JUNE 16
Gillett: No panic buying for Reds

TEAMtalk

George Gillett insists pressure to spend on players this summer will not force Liverpool into mega-bucks deals just to "prove something".

The expected blitz of the transfer market following Gillett and Tom Hicks' takeover of the Reds earlier this year has so far failed to materialise, amid suggestions that manager Rafael Benitez has become disillusioned with the lack of funds made available to him by the Americans.

So far, Bosman signing Andriy Voronin and young Brazilian Lucas Leiva are the only major new arrivals - hardly the established world-class talents the Liverpool faithful were hoping for.

But while Gillett admits he is privy to the fans' frustration, he insists the Reds regime will not be forced into any token buys.

"I sense that kind of pressure building from the media," he told The Times.

"I think the fans know that we have huge regard for Rafa. He has a number of initiatives and concepts and plans under way.

"We're not going to do something just to try to prove something. I can assure you that we are working on different things.

"What we've said and what Rafa has said was that we had a programme and he would share that with us and that we would support it.

"The first part was that we identified a number of our existing star players (Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso) whom Rafa wanted to sign on long-term contracts.

"That was the first step and it has been done. Now we're moving on to phase two, which is bringing players in."

Gillett insists the time to judge the club's owners will be when the summer's dealings are completed.

"For Tom and me, this really is about trying to win championships. And that takes commitment, no matter what sport," he added.

"We are pleased with Rafa and his strategy. It's not dissimilar to what he outlined to us in February.

"His belief is to look for players with the proper chemistry to enhance the team.

"We support Rafa. He has a programme under way and, as that unfolds, that will be the time for us to be judged, not now."

JUNE 12
Gillett: No rift with Rafa

By David Prentice - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has rubbished talk of a rift between Reds boss Rafa Benitez and himself.

After Benitez dropped his transfer sights from Samuel Eto’o to Diego Forlan to fit his budget limitations, reports circulated of growing tension between the Reds boss and the club’s new American owners.

But Gillett said: “I read that Rafa is throwing hand grenades at us and making demands... that there’s a tension or disagreement between him and the Gillett and Hicks families. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

“As far back as February, Rafa laid out a programme for us. Each one of our sports businesses has a core concept.

“You can’t just flop around looking at opportunities here and there, go left, go right. It has to be part of an integrated plan.

“We have one at Liverpool, as we have with the Canadiens, one we understand 100%, believe in and support.

“The plan involves us spending money, but it will be part of a plan, not just spending like a drunken sailor.”

Gillett added: “(Ice) Hockey and soccer are all about teamwork, and Rafa believes in that very strongly.

“It’s the same in almost all of life – it’s about partnership, teamwork and communication. It’s not all about money.”

Gillett was speaking to the Montreal Gazette newspaper about his experiences so far at Anfield.

But he was keen to deflect any praise for the Reds’ run to last month’s Champions League final.

“In all candour, the Gillett and Hicks families have to say we’ve been pretty lucky to arrive on the scene and enjoy this first-season success,” he said.

“It’s heady and a lot of fun, but it sure would be a mistake for us to try to act like we had anything to do with it.

“This is the work of (former chairman and life president) David Moores and (chief executive) Rick Parry and Rafa and the players. We were the fortunate beneficiaries of circumstance.”

Describing the Champions League final itself in Athens, he added: “I think the birth of our children was more worrisome on one hand and more pleasurable on the other. But short of that, it was pretty exciting.

“I don’t think in hockey there’s a group of fans who know more about sport or are more emotionally invested in their team than in Montreal. The same is true for Liverpool.

“To some extent, both communities have a chip on their shoulder. They’ve been through a lot and both are coming back nicely.

“Montreal is doing well economically, we’ve got an outstanding mayor and a new (provincial) government that seems to be doing well.

“There’s some of the same in Liverpool, one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.”

JUNE 5
Rafa: Double deal sends right message

Sporting Life

Rafa Benitez believes Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher signing new Liverpool deals could help lure more top stars to Anfield this summer.

The pair returned from England duty on Monday to sign contracts to keep them on Merseyside until 2011.

And Benitez believes that keeping his two homegrown stars tied to the club for years to come sends the right message about where they're heading.

He told the club's official website: "I think these deals send out a key message as we enter a crucial period. Other players will look at Stevie and Carra committing their future to Liverpool and understand that this means we are determined to progress on the pitch.

"When we talk to players we'd like to sign for this club, we can point to the fact that they will be playing alongside the likes of Stevie and Carra. Now these two deals are complete, we need to continue working on bringing in new players and keeping the ones we already have."

Benitez feels keeping Gerrard and Carragher happy means the club has a solid base for years to come.

