Benitez chases defenders as Baros deal nears
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is chasing two German-based centre-backs and has revealed he expects Milan Baros’ £6.5m (€9.6m) transfer to Aston Villa to be completed in two or three days.
Benitez has been linked with Stuttgart’s Portuguese international defender Fernando Meira and 19-year-old German Under-21 international centre-back Lukas Sinkiewicz who is at Cologne.
And he has also declined to rule out another move for Feyenoord’s top scorer Dirk Kuyt.
Benitez said: “If we talk about players their price increases, I have two names and we are checking them both.”
Benitez admits he desperately needs to strengthen his defence and also to buy a right winger. And it is now clear there will be intense transfer movement at Anfield over the next week.
The move for the two German-based players also throws into doubt claims Liverpool are in the hunt for Denmark’s 20 year-old defender Daniel Agger from Bromby.
Benitez believes he can tie up a deal for both Sinkiewicz and Meira for under £4m (€5.8m), while Bromby are asking closer to £5m (€7.4m) for their player.
Benitez added: “When we hear figures quoted of £5m (€7.4m) then we know we will have to negotiate.”
And the remarkable re-appearance of Kuyt on Benitez’s list is another twist in the Michael Owen saga.
Real Madrid want £11m (€16.2m)-plus and the player would certainly command a four-year contract that would bring the total outlay to close to £30m (€44m).
That is money Liverpool do not have, and Benitez is now juggling figures to strengthen his side and maybe replace strikers who could be sold.
Baros is expected to move this week, and there is still the chance of a bid for Djibril Cisse. If that happens, Benitez could move instantly for Kuyt, who is now interesting Spurs.
