Post by gonzales on Apr 3, 2007 13:26:20 GMT
AMERICAN OWNERS HAND RAFA A £40M WAR CHEST AND ETO'O IS TOP TARGET
3rd April 2007
fm: Daily Mirror
RAFA BENITEZ will make Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o his prime target after being promised a £40million war chest for summer signings by Liverpool's new American owners.
The Anfield boss emerged from lengthy weekend talks with George Gillett and Tom Hicks rubbing his hands in anticipation of buying the big names to guarantee an all-out assault on the Premiership next season.
Benitez is keen on Sevilla's 23-year-old Brazilian winger Daniel Alves, and he will also move for midfielder Deco - who plays with striker Eto'o at Barca - if the Portuguese becomes available.
But dollar-rich Liverpool's first signing may well come from much closer home - Charlton and England forward Darren Bent, who would cost around £15million.
The Spanish coach has also earmarked significant spending to secure the long-term futures of key players such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.
Benitez wants to tie them to long-term deals, which will cost millions, and he is also looking to offer improved contracts to the likes of Momo Sissoko, Steve Finnan and Argentina's Javier Mascherano, who will command a salary of around £10m to extend his current two-year deal.
"It was a very positive meeting, and for me the future of the club is brilliant," said Benitez last night in Holland.
"After we talked I now have a very good feeling about the direction we are going to take.
"We will not talk about figures at this time because we have a very important game that we must concentrate on here in Eindhoven - but they have assured me that we will go in the direction we need to, and I am very happy and very confident about the future of the club."
Benitez told his new joint chairmen there must also be massive spending on youth players and a process established to identify promising talent and secure it swiftly, as he looks to bring exciting new blood into the academy structure
"we're in the money" 
3rd April 2007
fm: Daily Mirror
RAFA BENITEZ will make Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o his prime target after being promised a £40million war chest for summer signings by Liverpool's new American owners.
The Anfield boss emerged from lengthy weekend talks with George Gillett and Tom Hicks rubbing his hands in anticipation of buying the big names to guarantee an all-out assault on the Premiership next season.
Benitez is keen on Sevilla's 23-year-old Brazilian winger Daniel Alves, and he will also move for midfielder Deco - who plays with striker Eto'o at Barca - if the Portuguese becomes available.
But dollar-rich Liverpool's first signing may well come from much closer home - Charlton and England forward Darren Bent, who would cost around £15million.
The Spanish coach has also earmarked significant spending to secure the long-term futures of key players such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.
Benitez wants to tie them to long-term deals, which will cost millions, and he is also looking to offer improved contracts to the likes of Momo Sissoko, Steve Finnan and Argentina's Javier Mascherano, who will command a salary of around £10m to extend his current two-year deal.
"It was a very positive meeting, and for me the future of the club is brilliant," said Benitez last night in Holland.
"After we talked I now have a very good feeling about the direction we are going to take.
"We will not talk about figures at this time because we have a very important game that we must concentrate on here in Eindhoven - but they have assured me that we will go in the direction we need to, and I am very happy and very confident about the future of the club."
Benitez told his new joint chairmen there must also be massive spending on youth players and a process established to identify promising talent and secure it swiftly, as he looks to bring exciting new blood into the academy structure
"we're in the money" 