He added: "They are about safeguarding the future of this football club. Stevie and Jamie both wanted to stay at the club. They have a passion for this club and you can see that in the way they play.

"They are 100% committed to Liverpool and now they can be 100% focused on their futures at Anfield."

Chief executive Rick Parry meanwhile said: "There's a lot of work - an awful lot of work - going on in the background.

"It's important we get the right players and there will be a lot of activity at the club to come but we're delighted to see Steven and Jamie sign these contracts."

JUNE 4
Gerrard and Carra sign new deals

Sporting Life

Liverpool's England duo Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have signed new contracts with the club.

Club captain Gerrard and vice-skipper Carragher have signed deals which extend their stay at Anfield until at least 2011.

Carragher told the club's official website: "I am very pleased. Obviously we are both local lads and I've always said I wanted to stay here for the rest of my career.

"Hopefully I've got one more (contract) left in me that will take me until the end of my career.

"I have signed for four years and hopefully I can still be a regular in the team. That's the aim anyway."

Gerrard added: "I'm really pleased too. The negotiations have gone really smoothly.

"Although they have been spoken about for a couple of weeks, I think it's happened pretty quickly. I'm just pleased to get it out of the way and we look forward to next season now. Hopefully over the next four years we can deliver a lot more trophies."

The pair have spent their entire professional careers at Anfield and Rafael Benitez and American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have all stated their desire to tie them to long-term deals.

England midfielder Gerrard is now hoping the Reds can go on to the next level and transfer their excellent European record of late onto the domestic scene and be regular challengers to Manchester United and Chelsea for the title over the four years of his and Carragher's new contract.

"I think these are exciting times at the football club with the takeover and the new stadium," said the skipper.

"We have both signed for four years and I am sure they are going to be four exciting years.

"I don't see why we can't go from strength to strength and win a load more trophies, not just the Premiership but more cups as well.

"Having said that, we can't get away from the fact that the Premiership is the one we want."

JUNE 4
Big-spending Ferguson leaves
Benítez struggling to keep up

By Dominic Fifield - The Guardian

Rafael Benítez's family holiday only lasted a week, but as he returns to his desk at Melwood this morning, he will discover that the summer landscape in the Premiership has already changed markedly.

The Liverpool manager had demanded urgency in the club's transfer strategy in the immediate wake of the European Cup final yet, come the first week in June, he finds himself once again playing catch-up. The impetus is with the champions.

Manchester United's staggering spending last week, with potentially more than £50m lavished upon two youngsters from Portuguese football, Nani and Anderson, and the England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, must have left Benítez cursing on his beach lounger.

At around £17m each, these were the kinds of fees the Spaniard had hoped to coax from the Merseysiders' American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. While there remains a willingness to spend that heavily, Benítez's fears over spiralling fees should there be any delay in Liverpool's summer recruitment are effectively already being realised.

Not only has Sir Alex Ferguson served notice of his intent to retain the Premiership title, but the weight of his transfer money could now handicap Liverpool in the market. Nani, at 20, is a Portugal international with only five caps who has been lured to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon.

Anderson, 19, is awaiting his chance on the bigger stage. Benítez would have been instinctively reluctant to have spent as much as £17m on Simao Sabrosa, a long-standing target who almost moved to Anfield two years ago, yet the more experienced winger has 48 caps.

The Nani fee is likely to inflate Benfica's asking price for the 27-year-old. "We have some targets, top-class players, but if you spend two or three weeks waiting, then talking and talking, you either cannot sign the player or have to pay more money," said Benítez on the morning after the defeat to Milan.

The Liverpool hierarchy would argue steady progress is being made, with five players already secured and bids being prepared for the likes of Lyon's Florent Malouda. The Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas, is a notoriously awkward negotiator. Given events in the past surrounding the departures of Michael Essien and Mahamadou Diarra, talks over a possible move are likely to prove protracted. But the Liverpool manager will be infuriated, if only privately, that he has yet to secure one of his principal targets.

Benítez decided towards the end of last season he needed to bolster his supply-line in a bid to fuel a more productive attack after his team scored 26 Premiership goals fewer than United last season. He wanted new wingers, with Malouda, Simao and David Silva of Valencia all under consideration. A centre-half, most likely Real Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito, would also be welcomed while, up front, there is interest in Samuel Eto'o at Barcelona, even if a likely £30m fee would be prohibitive.

Juventus are preparing to test Benítez's resolve to retain Mohamed Sissoko with a £10m offer while doubts persist over Xabi Alonso's future. The Basque has two years to run on his contract but has not yet agreed an extension. Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested in the midfielder.

