Benitez calm despite inactivity
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has claimed there “is no urgency yet” as he seeks to strengthen his squad ahead of next season.
The Champions League runners-up are still to make any major moves in the transfer market this summer despite Benitez stating a month ago he needed the backing to bring in players quickly.
The Spaniard was thought to be growing frustrated at the situation, despite promises of money from American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, but he insists there are no problems.
So far, Liverpool’s most prominent activity has involved tying key players Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina to new contracts, although they are being heavily linked with West Ham’s Yossi Benayoun.
Benitez told the club’s official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv: “We have a number of targets, and I am receiving interesting phone calls all the time.
“We are monitoring situations all the time and there is no urgency yet. If we bring in players from Spain, they only finished playing a week ago so they will need a longer break, but I would like somebody in before we start pre-season training.”
Atletico Madrid and Spain striker Fernando Torres and Roma winger Alessandro Mancini have also been linked with moves to Anfield in the past week.
