Simao has one year left on his contract at Atletico, meaning a sale could be pushed through this summer or the Spanish outfit risk losing him for free in 12 months' time.

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Torres not aware about his agent's comment's

Fernando Torres has refused to commit his long-term future to Liverpool and claims he is unaware of quotes from his agent on Tuesday which indicated he would be staying at Anfield this summer.

Torres' future has been the subject of some debate after a poor season for Liverpool in which they finished seventh in the table and failed to qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all been linked with the striker.

His agent, Jose Antonio Peton, appeared to settle the question of his client's future on Tuesday when telling a Spanish radio station, "For the moment, I can assure fans that Fernando will continue at Liverpool next season."

However, Torres would not endorse those comments in a press conference with his national team on Wednesday and said he was unaware that his agent had spoken to the media.

"I didn't read them," said Torres when questioned about his agent's comments. "The most important thing for me now is the World Cup. My future is the World Cup and then we'll see later.

"For now and hopefully for the next two months the only thing I am thinking about and talking about is the World Cup."

On a day when former Liverpool owner David Moores called on George Gillett and Tom Hicks to end their ownership of the club, Torres admitted that off-the-field issues were a concern.

"That is one of the ways we need to improve," Torres said. "I know the situation, I speak to the chief executive and Rafa every week and I am aware of what is going on. But because I am focusing on the World Cup I don't know what the situation is right now."

The striker is currently preparing for the World Cup finals in South Africa and is recovering from a knee operation that curtailed his impact for Liverpool at the conclusion of the season.

However, Torres is optimistic of being fit for Spain's World Cup campaign which begins with a fixture against Switzerland on June 16.

"I feel better," Torres said. "I have been training on my own for five weeks with just me and the fitness coach. Hopefully next week I'll be training with the rest of my team-mates. If all goes well I'll be in normal training on Monday."

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Good news from unusual source as rest is all bad news

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has vociferously defended his record at Anfield, claiming that the club have improved under the stewardship of himself and George Gillett and revealing that Rafael Benitez will be given a "substantial" transfer budget this summer.

Hicks and Gillett decided last month to sell the club after more than three tempestuous years of infighting and fan protests, with Hicks confirming that the duo hope to complete the sale by the end of the year.

But despite mounting criticism over the way the pair have conducted their affairs since taking over in March 2007, Hicks claimed Liverpool had actually improved under their leadership.

Having posted their worst Premier League finish for 11 years - seventh - speculation has grown about the futures of Benitez, striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard.

However, Hicks said although they were in the process of finding new buyers, he and Gillett did not want to cash in on their prize assets - despite the debt of parent company Kop Holdings rising to £351 million last summer - and were prepared to invest heavily in the squad.

"We have no intention of selling any of our top players and we have a substantial transfer budget in place,'' Hicks told Sky Sports News. There's so much misinformation about transfer spending.

"It's more than doubled under the ownership of George and myself from the previous three years and we will make a significant investment this summer. It's really about getting the right players.

"There's been so much misinformation put out by people who have their own agendas and it's unfortunate. But the truth is the club is much better off than it was three years ago.

"We've done our best. I'm disappointed on a personal level that are efforts have not been received as well as I wish they had have been.''

Benitez has suggested he needs at least £50 million to get the club back on track in terms of challenging for the Champions League places never mind the Premier League as they did in the 2008/09 season. Torres has also called for "four or five'' quality signings this summer.

Hicks said he was prepared to make allowances for one season, after watching the club struggle badly over the recent campaign.

"We're all disappointed with where we finished this year," Hicks said. "People forget that we almost won the Premier League last year (finishing a close second to Manchester United with a record 86 points). We had injuries and players performing below their level of expectation.''

Former chairman David Moores admitted on Wednesday that he "hugely regrets'' selling to the Americans. In 2007 they paid £470 million for Liverpool, but having incurred so much debt in the purchase and subsequent running of the club, many potential investors baulked at the asking price of almost double that set by Hicks last month.

However, the Texan believes that could be a fair price for a club which has reached two Champions League finals, winning one, since 2005.

"I think I have said £600-800million is not an unrealistic value range, but the market's the market. We'll see,'' he said. "We will sell the club. We're not going to sell it to the wrong group, we're not going to sell it for the wrong price, we're going to do it in a very thoughtful way.

"I don't anticipate it will be done necessarily before the beginning of the next season. We hope it gets done by the end of the calendar year.

"We're more concerned about finding the right next owner, somebody that can make the investment in the club to get the stadium built, and to let Liverpool be the best possible football club in the world.

"The new stadium is fully designed now and the global financing markets are back so I think with the change of ownership coming we'll be able to have the new stadium built for Liverpool.''

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Liverpool looking at City surplus

Liverpool will reportedly attempt to snare Manchester City winger Shaun Wright Phillips this summer. Rafa Benitez is keen to add more natural width to his Anfield side and is willing to offer attacking midfielder Yossi Benayoun as part of any potential deal to land the Eastlands man.

Having found himself surplus to requirements under Roberto Mancini the former Chelsea man is hoping to get his career back on track and may feel that the only way to do so is to leave the club he has served for eight years over two spells.

Rafa Benitez has played Dirk Kuyt out on the right wing for the best part of two seasons but now feels it is necessary to bring in an out and out winger as he looks to add more balance to his Liverpool side. Reports have suggested that Mancini could accept as little as £8m for the 28 year old England international and the fact that City have been linked with a move for Yossi Benayoun may present the possibility of a player swap which could suit all parties.

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He will be there with us

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes club and country team-mate Fernando Torres will remain at Anfield next season.

Torres has been linked with a move away from Merseyside after the club's poor campaign, with Chelsea and Barcelona supposedly in the running for the Spain international's services.

But Reina spoke to his compatriot this week and claims Torres is committed to turning the club's fortunes around. "I am calm about Fernando," Reina said in quotes reported by The People. "I spoke to him about his future and he has told me that he intends to continue with us.