All of which will darken Benítez's mood as he returns to the training ground to plan this club's future. The manager had spoken of a "positive" conference call conducted with Hicks, Gillett and the chief executive Rick Parry just before his holiday though, not for the first time, he will want to see real evidence of urgency now. With the Americans absent and constant dialogue therefore awkward, the club cannot afford to wait until Foster Gillett, the joint owner's son, moves with his own family to Merseyside in August to take up a more hands-on role at the club.

The sense is that Liverpool are already slipping behind. Chelsea may not have spent a major fee, but they have secured the Bayern Munich forward Claudio Pizarro, Steven Sidwell from Reading, the Brazilian Alex who has spent time "parked" at PSV Eindhoven and the Oldham youngster Danny Philliskirk. But Benítez would consider his squad to lack the quality of Jose Mourinho's, and he would concede he is now well behind Manchester United. This week demands that Liverpool show their own true intent.

Anfield targets

Florent Malouda Lyon £8m

David Silva Valencia £15m

Simao Sabrosa Benfica £12m

Gabriel Milito R Zaragoza £8m

Samuel Eto'o Barcelona £30m*

Darren Bent Charlton £15m

(*or swap with Xabi Alonso)

MAY 30
Season of much food for thought

Ian Doyle looks back on eventful campaign
as Liverpool landed new owners

By Ian Doyle - Liverpool Daily Post

A season that began with accusations of Rafael Benitez being chicken in Kiev ended with the Liverpool manager delivering a roasting in Greece.

In between, the Spaniard fought to hide the shortcomings of his team and the club before both were exposed amid the glare of Europe’s biggest stage.

Even by Liverpool’s standards, this was an eventful and historic campaign, their long search for investment finally ended as Anfield looked west for the opportunities offered by the Yankee dollar.

George Gillett and Tom Hicks rode into town hailed either as saviours or a sad indictment of the corporate path football has travelled in recent years.

Beyond doubt, though, was the fact Liverpool badly needed the financial injection brought by the American duo, both to pay for the new stadium on Stanley Park and bankroll Benitez’s squad rebuilding.

And now the summer could prove equally pivotal in shaping Liverpool’s long-term future on and off the pitch.

Not least regarding to what extent Gillett and Hicks follow their words with actions and provide Benitez the spending power the manager believes is required for Liverpool to even have a hope of ending a championship drought that stretches back to 1990.

Certainly, the latest title challenge never got off the ground with Liverpool taking until December to register an away league triumph, a heaviest derby defeat in 42 years at Goodison setting the tone in September.

An unkind fixture list, the exertions of the World Cup and the bedding in of several new signings were considered reasons, but the subsequent evidence of a miserly six wins on their travels revealed where the true problem lay.

It was in stark contrast to their form at Anfield, where only a fortunate Manchester United left with victory and just seven goals were conceded – the best figure in English football.

That home form was enough to secure a second successive third place finish ahead of Arsenal, but the nine-point gap to top team Chelsea the previous season grew to an alarming 21 to new champions United.

The poor Premiership record against their “big four” rivals continued.

Liverpool lost at Chelsea, United and Arsenal before mid-November, although both London teams were later beaten in the return fixtures, rare high points of a largely forgettable league campaign.

By then, however, Arsenal had highlighted Liverpool’s domestic shortcomings and Benitez’s discontent at the club’s reserve and youth resources by inflicting two cup defeats inside three dismal January days.

Playing Jerzy Dudek in goal backfired as the Gunners dumped the holders out of the FA Cup 3-1 at Anfield, but that was nothing compared to what transpired in the Carling Cup when a largely second-string Liverpool were thumped 6-3 by a young Arsenal line-up in the quarter-finals.

While that was an anomaly for a defence whose record was bettered only by Chelsea in the Premiership, goalscoring was once again a problem. Only Dirk Kuyt reached double figures in the league while overall top scorer Peter Crouch was not used enough – not least in the Champions League final.

Liverpool weren’t helped by Luis Garcia’s long-term absence but the rest of the midfield contributed little to the goals tally, a fault Benitez will look to address during the summer.

Not for the first time, Europe would provide relief.

The decision to move the Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa from war-torn Israel to Ukraine led to accusations of cowardice from opposition journalists, and the Israeli team certainly put up more of a fight than the trio of teams Liverpool overcame in the subsequent group stage.

The ‘golf club’ incident during the Portuguese training camp ahead of the first knockout round game against Barcelona pulled the squad together, and the 2-1 win in the Nou Camp galvanised Liverpool towards a final rematch against AC Milan after Chelsea were eliminated on another famous European night at Anfield.

