Rafael Benitez is being eyed up by a series of Spanish clubs, according to various reports in the press.
The Daily Mirror claims that Barcelona want Benitez to take over from Frank Rijkaard in the summer, with the hugely influential Johan Cruyff reportedly urging club president Joan Laporta to ignore Jose Mourinho and opt for the Spaniard, whose position at Liverpool is still far from certain.
The Mirror also report that Atletico Madrid have already sounded out Benitez, and both Real Madrid and former club Valencia - with whom Benitez won two La Liga titles - apparently 'vying for his services'.
The Times says that Manuel García Quillon - Benitez's agent - has been approached by representatives from Atletico, Valencia and Barcelona, but claim Benitez is keen to stay at Anfield, having improved relations with the club's American owners.
However, they report that he will demand significant changes at Liverpool if he is to stay on Merseyside, including spending more money in the transfer market:
'Benítez will ask for considerable backing in the transfer market this summer as he looks to assemble a squad capable of challenging for the Barclays Premier League title. He and his staff are making inquiries about several players and are monitoring the form of others, including David Bentley, of Blackburn Rovers.'
Your Comments
montgomery
"What if a player is in the wrong end of twenties.Look at paul scholes mate.What a class act scholes is at this age.If you want to win titles,players should be mature.Different players mture at different ages.Messi matured at a very young age,but there are players who mature between the ages of 25 and 30.I reckon simao is one of them.He has brilliant passing ability.Considering the clowns present at anfield,he would always be a positive signing.I still cannot believe that rafa let go of Hamman.He would have been an ideal coverup for mascherano and alonso.Rafa should have realized that for holding midfielders pace is not always the yard stick.One young player who could play as second striker is sergio aguero.He has impressed me whenever I have seen him play.But it will be difficult to sign him from athletico madrid,as a lot of clubs are already lining up for his services."
zgzg123
"How can rafa demand more backing in the transfer market from the american owners in there 1st 2 windows he got 20+ million for torres 5mill for benayoun 11.5 million for babel 7 million for skrtel 18 million for mascherano 2million for itandje and another bunch of money for youngsters like 6 million for lucas and another 4or 5 nobodys who prob cost 5 million for the lot.thats over 70 million in 6 months what more can you ask for???? thats chelsea style spending. Ferguson only got 4 million for park and 1 million for foster when the glazers took over then he got a modest 12 million for vidic and evra in the winter window and then he made money in the summer with selling van nistelrooy and the 12 million from obi mikel he only spent 14 million on carrick and 2 million on kuszczak. now thats not being backed. Only when fergie delivered success was he given 40 million for Hargreaves and nani and anderson + tevez loan. His buys bar torres have not been good enough including mascherano and babel they are average players. "
mikeh9995
"Yes, Rafa please stay - as englishtim says, us football fans enjoy you proving how useless you are. You have no hope of re-creating the glory days for Liverpool. But, the longer you stay and keep failing, the more I love it!"
spudnick
"Give him a year! If he gets to the champions League final again then that is the least he will have earned."
Jetski
"Montgomery, Bentley is a quality player, but Pederson is a You Tube player, occasionally does great things but is nowhere near good enough for Liverpool. Having said that, I'm an Everton fan so would be delighted if you wasted some money on him!"
Unspecial_One
"rafa please go.. but dont get simao, he is at the wrong side of twenties already.. get bentley and/or quaresma.."
englishtim
"wow liverpool finally get some luck, raffa might be offloaded onto barca or madrid - i for one as a united fan hope he stays - nothing says football like liverpool being crap in the league !"
pablob
"bentley? when will he realise that english right mids are no longer the best in the world?! pennant?? we need some proven class to keep up with torres but will still work hard enough to cover for gerrard being anonymous for large parts of the game"
montgomery
"Rafa should let go of luyt and get Bentley or pedersen-two decent players.But Simao should be the first choice.Liverpool seriously lack in creativity when gerrard doesnot perform.Buying another winger or midfielder who can change things in a game should be liverpools top priority in the summer. Hopefully Rafa decides to stay at anfield.If rafa doesnot stay Torres,Alonso,Mascherano,arbeloa and leiva will leave."
Trikki
"Please Rafa GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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