"Fernando suffered so many blows last season, but he is a professional and has always wanted to do well for us. That is what he remains - committed to this club," he said.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has also been strongly linked with a move away from the club this summer, with Inter Milan a possible destination, but Reina is equally convinced his manager will stay put.

"I am convinced that Rafa will still be with us and that is good for us because he wants revenge in the next campaign," he said.

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Carragher admits Liverpool do not need players who wish to leave

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned that no player in the Anfield dressing room is irreplaceable, following rumours that a host of stars could be leaving this summer.

Speculation has linked several players, including Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano, with moves away from the club after a disappointing season under Rafael Benitez, and Carragher has stressed that no player is bigger than the club.

"I want the people to come back who want to be there. If anyone doesn't want to be here, no problem. No one is bigger than Liverpool Football Club,” he said.

"People always talk about players leaving and saying 'this is the end of Liverpool'. No chance.

"Better players than the ones we have now have left and we have replaced them."

Carragher is currently training with the England squad in the Austrian Alps after accepting Fabio Capello’s call to return from the international wilderness after announcing his retirement in 2007.

And the long-serving Liverpool defender has confessed he has no time for those who do not wish to demonstrate their full commitment to the Anfield cause.

Stars such as Mascherano have made no secrets of their desires to leave the club, with the Argentine midfielder admitting that it was a "shame" that his proposed move to Barcelona fell through last season.

But Carragher is determined to redeem matters at Anfield after a poor campaign, and is eager to begin as soon as the World Cup ends.

"I know what it is like after a poor season. There is a lot of negativity. We have had it all season and I am sure we will have it again throughout the summer.

"Obviously I want to enjoy the World Cup and do well. But I can't wait to get back to Liverpool and try to put it right."

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Swap deal on the cards

Alberto Aquilani could be leaving Liverpool and heading to Juventus in an exchange deal involving Brazil international Felipe Melo.

Aquilani has struggled with fitness since joining Liverpool from Roma in a £20 million deal last summer.

The midfielder has not convinced he can adapt to the needs of the Barclays Premier League and Juventus are keen to bring Aquilani back to Italy.

Defensive midfielder Melo, who was heavily linked with Arsenal last summer, has not had a happy season with Juventus since joining them from Fiorentina a year ago in a deal worth over £20m.

Despite making 25 appearances for the Old Lady, the 26-year-old was voted the worst player in Serie A last season by listeners of an Italian radio station and was rewarded with the Bidone d'Oro or Golden Bin - a prize whose 'winners' include Rivaldo and Adriano.

Sources in Turin say the exchange deal would be in both clubs' interests with Aquilani happy to resume his career in Serie A after an unhappy debut season in England.

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Liverpool interested in Valencia attacker

Liverpool are looking to make a hopeful bid to bring Valencia attacker Juan Mata to Anfield. Rafa Benitez is willing to offer Spanish international Albert Rieira as part of a cash plus player bid for the impish 22 year old.

Benitez is currently unsure of what sort of transfer budget he will be given this summer as the Merseyside outfit looks for new investment so is looking at ways to bring in new additions by offering players he deems as surplus to requirements.

Rieira has never really got going at the club since his move from Espanyol in September 2008 and was reportedly close to making a move to Russia two months ago but may now be used as a makeweight in a deal to sign £16m rated Mata who can play in a number of attacking positions ranging from an orthodox winger to part of a two man strike pairing.

Valencia are in dire financial straits and are more likely to consider offers for Juan Mata so as to avert the need to cash in on the likes of David Silva and David Villa.

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Rafa wants to continue at Liverpool

Rafa Benitez believes he made the mistake of being successful too early in his reign as Liverpool manager and expectations have been too high since.

"I made a big mistake, which was to start off by winning four titles," Benitez, who took over at Anfield in the summer of 2004, told a forum in his native Madrid on Wednesday.

"Then people ask more of you, when in reality in the Premier League it's taken for granted that a manager needs time at the start to adapt."

Benitez, who has been linked with jobs in Italy, said he intended to see out his contract, which runs until 2014, and was determined to build a competitive team.

"My future is Liverpool and I have had no offers (from other clubs)," he said.

In his first season in charge, Benitez led Liverpool to a Champions League triumph and European Super Cup in 2005 followed by the FA Cup and Charity Shield in 2006.

A title drought has followed and Liverpool finished seventh in the league last season, 23 points behind champions Chelsea.

Senior Liverpool players, including Spain striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard, have urged the club to make some high profile signings before next season.

But American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett put the club up for sale last month and British media have reported the club's debts are more than 350 million pounds ($499 million).

"I have had a couple of meetings with the new (chairman Martin Broughton) to clarify the situation," Benitez said.

"We need to know how much money we have, and that also depends on (player) sales."

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Rafa confident of attracting top talent to anfield

Rafael Benitez is confident Liverpool will still be able to attract high-class signings this summer despite the absence of Champions League football next season and doubts remaining about his future at the club.

"Liverpool is a massive club and can attract top-class players because of their name and their history and the quality we have in the squad," Benitez said. "Always we have targets in mind. We have been working and preparing the targets and every year is the same."

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Inter want Rafa to replce Jose

Inter Milan have contacted Rafael Benitez over the prospect of being installed as Jose Mourinho's successor.

The Serie A champions have approached the Liverpool manager, with Mourinho expected to depart for Real Madrid following Inter's Champions League final, coincidentally at the Bernabeu Stadium, on Saturday night.

Marco Branca, the Nerazzurri's technical director, has sounded out Benitez to take the managerial reins at the San Siro after Juventus ended their search for a long-term replacement to Alberto Zaccheroni with Sampdoria’s Luigi Del Neri agreeing to join them.

Inter's city rivals AC Milan had also been keeping tabs on Benitez's situation following a disappointing season but have been forced to play the waiting game as he hammers out talks with chairman Martin Broughton over what he stands to gain by remaining at Anfield.