The Italians, vanquished in Istanbul two years earlier, would this time be victors in Athens to prompt an unhappy Benitez to voice his displeasure at how the club has been run.

The Spaniard’s comments may have born from the frustration of missing out on a second European Cup in three years, but his assessment that Liverpool aren’t even close to challenging United and Chelsea is spot on.

Benitez has worked marvels to extract the best out of his players on one-off occasions, but over the long haul of a Premiership season the squad lacks sufficient quality.

Once the finger-jabbing has ceased, much will now depend not only on the amount of money Benitez is handed, but also on how wisely it is spent.

In this respect perhaps the Liverpool manager has something to prove, with the season’s new arrivals again a mixed bag.

Kuyt was a success, Jermaine Pennant’s recent performances will have earned him a stay of execution and the capture of Javier Mascherano on an 18-month loan was an inspired decision, even though it will eventually cost £18million to make the Argentine’s move permanent.

However, neither Fabio Aurelio nor Alvaro Arbeloa have been able to make a lasting impression while Craig Bellamy hasn’t come to terms with squad rotation and Mark Gonzalez was a huge disappointment.

The Chilean is leaving for Real Betis and will most likely be followed out by Bellamy while Robbie Fowler, Bolo Zenden and Dudek have already departed.

A number of other squad members will also have their futures assessed as Benitez attempts to mould a title-challenging team.

So what do Liverpool need? More is expected of Xabi Alonso, should the Spaniard resist the expected advances of Barcelona, while Steven Gerrard deserves to be placed back where he belongs – at the heart of midfield.

Looking at new faces, Andriy Voronin, Sebastien Leto and £6m Brazilian midfielder Lucas are already incoming, but they aren’t the big names supporters are expecting.

Lyon left-winger Florent Malouda would be a step in the right direction, so too Simao Sabrosa of Benfica, but the capture of a high-profile, goalscoring centre forward should be the ultimate target, in the mould of Samuel Eto’o, David Villa or Fernando Torres.

The names of Daniel Alves, David Silva and Carlos Tevez have been constantly touted, and were this week joined by Roma’s step-over king, winger Alessandro Mancini.

Of course, even with substantial backing from Gillett and Hicks, only a few of these signings will be possible.

Which ones – and how many – will depend on how quickly Liverpool can quell the disharmony and jostling for position behind the scenes. Failure to act could mean it’s not only the championship that will reside elsewhere in the coming years.

MAY 30
Reds must act fast to get the right players

By Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo

One thing became crystal clear in the aftermath of Liverpool’s defeat in Athens – Rafa Benitez is frustrated.

While the Liverpool boss was forthright about his plans for the future, and the fact he is looking to the club for the backing he clearly needs, you sensed an air of agitation over the present state of things at Anfield.

The Reds boss has suggested the club hasn’t really moved on in the two years since Istanbul. He feels the squad needs more quality in order to compete with the Chelseas and Man Uniteds, and he wants speedier action on the transfer targets.

His comment “we can’t be working looking for players in August, because then you end up with the second or third choice on your list,” is an indication of what has happened in the past.

Whether previous stars slipped the net, whether transfer dealings dragged out and whether enough money was readily available to the boss for top targets (prior to the arrival of the new American owners) only chief executive Rick Parry will know.

But now, in the new climate, Benitez can’t hang around as he attempts to build a squad capable of mounting a serious Premiership challenge.

George Gillett, Tom Hicks and Parry have been quick to reiterate that transfer money will be made available. That’s not good enough.

We don’t want talk, we want action.

How much will be made available? And when?

Benite has targeted players he wants and has emphasised several times since Athens that speedy transactions are vital.

The next month will underline the commitment of the new regime.

MAY 30
Benitez’s positive outlook

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Rafa Benitez says his plea for immediate action at Anfield to revive Liverpool’s morale after the Champions League final defeat has been met with a positive response from the American owners.

The Liverpool boss was in a much more positive frame of mind today than during his hard-hitting press conference in Athens last Thursday.

A key conference call involving Benitez, Rick Parry, George Gillett and Tom Hicks has gone some way to ironing out many of the differences between the most important men at the club.

Benitez is keeping his cards close to his chest on the identity of the players he’s hoping to recruit – and has no idea how much will be available to spend – but believes he’ll get the green light to make several necessary purchases in the months ahead.

“Rick (Parry) and I had a good meeting when we spoke to the owners and we all agreed what’s important is for everyone to work together to do the right things for the club,” said Benitez.

“That means changing the structure of the club and spending money on players, both young players and players who will go straight into the team. We have not talked about budgets, but I know the owners are backing me.

“That’s what’s important and now is a time for us to be positive.

