Jun 10 2008 EXCLUSIVE by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today confirmed his "100% commitment" to Liverpool Football Club - despite yesterday's bleak financial figures.
The first accounts produced by Kop Holdings Ltd showed a £33m loss.
While this summer’s transfer budget had already been catered for in the January refinancing package, the Reds boss must still sell to generate further funds – but he insisted today that he remained totally focused on the task of restoring the Reds to the pinnacle of the Premier League.
“I said at the end of the season that I was very happy here and I will say it again,” said Benitez.
“The supporters have been absolutely magnificent with me, the staff are working very hard and I would not have brought players like Fernando Torres and the young players we have here if I did not have a long term vision for the club.
“Now is not the time to be saying goodbye!
“Fernando’s agent has asked about my Liverpool future and my answer is that I am 100% committed.
“If we had a lot of money to spend it would obviously be better. But if we don’t it doesn’t matter.
“It is not about buying the most expensive players, it is about buying the right players and we can sell some players to get the others we need.
“We have the spine of the team and we just need others in other positions.
“Some teams around us are spending £20m and £30m on one or two players. But the important thing is to get the right players and my staff are working hard to do that.”
Gareth Barry remains Liverpool’s transfer priority and the Aston Villa skipper has turned up the heat on his club in a bid to push through his dream move to Anfield.
The Villa skipper phoned boss Martin O’Neill at the European Championships to plead for a move to Liverpool.
Villa rejected a £10m bid for Barry the day after Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final defeat by Chelsea, then turned down an improved cash plus players offer.
Since then Steve Gerrard has declared: “I am desperate for us to sign him,” and Barry himself has made it clear he would relish the switch.
The midfielder, who scored his first England goal in Trinidad last weekend, has now intensified his efforts to quit Villa Park.
Barry’s agent, Alex Black, said: “Gareth has spoken to Martin since he returned from England’s game in Trinidad and told him how he feels. At this stage of his career Gareth wants to be playing Champions League football and believes this is his chance to do it.”
Villa want a premium price for their captain’s services and are refusing any player-plus-cash offers.
But Barry hopes a compromise deal can be thrashed out at around £15m.
Espanyol winger Albert Riera is also a player Liverpool have looked at, but the Reds are not anticipating any imminent offer for his services.
Gerrard, meanwhile, must wait until August to discover whether he has won the race to become captain of club and country, despite reports suggesting Fabio Capello had already decided on the Reds star.
Gerrard was Capello’s first England skipper against Switzerland, with John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham and Gareth Barry all wearing the armband since. But Capello insisted he will wait a few more weeks before deciding who will lead England into the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
“I have two candidates to be captain,” he said. “I think (I will decide) in August, ten days before the start of the new season.”
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpo....1049625
Made up apart from Torres's agent.
like lack of moneys an excuse