With Liverpool unable to offer guarantees over transfer funds recouped on players sold being reinvested in the playing squad, Inter are hoping that a huge offer lined to help retain the Serie A title and the Champions League, should they win it, will be enough to tempt the Kop boss.

However if Benitez opted to switch to the blue half of Milan, he would be charged with reinventing an ageing side as well as a tough act to follow in the shadow of Mourinho's footsteps; something which AC Milan are hoping will swing in their favour.

The seven-time European champions have a similar rebuilding process to their local rivals after Leonardo was dismissed by club president Silvio Berlusconi following Sunday's 3-0 win over Juventus.

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Masch finding life difficult at Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has admitted that he still harbours regrets about not joining Spanish giants Barcelona last summer.

The Argentinian scrapper held talks with Barca over a transfer directly before the start of last season and has now confessed to The Liverpool Echo that, after the move failed to materialise, the distraction of the protracted negotiations left him struggling to find his form;

“The situation with Barcelona really affected me, It was a shame it didn’t happen as [Barcelona] was the city where I wanted to live.

There were many discussions and problems during that month-and-a-half. They were difficult times for me. One day I was off to Barcelona, the next I wasn’t, and Liverpool said I was non-transferable.

Psychologically, it affected me as I couldn’t think in Liverpool and I was focused on other stuff and not on my work – my training and playing.

Also, we were having problems with Argentina as our qualification to the World Cup was in danger. There was a lot of complicated stuff at that time.”

The 25-year-old scrapper then went on to insist that he is happy with life in England, but hinted that he (or at least his wife) would still welcome a move from Merseyside to Catalonia;

“I have no problem living in Liverpool, but my wife and daughters deserve to enjoy every day to the full and live their lives, but they have to be home all day.

My wife doesn’t speak a word of English so she depends 100 per cent on me. I live here with them. That’s my world, that’s my life.”


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Rafa has no room for Yossi

Yossi Benayoun has been told he has no future at Liverpool by manager Rafa Benitez.

But despite several clubs, including Sevilla and Spurs, hunting the £9million-rated midfielder, Liverpool will block his sale until the Anfield managerial crisis is resolved. Benayoun's fate is being seen as the acid test of whether Benitez will avoid the sack this summer.

Benitez and Benayoun's relationship has broken down and tensions came to a head when the Israeli was left out of the squad for the final league game at Hull a week ago.

No major deals will be sanctioned until the board determines who will lead the team next season, and Benayoun says he is willing to fight on at Anfield under new management.

Benitez will see his decision on Benayoun as a test of how much authority he still has at the club.

If he's over-ruled, he'll know he no longer has the backing of the board, although they're stalling on whether to sack him because of the cost. The sale of Benayoun, who a new manager may wish to keep, would be a clear signal Benitez is staying.

Benayoun won't be the only high profile departure unless there is a change of manager.

But Liverpool are adamant they can bide their time and wait until just before pre-season before clarifying the situation.

What's certain is the only way Benitez will leave is if he's sacked. Despite hints he was considering quitting towards the end of the season, it's clear he would never walk away from his lucrative contract.

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Liverpool to go italian again

Liverpool are lining up a bid for Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini this summer as Rafa Benitez looks to bring in new attacking options to his faltering Anfield side. After a break out season at Sampdoria the 25 year old has become a target for many sides looking to lure the former Fiorentina man away from the Genoa side.

The Merseyside club have found themselves too reliant on Fernando Torres over the past two seasons and Benitez is looking to bring in reinforcements. Whilst the club have secured Milan Jovanovi? on a free deal they are still hopeful of bringing in another striker to the club.

Pazzini is valued at around £11m and whilst Liverpool are in financial difficulties Benitez believes he can finance any deal for the Italian international by selling some of his squad players. The likes of Albert Rieira, Philipp Degen and Ryan Babel could all be set to leave the club this summer and their sales would help bring in money to help any move for the Italian international.

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Tottenham consider swap deal

Tottenham Hotspur could make a move that would send striker Roman Pavlyuchenko to Liverpool in exchange for midfielder Yossi Benayoun.

The Reds were looking to bring the Russian international to Anfield in the winter but Spurs asking price of Benayoun and £2million was too high for Liverpool.

Liverpool could decide to just sell the Israel international in a money deal and could get up to £10m from Spurs, Aston Villa, Roma, Sevilla or Dynamo Moscow, who have shown interest in Benayoun.

Spurs were close to selling Pavlyuchenko to Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv Moscow for £10m in the winter but with the striker returning to Harry Redknapp’s starting line-up Lokomotiv manager Yuri Semin fears that a move for the Russian will be tough.

“The situation has changed,” Semin told the Daily Mail.

“I'm afraid it will be difficult to get Pavlyuchenko.

“His team qualified for the Champions League and he regained the coach's confidence.”

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Valencia midfielder open to Liverpool move

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega is keen on securing a summer move to Liverpool

It appears that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is set to raid his former club to fill the void left by the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid last summer and it is believed that Banega is fully in favour of a move to Anfield despite the lack of UEFA Champions League football on Merseyside next season.

It is understood that Liverpool have made a bid of around €10 million, which is rumoured to match Banega's new buyout clause but is considerably less than the €18 million los Che paid Boca Juniors to take him from the Bombonera two years ago.

Valencia's financial problems are well publicised and despite talk of potential big money departures from the Mestalla, such as David Villa and Juan Mata, the transfer income from such sales would not be sufficient to plug holes in their massive debt and so los Che now seem willing to cash in on Banega, even at a loss.

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Syrian consortium confident of Liverpool buyout

A Syrian consortium hoping to takeover Liverpool insist that they are confident a deal will be reached shortly.

Yahya Kirdi flew to London last week for talks with the Reds new chairman Martin Broughton and co-owner George Gillett.