“It’s not just about buying players who might be more expensive but getting players for the right price.

“Rick (Parry) and I worked very hard together on Friday to complete the deal for the two Hungarian players who I believe will be very good for the future of the club. They are two top talents.

“Now the hard work will continue.”

A series of names have been linked with Liverpool over the last few days, and with dangerous presumptions being made of a hefty transfer kitty, it promises to be a particularly speculative few months.

Benitez says he will make no comment until agreements are in place.

“We will talk about names when we have deals,” said Benitez. “All we can say at this moment is we are working hard to bring in the right players.”

Benitez is thrilled to have concluded a deal for the two Hungarian teenagers Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon, who he believes could be stars of the future.

“We have been watching these players for a long time,” said Benitez. “There were a lot of big clubs interested in them, such as Real Madrid, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.

“It’s never easy for a young player to settle in England, but we know they have outstanding ability and we’re really thankful to the president of their club for his fantastic co-operation in our negotiations.

“We have a very good relationship with MTK Hungaria which will continue because they have a very strong Academy.”

MAY 28
Liverpool deals put on hold for internationals

By Nick Smith - Liverpool Daily Post

Rafael Benitez’s hopes of finalising new contracts for several key players this week could be frustrated by international commitments.

The Liverpool manager, who had put talks on hold until after last week’s Champions League final against AC Milan, is keen to conclude negotiations as he begins the process of rebuilding his squad.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have agreed to new deals while Pepe Reina has intimated he wants to extend his stay at the club.

But Benitez is likely to have to wait for the trio to put pen to paper given they are involved in Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Steve Finnan will also sign a new contract, and Benitez is hopeful Xabi Alonso can agree a fresh deal despite interest from Barcelona.

Benitez, who is now on a short holiday, last week revealed his growing exasperation at the length of time taken for contract and transfer dealings to be concluded at Anfield.

Those comments prompted a transatlantic conference call on Friday evening involving American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, their respective sons Foster and Tommy, chief executive Rick Parry and Benitez himself.

And reports over the weekend suggest the Liverpool manager expects the first major new signing of the summer to be on board by the end of the week.

With the Spanish league season still ongoing, that would appear to rule out, at least for now, the likes of David Silva, David Villa, Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres.

Instead, efforts are more likely focused on targets elsewhere, which include Benfica’s Simao Sabrosa, Lyon’s Florent Lamouda and Carlos Tevez of West Ham United.

Any new arrival would be the latest step of a major summer overhaul for Benitez’s squad. Mark Gonzalez, Jerzy Dudek, Robbie Fowler and Bolo Zenden have played their last games for the club while the futures of Craig Bellamy, Harry Kewell and John Arne Riise are uncertain.

Sami Hyypia could be another to depart, with promoted Sunderland joining neighbours Newcastle United in attempting to capture the Finnish centre-back.

Momo Sissoko, though, wants to extend his Anfield career – provided he remains a part of Benitez’s long-term plans.

The midfielder will seek talks with the Liverpool manager over his future with Barcelona thought to be tracking the Mali international.

Sissoko, who had been struggling with a knee injury, didn’t even make the bench for the Champions League final defeat in Athens last Wednesday.

And the 22-year-old said: “At the beginning of the season I played a lot, but then I play, not play, play, not play – for me I am not happy.

“Now I'm 22, and I know I am still a young player, but now I need to progress because playing every game is important to me.

“I've two years left on my contract and I'm happy with Liverpool. But I need to play football and now after the final I need to know my position.”

MAY 27
Gerrard backs Rafa revolution

By Graeme Bailey - Sky Sports

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has backed Rafa Benitez's plans to overhaul the current Reds squad.

Even before their UEFA Champions League final defeat to Milan - Benitez had decided major surgery on his team was needed.

Only a handful of players that started in Athens on Wednesday could remain next season and Gerrard, who is set to sign a new long-term contract at the club, insists a major overhaul is required.

"You have to look at how we have performed in the league over the last couple of years and it's just not been good enough," said Gerrard in the People.

"We haven't been able to match Chelsea or United over a season and that's disappointing for a club like Liverpool.

"You can't get away from the fact that changes need to be made - things need to happen for us to go to the next stage of competing with Chelsea and Manchester United for the league.

"Winning the league next season has to be a priority for me, the manager, the players and the newpeople in charge. It has been a long time since this club won it and we have to give it a better go.

"The way to do that is to sign world-class players and now the takeover has been sorted we hope to see that happen.

"I know Rafa is having meetings with them all the time and he is telling them what he wants.

"Since the takeover happened you can feel the optimism, you can feel the fans' excitement and the players and staff are no different - we are all looking forward to the future with great optimism but we need to see things happening.

