Benitez wants new deal talks

Spaniard hopeful discussions will take place within the next week

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 27th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Benitez wants new deal talks

Benitez: Contract expires in the summer of 2010

We will see whether we can progress, it is not about who is there or not at the moment, it is about the future.

Rafa Benitez
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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is optimistic his proposed new contract could be the subject of negotiations with the Anfield hierarchy within the next seven days.

Merseyside has been awash with speculation regarding off-field struggles and on Friday it was surprisingly announced that chief executive Rick Parry is to end his 12-year stay with the club at the end of the season.

Benitez's contract, which is due to expire in the summer of 2010, has been the main subject of the rumour mill, with reports that the Spaniard has refused drafted extensions offered by the club's American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks repeatedly emerging.

Prior to Wednesday's UEFA Champions League victory at Real Madrid, bookmakers suspended markets on Benitez's future and it appeared the former Valencia boss, who is understood to be held in high regard at the Bernabeu, was set to quit England in May.

However, Benitez - who has already insisted that Parry's impending exit will have no influence upon his discussions - has repeated his desire to reach a positive conclusion with Liverpool.

Stumbling block

"We will have new talks maybe next week," said Benitez amidst suggestions that the stumbling block is his eagerness to secure full control of the club's transfer policy and academy recruitment plans.

"We will see whether we can progress, it is not about who is there or not at the moment, it is about the future.

"It is important to finalise my contract, but we have been working for months on this, so let's see where we go from here."

Benitez, though, has revealed that his representatives have still to meet with Hicks and Gillett, despite the ongoing saga at the Premier League title hopefuls.

"I have been talking about the need for the owners and my advisors to talk, and they are still to talk," he added.