The group, who publicly expressed their interest in ending the American´s ill-fated three-year spell at the Anfield helm as well as that of Gillett´s business partner Tom Hicks.

Kirdi, a Syrian ex-professional footballer, has enlisted the services of former Celtic captain Andy Lynch, who confident of a £400million buyout being reached to herald a new era at Anfield.

He said: "Mr Kirdi confirmed to me that he had encouraging discussions with both Martin Broughton and George Gillett.

"He is hopeful that the deal could be done very soon."

Broughton is set to meet with Rafael Benitez on Wednesday for further talks, with the Spaniard´s future still unresolved after a disappointing campaign.

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Chinese interest in buying Liverpool

A chinese multi-millionaire internet gaming tycoon from Shanghai has held provisional talks about buying Liverpool.

No offer has been tabled yet but Zhu Jun (44) the founder, chairman and chief executive of The9 Ltd -- one of China's leading online gaming firms -- is described by local sources as "sincerely interested" in the club.

When Zhu's gaming firm floated on America's Nasdaq stock exchange in 2004, Zhu pocketed around £60m and his personal fortune has expanded considerably since. Zhu has a long-term active interest in football and is the chairman and majority owner of Shanghai Shenhua of the Chinese Super League.

An informed source in Shanghai says Zhu has already had two exploratory meetings about buying Liverpool with Barclays Capital (BarCap), the global investment bank.

BarCap was hired by the club's new chairman, Martin Broughton, to find a buyer after owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett formally put the club on the market last month.

One of Zhu's meetings with BarCap took place in Hong Kong at the end of April and a second was in Shanghai in the past week, according to a business source in China. A spokesman for BarCap declined to comment.

Broughton wants a "leak-free" media strategy until a deal is done with whoever eventually buys the club. This is understandable, given the attention likely to be given to any potential buyer. But the revelation of Zhu's interest and meetings is significant in that it suggests BarCap is now actively engaging with potential bidders.

Before Broughton and BarCap were brought on board, Liverpool's owners had struggled to attract any interest from would-be partner investors that was satisfactory to Hicks and Gillett.

"There is certainly a mood change now," one insider said. "But we're not close to any done deal yet."

Zhu is one of dozens of parties contacted across the world by BarCap already, as the firm chases up previous interest in the club and explores new leads. He proposes to head a consortium of businessmen, perhaps including one or more other owners of Chinese Super League clubs, to make a bid. It is known, however, that he feels the owners' nominal asking price of £800m is double a realistic valuation.

Price will be a sticking point but is acknowledged on all sides as negotiable. A swift sale is clearly in Liverpool's best interests because it would allow a new owner to take decisive action over whether to keep Rafa Benitez in charge before the summer transfer window closes.

Hicks and Gillett will not sack Benitez. A senior club insider insisted last night that there is "no chance at all" of that happening because a £16m pay-off would be necessary to facilitate it and the American owners will not spend that cash. Yet the Spaniard's position remains in the balance, as does the club's transfer policy.

The £800m price tag has been circulated in China as a starting point for negotiations among rich potential bidders. Sources say the price tag has deterred many potential investors from even coming to the negotiating table.

However, the verbal 'prospectus' that BarCap has been touting highlights Liverpool's potential growth, and Zhu is among those willing to explore the possibilities of buying at a "decent" price.

BarCap is looking for a buyer committed to the new stadium, and is stressing to would-be buyers that it is as integral to Liverpool's long-term stability and growth as monetary investment. Zhu is confident he can raise or borrow funds to build it, if the purchase price is right.

Zhu's background has been romanticised on his firm's own website, with a description of his early business life talking about how he graduated from a delivery man who used a tricycle to do his rounds in the 1980s to someone who sold clothing and then cars before moving into non-specific "international trade".

The last 12 years are easier to track: he started a gaming company in 1998, moving into online virtual communities in the early part of the last decade as the internet boomed, and then floating The9 six years ago.

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Rafa feels he can trun around Anfield fortunes

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes he should be given the time and resources to correct the mistakes of this season.

A goalless draw at Hull just about summed up the Reds' campaign as they missed an opportunity to capitalise on Aston Villa's defeat to Blackburn and move up a place in the Premier League table.

The resulting seventh spot represented Liverpool's worst league performance since 1999.

Although Benitez has been linked with Juventus and now Inter Milan the prospects of him leaving Anfield seem to be more remote than they were a couple of months ago.

The Spaniard stressed in his post-match press conference at the KC Stadium that he was inclined to stay if the club were able to meet certain conditions.

If Liverpool wanted to sack their manager, who has four years remaining on a lucrative contract signed only 14 months ago, it would most likely cost them somewhere between £12million and £16million.

And with their current financial difficulties - figures relating to last season published a few days ago showed the debt of Liverpool's parent company Kop Holdings had risen to £351million - that would be a major undertaking.

Benitez is set to meet chairman Martin Broughton, appointed last month by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to oversee the sale of the club, for a second time this week.

It is anticipated the pair will try to find some common ground on how to take the club forward, which the manager appears keen to do providing further barriers are not put in his way.

"For any manager, when you have a bad season, you want to improve and change things and I think it has to be this way," said Benitez, who has now gone four years without a trophy having won the Champions League and the FA Cup in his first two years in charge.

"I think all the managers, especially when they are in England and are at a club for a long time, will have good moments and bad moments.

"In football every year you cannot win and win and win. You can see Chelsea winning (the Premier League), not winning and now winning again so it can happen."

Asked if he deserved another chance after such a dismal season, Benitez added: "It depends. 'Senior sources' maybe will say different but it has been the same in the history of football."

The mention of 'senior sources' is in reference to Benitez's belief that a campaign is being waged against him in the media. In his post-match comments he used the phrase half a dozen times in relation to reports which claimed he was prepared to sell captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres - a suggestion he dismissed out of hand.