"There will definitely be changes. The future is still really bright here. It has been well documented that the people in charge are going to strengthen the team and they will build the club and take it to the next level which, as a player, is a really exciting prospect.

"This team will be strengthened because I'm sure, like me, the manager doesn't want to go through the disappointment of reaching a Champions League Final and losing again.

"The Champions League Final is one of the biggest games you can play in, so I'm heartbroken. But I have to move on quickly.

"It's going to be difficult for a while but we have a vital England international coming up, so I have to try to pick myself up and get it out of my system.

"At the moment it's difficult to describe how bad I'm feeling.

"You have to look forward to the next game and, luckily for me, that's Friday with England against Brazil followed by the game in Estonia.

"That's a Euro 2008 qualifier which we must win and that will help take the focus off losing in Athens.

"But I'm not kidding myself - I know that losing to Milan will hurt me for a long time.

"But as captain of this club, I know we'll be back. I know I will lift many trophies.

"It's now going to be down to the experienced boys, not just me, to get this out of our systems.

"We have to bounce back next season, improve domestically and give the European Cup another really good crack."

MAY 27
Gillett doubtful about title

Sporting Life

Liverpool's American co-owner George Gillett has cast doubt over his club's ability to claim the Barclays Premiership title next season.

Confidence is high on Merseyside after the Reds finished the current campaign strongly, culminating in last week's Champions League final defeat to AC Milan.

Immediately after that heart-breaking loss in Athens, manager Rafael Benitez called on Gillett and fellow owner Tom Hicks to back his summer restructuring at Anfield to give his side a genuine chance of competing for Manchester United Premiership crown next time out.

But although the arrival of the Americans has guaranteed a substantial summer war chest for the Spaniard, Gillett is not convinced the likes of United and Chelsea can be caught straight away.

He said: "I don't know if we are capable of challenging for the title next year.

"We want to make progress but it is a multiple-year programme. We want to challenge but we won't do it overnight.

"Manchester United are formidable competitors, Arsenal are one year older with brilliant young players and Chelsea are perhaps the greatest club in the world. They're not going to get any worse.

"Next season is up to Rafa Benitez and our chief executive Rick Parry.

"They have a plan and we're working on it. We're right behind it but we've got a big job
to do."

MAY 25
Gillett: We'll back Benitez

Sporting Life

George Gillett has vowed to back Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to the hilt in the transfer market this summer.

Benitez has urged Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks to fund a major spending spree if the beaten Champions League finalists are to mount a challenge on all fronts next season.

Gillett seems ready to do just that, saying in the Daily Telegraph: "If Rafa said he wanted to buy 'Snoogy Doogy', we would back him."

The American tycoon would also back any attempt to bring Michael Owen back to Anfield but insisted Benitez would have the final say on what strikers the club recruits.

Gillett said: "He [Owen] is a great player but it is down to Rafa's recommendation, not us.

"Rafa's feeling is we need more depth because of the rigours of the schedule to be competitive.

"In every sport I participate in, there is a difference between a league season and the play-offs.

"That's where the genius of the manager is so essential and that's where Tom and I have to defer to his background and genius."

MAY 25
Benítez: Spend big now or risk losing me

By Dominic Fifield - The Guardian

Rafael Benítez has issued a stark warning to Liverpool's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, that the club must spend lavishly in the transfer market this summer if they are to mount any kind of concerted Premiership challenge next season, suggesting that failure to do so would have serious implications on his own long-term future at Anfield.

The Spaniard, his temper still simmering following Wednesday's European Cup final defeat by Milan, launched a thinly veiled attack on senior management at the club, principally the chief executive Rick Parry who undertakes transfer negotiations, by voicing long-held concerns that Liverpool "talk and talk but never finish" when it comes to the prospective signings of players. Benítez claimed to know of two "top-class targets" he could sign now for around £13m each, while a failure to act swiftly would see Liverpool finishing well adrift in the title race again next term.

"If we don't change things right now and understand how crucial this moment is, we will waste another one or two months on two or three targets and we'll start having to sign third-choice players," said Benítez, who signed a new contract last summer, extending to 2010, but whose patience has clearly been wearing thin.
"That would leave us contenders to be in the top four. Nothing else. After three years working really hard, we've not progressed enough. I have confidence in the Americans because they say they will back me, but I want to see things happening right now. I'm tired of talking, talking. We talk and talk but we never finish."

Most worryingly for Liverpool's supporters, Benítez drew comparisons with events at his previous club, Valencia, where frustration that he was not given carte blanche to reshape his squad eventually prompted his resignation. "At Valencia we won the league for the first time in 31 years, but the club thought we were winners already and decided they didn't need to sign any more players, and we finished fifth the next season," he said.