But until he can come up with an agreeable plan for the future with Broughton nothing can be seen as definite.

"Every meeting helps, in one way or another, and at this moment we have to talk about everything," said the Reds boss.

"Hopefully the second meeting will be as positive as the first one...but the press continue with the same agenda.

"I think for the stability of the club it is important because we have to move forward on everything.

"Hopefully we can progress with our next meeting."

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Kuyt uncertain over Anfield future

Dirk Kuyt expects Rafael Benitez to remain at Liverpool but admits he does not know who will be leaving Anfield this summer.

Liverpool have endured a disappointing season and, with substantial debts and no Champions League football next season, there are widespread reports that Benitez could be set to leave along with the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

With the club up for sale, Kuyt admits the future remains unclear, but he believes Benitez is likely to stay and hopes new owners will come in to provide the funds needed to strengthen ahead of next season.

"The manager has four years left on his contract so I don't expect him to leave unless something else happens," Kuyt said. "In football, you can never be sure what is happening and at this time we know the club looks very bad.

"We are looking for new owners and you don't know which players are going to stay or go, but Liverpool is a club with a great history and great supporters and we have to stay close together and fight really hard.

"Every player is interested in what is going on but, if I am honest, I can't blame that side of things for some of our performances.

"For me the most important thing is keeping the main players. Hopefully we can then buy a few more key players and start winning trophies."

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Benitez admits his desire to stay

Rafael Benitez has today spoken of his desire to remain as Liverpool manager and insisted that "no-one" at the club wants to sell Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard.

The boss revealed he has held positive talks with Chairman Martin Broughton and will hold another meeting with the Reds chief next week.

"I had a meeting with the chairman and it was positive," Benitez told his post match press conference at Hull City. "We will have another one this week and we will talk about the future again.

"I have shown my commitment for years, and if I stay I am not thinking about selling Gerrard or Torres. I do not want to sell them.

"The stability of the club is important because we need to move forward, we will have another meeting and hopefully we can progress."

He added: "Nobody wants to sell them (Gerrard and Torres). I think the Chairman was very clear."

Asked if he wanted to remain as Liverpool manager, Benitez said: "Yes, it is always the same situation. I have wanted to stay and I would like to stay."

The Reds brought a disappointing season to a close with 0-0 draw at Hull City, a result that leaves them in seventh place.

Benitez admits it was a frustrating afternoon in Humberside and feels the draw was symptomatic of their season away from home.

"I think you could see we tried to win," he said. "We had chances, we could have scored at the end, but it has been a special season with a lot of things happening. We had three or four chances but couldn't take them.

"We were really good away last season, but this year there has been a big difference. We didn't win the games we won last season and haven't scored as many goals."

One positive from the draw with the Tigers was the debut of Academy starlet, Jack Robinson, who became the youngest Liverpool player in history when he replaced Ryan Babel late on.

Benitez said: "We have been lucky because the reserve team have been away and we had problems with injuries, with Fabio and Insua. He was training with us one day, so we felt he could be an option.

"We knew he was a young player. I am really pleased. He is now clutching his shirt and doesn't want to give to anyone."

Liverpool's seventh place finish means they will now face a Europa League qualifier in July, a fixture that Benitez admits will cause issues with the Reds' pre-season preparations.

"We were working hard and had the pre-season more or less sorted. But now we have to analyse the schedule and see if we can organise the fixtures properly.

"It was the same last year, we had too many players away with the Confederations Cup. The teams are suffering with these tournaments, but it's not easy, we will try to manage."

The boss was also quizzed about potential transfer targets.

He said: "We have been working and looking at targets. Every year is the same."

He added: "I don't think it will be a problem attracting players because Liverpool is massive club with a great history and we have big players with quality in the squad.

"You cannot win every year. This season has been bad, but when you are at a club for a long time you have good times and bad times."

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MON is the replacement lined up if Rafa leaves

Liverpool have chosen Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill as their top choice to replace Rafael Benitez this summer.

Sunday’s match at Hull City is likely to be Benitez’s final game in charge of Liverpool as reports have suggested that Benitez will be moving to Juventus.

O’Neill is set to meet with Villa owner Randy Lerner to discuss his future with the club and some believe that the Irishman could leave in the summer, according to the Daily Star.

The last two Liverpool bosses have been Frenchman Gerard Houllier and Benitez, who is from Spain, but should the club hire a new manager they would prefer a British manager.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, Birmingham’s Alex McLeish and Kenny Danglish are also being considered for the Liverpool job.

However, O’Neill would be the main target to lead the Reds if Benitez completes a move to Juventus this summer.

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Ancelloti rules out Torres move

CARLO Ancelotti has ­delivered a sensational snub to Fernando Torres by ­insisting: We don’t need you at Chelsea.

The Blues boss’s remarks come at the end of a week in which his club have been heavily linked with an ­ £80million summer swoop for the ­unsettled Liverpool ace.


But, according to Ancelotti, a deal for Torres is a non-starter as he is more than happy with his present strikeforce of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.


The pair have cracked 47 goals ­between them this season while firing Chelsea to the brink of a first-ever Premier League and FA Cup Double.


And Ancelotti is adamant that, ­rather than break up the red-hot ­partnership – and blow millions on a player surplus to requirements – he would prefer to unearth a new Torres from within Chelsea’s considerable ranks of young talent.


On the eve of their crunch home clash with Wigan, the ex-AC Milan coach said: “We won’t be interested in Torres over the summer because we already have Drogba and Anelka here.


“And when we have these two ­players at the club, I don’t think there is any need to go for him.


“I think Torres is a fantastic player but I believe for any club it is much better to grow and develop this sort of player in your own academy.”

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Chairman insists Gerrard and Torres not for sale

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton insists there's no chance of Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres being sold this summer.

With their rivals sensing weakness there have already been reports of Chelsea preparing a £70million bid for Torres and Real Madrid considering a £35million offer for Gerrard.

Broughton said neither instances would be considered as both players remained integral to manager Rafael Benitez's team.

"There is absolutely no reason to sell either Torres or Gerrard," said the British Airways chairman, brought in last month by the co-owners to oversee the sale of the club.

"I don't want to sell either of them. Rafa does not want to sell either of them, the club is not looking to sell them.

"We don't need to do it to pay off any debt.

"Torres is one of the great players and every club would love to have him. We have got him and there is no intention of selling him."

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Carragher in shock England call-up

Fabio Capello intends to select Jamie Carragher in England's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup after the Liverpool defender indicated a willingness to come out of international retirement for the tournament in South Africa.

Carragher made himself unavailable for selection after the friendly against Brazil in the summer of 2007 having grown frustrated at a perceived lack of opportunities in his favoured centre-half role. Capello's predecessor, Steve McClaren, failed to persuade him to change his mind and the defender also politely declined when the current manager revisited the issue on his appointment over two years ago.

The defender, capped 34 times, had preferred to concentrate on club commitments and has been a consistently fine performer for Liverpool over the last decade. Yet Capello and England's general manager, Franco Baldini, who are braced to be without their first-choice defensive midfielder, Gareth Barry, at the finals because of an ankle injury, became aware of a shift in Carragher's stance and have seen an opportunity to integrate more experience into their squad.

The 32-year-old has been sounded out over a possible return and, although the situation is still delicate, Capello is intent upon picking him for his initial 30-man party, to be named on Tuesday, ahead of the pre-tournament training camp in Austria. Carragher's worth as a seasoned centre-half is clear and is more significant because Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King, who will also be in the squad, have struggled with injuries.

Ferdinand has started only 11 Premier League games all season having suffered from back and groin complaints but could begin Manchester United's game tomorrow against Stoke City. King, long since restricted by chronic knee problems, has played only four times since the end of February but impressed Capello by excelling twice in five days against Bolton and, on Wednesday night, at Manchester City.

John Terry and Matthew Upson will retain their places, though there is a certain irony in the appeal of Carragher's versatility given his preference for playing at centre-half. He has been employed at full-back and in defensive midfield for England in the past and, in the likely absence of Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott with foot and hamstring injuries respectively, he could potentially be utilised in either wide defensive role yet again.

Whether he features at Hull tomorrow remains to be seen because he is troubled by a slight ankle injury. His international return would still represent an eye-catching selection, with the England management team seeking to bolster a squad disrupted by a recent spate of injuries.

Michael Dawson and Phil Jagielka have impressed in recent weeks, though it is uncertain whether either has done enough to get into the squad that will play friendlies against Mexico and Japan this month before being slimmed down to 23.

Capello was initially due to attend Arsenal's game against Fulham on Sunday but will now be at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea hope to win the Premier League title for the first time in four years. The head coach has dispatched Baldini to Upton Park to scrutinise the credentials of West Ham's Scott Parker given the potential absence of Barry for the finals.

The Manchester City midfielder damaged ankle ligaments during Wednesday's defeat to Tottenham and his club manager, Roberto Mancini, fears Barry could be absent for up to a month. "I'm very sorry for Gareth," said Mancini. "He is a fantastic guy and a fantastic player. I hope he can play in the World Cup, but I think that's a decision for the England medical staff and Fabio Capello."

The loss of a player who has been a consistent selection under successive England managers would represent a considerable blow to England's chances in South Africa and, aside from Parker, could yet earn Michael Carrick or the Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone, capped against Brazil last November, inclusion in the squad

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Liverpool accounts show huge loss

The parlous financial position at Liverpool was underlined today when accounts were released showing the club £350m in debt. The figures covered the year to 30 July 2009, so included Liverpool's relative success last season, yet still the club recorded the biggest loss in its history, £55m, having paid £40m in interest on its loans.

The bulk of the loans, owed to Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, are the borrowings originally made by the two United States owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, to buy Liverpool in the first place, which they then imposed on the club to pay off. The accounts detail how impatient the banks have been for the debts to be reduced; Liverpool were formally due to repay the £250m owed on 24 January this year and the banks extended that loan by only six weeks, to 3 March.

Since then, following further negotiations with the banks, Hicks and Gillett agreed to sell the club, and a chairman, Martin Broughton, was appointed to get a sale agreed. The banks extended their loans – which the club says stand now at £237m – until the sale, which Broughton said today will be "a matter of months".

The club's auditors, KPMG, summed up that Liverpool are now "dependent on short-term [bank loan] facility extensions" until investment arrives and for the second year running raised a stark warning about the club's financial health. "This fact indicates the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt upon [Liverpool's] ability to continue as a going concern," they said.

It is understood that the Premier League last month sought detailed reassurances from Liverpool that it does have the backing from the banks to fulfil its fixtures next season and not go bust.This debt-laden, loss-making predicament is not what Hicks and Gillett were promising when they bought the club for £174m in February 2007. Hicks promised that work on a 70,000-seat stadium in neighbouring Stanley Park would start within weeks, but the pair made the club responsible for paying their own borrowings, and failed to raise money for the stadium project.

Since July 2009, the date of these accounts, Liverpool's position can be assumed to have worsened, although commercial deals, including sponsorships, have improved. Last season Rafael Benítez's team, featuring Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in devastating form, finished second to Manchester United in the Premier League and reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions League, where they were knocked out by Chelsea.

The club's income went up from £162m the previous year to £185m and it said "a large part of this increase" was due to Premier League TV and merit payments for finishing second. Liverpool received £20m from Uefa for their run in the Champions League and made around £7m more from hosting the European matches at Anfield. This season, having been knocked out of the Champions League in the qualifying round and finishing below fourth in the Premier League, Liverpool's income will be significantly reduced. Next season, with no Champions League football Liverpool will again miss out on the £27m made in that competition in 2008-09.