"It is the situation I've been watching here in the last few years. They say we are close, but we are not close. We are 21 points behind and we cannot work harder. I cannot work more than 20 hours a day.

"We have improved every year, but Chelsea, Arsenal and United have done the same. The team that won the Premier League this year have just spent £20m after winning the title on one midfielder [Owen Hargreaves]. I want things to be done. We have some targets, top-class players, but if you spend two or three weeks waiting, then talking and talking, you either cannot sign the player or have to pay more money.

"We can sign two top-class targets for €20m each right now. Maybe we didn't have enough money in the past, but now we have new owners who can invest £400m in the club. If we don't do the right things right now, we'll miss the opportunity and next season we'll be talking about third or fourth and 20 points behind again."

Benitez had substantial backing under David Moores' regime, and 11 of the 18-man squad for the Athens final were his signings. Indeed, Hicks and Gillett have commissioned Deloitte & Touche to conduct an independent report on the Spaniard's spending to date. Yet he has consistently argued that the entire Liverpool squad required revamping upon his arrival in the summer of 2004. Since then he has been infuriated to miss out on targets, such as Daniel Alves at Sevilla, Simao Sabrosa of Benfica, Nemanja Vidic at Spartak Moscow and Real Zaragoza's Gabriel Milito. He also felt Liverpool should have secured Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby and Denilson, all of whom joined Arsenal.

That reflects directly upon Parry, whose position could come under closer scrutiny this summer when Foster Gillett, the joint-owner's son, takes up a permanent position. Benítez is also perplexed that contract renegotiations with Xabi Alonso and José Reina have moved sluggishly.

MAY 24
Benitez begins Liverpool clearout

TEAMtalk

Rafa Benitez is already planning his summer clearout after Liverpool's Champions League defeat and has told Bolo Zenden he is no longer wanted.

Zenden has been told he is free to talk to other clubs with his contract due to expire, while Chile winger Mark Gonzalez is on the brink of a £5million move to Real Betis.

And with offers likely to be on the table for Craig Bellamy, who could not even get off the bench in Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat here by AC Milan, the Welsh forward could also have played his last game for the club.

With Robbie Fowler and Jerzy Dudek already released, this is just the start of a major overhaul of Benitez's squad.

More will soon follow with the Spanish manager having told the club's new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett it will need £100million-plus to revamp a squad that finished third in the Premiership, but were 21 points behind champions Manchester United.

Benitez has already outlined his plans to the new regime, and he was brutally frank in outlining Liverpool's future this morning at the team hotel ahead of the flight back to Merseyside.

He said: "We must not waste this moment. We must move quickly to sign our number-one targets.

"If we wait we will be chasing the players who are second and third on our list. We need to change the structure of the club on and off the pitch.

"We must make progress, and make it now to take us up two or three levels straight away."

Benitez has his scouting department working overtime, despite the fact that the club's chief scout Frank McParland is joining Bolton.

But Benitez will not want to mark time in the wake of the Athens defeat, and he said: "There will be several players leaving. We will wait for offers.

"I have been told by the new owners that they will back my plans. But when you look at the champions Manchester United spending £20million on a midfield player, and we have been paying just £8-to-£9million for our strikers, you know what must be done.

"We must spend big and spend now. Our fans know what we need to do and so do I. We need to pay the price needed for each position.

"We have a deal nearly completed for Gonzalez and I have told Bolo (Zenden) that he can talk to other clubs. We know the situation we have now.

"We have finished 21 points behind United and 15 behind Chelsea.

"They will both spend big money again and we will just be marking time. If we continue the way we are we will be fighting for fourth spot again at the end of the season, and we cannot have that all the time."

He added: "Everybody can see what we must do to compete at the top level and we must move as quickly as possible not to lose this opportunity.

"Two seasons ago we got 82 points, a club record, and we could not get into the top two. If we do not improve now we will always be fighting for fourth spot.

"It is obvious we do not have enough players for nine months competing in four competitions."

MAY 22
Benitez to revamp Liverpool squad

BBC Sport Online

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is preparing to make wholesale changes to the Reds squad - even if they win the Champions League final on Wednesday.

Benitez is targeting a second European Cup in three seasons with victory over AC Milan in Athens' Olympic Stadium.

"The final has to be just a stopping point on the way," said Benitez.

"We can improve and the team must be pro-active. We can improve by bringing in players with character and quality. We need to keep going forward."