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Constructive meeting held between the Chairman , Managing director and the Manager

Liverpool have claimed Thursday's meeting between Rafael Benitez, chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow was "constructive

The Spaniard was hoping to be given an idea of what transfer budget is likely to await him in the summer, although it is unlikely Broughton - as a non-executive director - has the authority to give definite assurances.

Benitez was hoping to get a better idea about what the future holds both for the club and himself personally at the meeting, although unless a buyer is found it seems improbable co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will invest any more money.

A Liverpool spokesman said on Thursday evening: "We are pleased that the first of what is intended to be a series of meetings took place today between the chairman, managing director and the manager. The meeting was constructive.

"The chairman shared his views about plans for the future of the club. There was an exchange of views on issues of concern to both the board and the manager which were either addressed or to be picked up in forthcoming meetings."

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Carragher waiting for new contract , as he wants to end career at Liverpool

Jamie Carragher has expressed his desire to remain with Liverpool for the rest of his career and hopes to discuss a new deal with Rafael Benitez.

The former England international is keen to refute reports that negotiations with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will leave him as a forgotten man at Liverpool.

Carragher could miss the Reds final game against Hull City on Sunday with an ankle injury, but the Englishman hopes that he can agree to a new deal with Liverpool this summer.

“I’ve spoken to the manager about it and we both agreed that it would be better if we talked about it at the start of next season,” Carragher told the Daily Star.

“I don’t want to retire.

“I understand, at my age, you can only make ­decisions season by season.

“But I want to finish my career at Liverpool. I don’t want to play for anyone else.”

Carragher has spent his entire career at Liverpool, making 627 appearances and helping Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005.

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Liverpool hold talks with Madrid Star

Liverpool have reportedly opened talks with Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart over a potential summer switch.

Anfield chiefs held talks with a fortnight ago with representatives from Los Blancos following the Reds' Europa League semi-final first leg in the Spanish capital against Atletico Madrid.

However any deal will be dependent on the future of manager Rafael Benitez, who is set to meet chairman Martin Broughton this afternoon for showdown talks.

It is understood that Benitez was not consulted on an approach to Los Blancos for the Holland international with Juventus still confident of luring him to Turin despite a reluctance by the Kop boss to meet their deadline before the end of the week.

Highly-rated van der Vaart, 27 is one of several Galacticos expected to leave the Bernabeu as part of a summer clear-out.

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Fiorentina interested in Aqua

After a disappointing first season at Liverpool, Alberto Aquilani could be quickly on his way back to Italy, according to his agent.

The 25-year-old has spent plenty of time on the sidelines this season after a hefty transfer from Roma, and only recently begun to hit his stride for the Reds as the campaign winds to a close.

But with interest from his former stomping ground - namely Fiorentina - Aquilani could be soon returning to Serie A.

"It's too soon [to speak about a possible deal]. First of all he must finish the season well and then once we understand Liverpool's future plans we can make concrete decisions," his agent Franco Zavaglia told firenzeviola.it.

"The interest of the Viola is not new. People have talked about it for three years.

"There are many things to consider. If [coach Rafa] Benitez is taking his time to understand Liverpool's future then you must imagine what it's like for Aquilani."

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Torres likely to miss world cup opener

Injured striker Fernando Torres could miss Spain's opening match of the World Cup, according to Liverpool's new head of sports medicine and sports science, Peter Brukner.

Torres is currently recovering from a second knee operation in three months to repair a torn meniscus, but Brukner has warned that he must get the balance right between rehabilitation and rest if he is to make the showpiece in South Africa.

European champions Spain begin their quest for global glory with their Group H clash against Switzerland on 16th June, before further meetings with further games against Chile and Honduras to follow.

"He's doing well and he's certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here, and if anyone can recover from an injury, he can," said Brukner.

"You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup.

"Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain."

Brukner is also wary of Torres returning to action too soon because of the long-term impact for Liverpool, who are desperate to have their main striker fit for the start of next season.

Brukner added on the club's official website: "We're anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long-term benefit, but we're aware he's got the short-term goal of playing in the World Cup.

"Hopefully we can get a compromise between those two where he plays in the World Cup and he's fit and well for Liverpool next season."

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Rafa has no offers insists Agent

Rafael Benitez has not received any offers and wants to stay at Liverpool, according to his agent.

Benitez has been strongly linked with a move to Juventus and it had been believed that the deal was all but done, with the manager seeming to hint at an imminent move ahead of the weekend's crunch clash when he said: "Hopefully I will still be here on Sunday against Chelsea."

However, reports on Tuesday have suggested his move to Juventus could now be in doubt and, as Benitez prepares to meet with new chairman Martin Broughton to discuss the future of the club, his agent has said the Spaniard has no plans to walk away.

"We have not received any offers from any club," Manuel Garcia Quilon said. "Benitez's aim is to remain at Liverpool and try to help the team improve with new owners. He is under contract and his wish is to remain at Liverpool."

Quilon had earlier been less clear about his client's future when he said: "This week Rafa will meet the president of the club. From what I know, he wants to stay on at Liverpool.

"Benitez wants to know the club's plans for future, what the investment in players will be like. For him, this is a very important detail.

"I have not made any agreement with Juve. Benitez has four years on his contract with Liverpool."

The news comes amid reports Benitez has twice cancelled his planned meetings with Broughton. BBC Sport claims the Spaniard pulled out of a face-to-face meeting last week and another the week before, although his reasons for doing so are not clear.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, meanwhile, has said he would be happy to see Benitez take charge at the club.

"Rafa Benitez's CV is really good," he said on Sky Sports News. "Tactically he's a very good manager and he's also shown he can deal with problems off the pitch. Benitez is a great professional that every team would like to have."

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Liverpool is on DIC radar.Would DIC be lucky third time?

DUBAI International Capital are closing in on a £500million buy-out of Liverpool as manager Rafa Benitez prepares to join Juventus.

It will be all change at Anfield over the coming weeks with unpopular American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks relinquishing control and the club being forced to find a new boss.
In fact, the search for a new manager is already under way, with high-ranking Liverpool officials aware that Benitez has verbally agreed to join Serie A side Juventus at the end of the season on a £4.5m four-year deal.

Now it’s just a case of the Italians agreeing compensation with Liverpool for Benitez to end his ­ six-year reign on Merseyside.
There will also be a major upheaval in the boardroom with DIC, the investment arm of Dubai’s ruling family led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the front runner in the process to agree a deal with Gillett and Hicks.
DIC attempted to purchase the club in 2007 when major shareholder David Moores declared he was open to offers but then former chief executive Rick Parry recommended a sale to the Americans.
They were also in negotiations a year later to buy Gillett’s 50 per cent shareholding only for talks to break down.
Now it could be third time lucky for Sheikh Mohammed, a regular visitor to this country through his passion for horse racing.
DIC will also commit funds to build the much-anticipated new ground and make a considerable sum of money available for transfers.
Prominent in the discussions is DIC chief and self-confessed Liverpool fan Sameer Al Ansari.

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Rafa set to have crunch meeting with the Chairman

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez meets new chairman Martin Broughton this week during which his future at the club could be decided.

A 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in their final home Premier League match of the season finally put paid to hopes of securing Champions League football next season, the first time they had missed out on Europe's elite club competition since they finished fifth in 2002-03.

It also meant Liverpool will finish the season with their lowest points tally in five years, since accruing 58 in Benitez's first campaign in charge back in 2004-05.

"I will have a meeting with the chairman in a few days," said the Reds boss.

"I have four years of a contract [left] so we will see.

"The fans want to know (whether Benitez will be in charge next season) but I want to know what is going on next week against Hull.

"Always in the past two years, the manager here has been taking responsibility for everything.

"The reality is that if you compare with other teams in terms of money, power and the option you have in the market, so you can analyse carefully and then you have answers.

"The fans are very clever, they know what is going on. It is very clear that things are like this now and still we have to carry on going forward.

"Next season we have to do almost everything perfect and if we make one or two mistakes we don't have the possibility to react, so it is more difficult for us.

"We will prepare for the next game (at Hull) and then start thinking about things for the future."

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Benayoun unsure over his Liverpool future

Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has revealed that he is unsure about his Anfield future, despite signing a new contract with the club last July.

Benayoun's deal expires in 2013 but he was heavily linked with a move away from Liverpool in the January transfer window, and reports have begun to circulate again that he could be set to leave this summer.

It has been an extremely difficult season for Liverpool, with the future of the club shrouded in uncertainty.

Speculation is rife that manager Rafael Benitez will be heading to Juventus in the summer, while the club are also searching for new owners to replace the departing Tom Hicks and George Gillet.

And while Benayoun admitted he does not know if he will be at the club next season, he insisted that if he could choose, he would love to stay at Anfield for the remainder of his career.

"It's very difficult to speak now about next season," Benayoun said. "We don't know what changes there will be [in the] players, the staff so I think it's too early to speak. I don't know personally even if I will be here or I will not be here. A lot of things can happen, so we have to wait and see."

"It's nothing to do with [Benítez's future]. I'm enjoying here at this moment. If it depended on me, I would stay here and retire in Liverpool. The fans are the best in the world but it depends on a lot of things. It will be very clear soon and we will just have to see in a few weeks."

"When you're at a big club, it's normal when things go bad it puts the pressure on the manager, because you cannot change all the players. But there are people who decide. I don't need to speak for Rafa because he's proved himself during his time here that he's a big manager. The people above will take the right decision for the club."

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Rafa on the brink on Juve move

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez looks to be on the verge of confirming his switch to Juventus.

Benitez has been under heavy pressure this season and, following the Europa League exit to Atletico Madrid on Thursday, he refused to answer questions over his future.

"At the moment I can't talk about the future long-term," Benitez said on Friday. "I know the future clearly and it is Chelsea on Sunday.

"I decided to stay last year because of the fans and for one year I have been working hard, trying to do my best. We will see what happens in the future."

Asked if he would be at the club next season, Benitez said: "I want win against Chelsea and then Hull, and that is all. I am here now, and hopefully I will still be here on Sunday against Chelsea."

Widespread reports in England and Italy now suggest the move is on the verge of completion and Soccernet spoke to its Italian contact in Turin, who confirmed: "Here in Turin, it is more or less accepted that the deal has been done.

"The reality is that it is actually the same strength as a month ago when I last told you that Juve believe they have got their man. They still do. In fact, here they are just waiting for Liverpool to come out and confirm it. Certainly there is no one at Liverpool who is in a position to say they want Benitez to stay.

"There is one last sticking point and that is that Benitez is seeking a golden handshake, compensation for going. He is expecting compensation. The Italian media are heading off today to Liverpool for what we believe will be the final chapter at Anfield for Benitez."

Following the news that owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr were ready to sell Liverpool, Benitez spoke enthusiastically about a potential takeover from China that would release funds for new players that might tempt him to stay.

However, Benitez does not trust the owners to sell, and there have been indications that prospective new investors or owners have been scared off because of the price being quoted.

Benitez would be due £16 million in compensation if he were to be sacked and, as such, may be eager to delay confirmation of his departure. Sources at Anfield have suggested he will threaten to stay on if he is not paid off.

Benitez plans to sit down with Christian Purslow, the managing director, after the final Premier League fixture away to Hull City to discuss his future, but in Italy they are sure he is heading to Turin.

A report in Gazzetta dello Sport stated Benitez would be allowed to work with a budget of around €80 million at Juventus, with Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Javier Mascherano apparently targeted. That budget would be dependent, however, on off-loading a number of players.

Corriere dello Sport has said Benitez has lined up Simon Kjaer of Palermo and Juan Manuel Vargas of Fiorentina.

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