After winning the Champions League two years ago, Benitez got rid of Vladimir Smicer, Igor Biscan and Milan Baros, while penalty hero Jerzy Dudek has been sidelined by the arrival of Jose Reina and is set to leave the club with striker Robbie Fowler this summer.

The Spaniard says he wants Liverpool to challenge for the Premiership title and is set to be handed a big transfer fund by American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"A second Champions League final in three seasons shows what can be done but we want to achieve even more," added Benitez.

"This is going to be an important summer because we want to maintain our progress and keep going forward next season.

"Another European Cup would be very welcome but the aim is not just to win this trophy, it is to be stronger all round, so we can make a better challenge for the Premiership next season.

"I am happy with my players but we need to improve to challenge in the Premiership."

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said Liverpool's ultimate objective next season was to win the Premier League title.

"All our fans would say the trophy that manages most is the Premier League," Parry told BBC Sport.

"It's a long time since the league title was at Liverpool and we're acutely aware of that.

"There is an expectation and pressure among our fans to bring it back. That's not something that daunts us, but by any analysis we're not there yet."

And Liverpool owner Hicks insists he and Gillett will support Benitez in the transfer market.

Liverpool have recently been linked with moves for Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Athletico Madrid's Fernando Torres, along with a host of other players.

"I know we will make changes," Hicks told the Liverpool Echo newspaper. "I think Rafa will be a very busy man after Wednesday.

"Next year we want to contend for both the Premiership and Champions League. Actually, we want to challenge for all four competitions.

"In the Premiership, you need a depth of players and motivated players. There's no problem finding the motivation to beat Barcelona or Chelsea.

"We know we have to have more consistency."

MAY 22
Benitez's £50m transfer bonus

By Tim Rich in Athens - Daily Telegraph

Whatever the result in tomorrow's Champions League final, Liverpool's American owners have signalled a summer of big spending.

Tom Hicks, the club's co-owner, while delighted to be travelling to Greece to watch Liverpool attempt to overcome AC Milan twice in three years, is aware there needs to be greater consistency at Anfield next season to regain the title last won under Kenny Dalglish. To that end, he and co-owner George Gillett will release funds - up to £50 million - to give manager Rafael Benitez the resources to take Chelsea and Manchester United head on.

"I know we will make changes," Hicks said yesterday. "Rafa has already announced one signing in Lucas Leiva [who captains the Brazil under-20 side from midfield] and he will be a busy man after Wednesday.

"The potential of Liverpool is even greater than I imagined when we bought the club. We knew all about Liverpool's history but now there are probably a lot of fans who get more excited by recent events."

Hicks will want to see changes off the field, too. Because of work-permit requirements, Gillett's son, Foster, will have to wait until the start of the season before he takes over as Liverpool's managing director - a post that would leave the position of chief executive, Rick Parry, uncertain.

With Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard having signed new contracts, Benitez's first goal - to secure the futures of the players he wants to stay on Merseyside - is well on the way to being achieved.

On the field, the great goal that has eluded Liverpool for 17 years is to bring the Premiership trophy to Anfield. To that end, Hicks sees tomorrow's return with Milan as a springboard to domestic success, although his demand that Liverpool "go for all four trophies" might trigger a raised eyebrow at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea exhausted themselves attempting precisely that.

"The Istanbul victory [in 2005] was so important for the long-term legacy of this club," said Hicks. "If we can win a second, that will make Rafa's job easier to add some players. We have started that process and next year we want to contend for the Premiership and the Champions League.

"In the Premiership you need a depth of motivated players. There is no problem finding the motivation to beat Barcelona or Chelsea, but we have to have more consistency.

"Rafa has told me the improvements we need to compete and it was important to tie down Steven and Jamie to new contracts; there will be others and those deals will
be done."

MAY 11
Reds sign Brazilian star

By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo

Liverpool today made their first significant transfer move of the summer with a swoop for 20-year-old Brazilian Lucas Leiva.

The youngster, rated one of the most exciting emerging talents in South America, has signed from Brazilian club Gremio.

Leiva was recently called up to his national team, and Rafa Benitez believes the central midfielder will be challenging for a first team place at the beginning of next season.

Leiva will join the Reds in the summer after Benitez beat a host of top clubs to his signature.

The fee has remained undisclosed at this stage, but is believed to be around £5m.

“He’s a player with a lot of quality who we watched playing for the Brazil Under-20s,” Benitez said today.

“He will be ready to join the first team squad from the start of next season. He's a very good signing for us and likes to be an attacking midfielder, but he has many qualities.

“We've now reached an agreement for the player to join us.”

Leiva will be the second South American to join the Reds this summer, following Argentinian left winger Sebastian Leto.

Thor Zakariassen ©