Benitez reveals Turner interest

09 August 2009 16:30
Rafael Benitez revealed he has held talks with Hull boss Phil Brown over the possible transfer of defender Michael Turner to Liverpool. The Anfield chief has a number of injury worries in defence, which were compounded on Saturday when Jamie Carragher limped off early in the first half of the friendly with Atletico Madrid nursing an ankle problem. And the Spaniard said after the 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid at Anfield: "I was talking with (Hull manager) Phil Brown, but I will not talk about figures. But maybe I was just talking to Phil about the weather." Benitez is increasingly short of defenders, having seen Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa leave the club this summer. The problem has been made even more pressing with both Daniel Agger (back) and Martin Skrtel (hamstring) doubtful for the season's opening league game at Spurs next weekend. Benitez has been linked with a bid for Turner, as well as Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin. The Reds manager is believed to have offered £6million for Turner, with Hull demanding closer to £12million. On Liverpool's injury problems, which also saw Fernando Torres limp off at the end with an ankle injury, Benitez said: "Carragher twisted his ankle, and because we have problems with injuries to our centre-backs, we decided to take him off as a precaution. "We will have to wait to see how the injured players improve, but I feel they will be ready for our next game. "We have two options. One is to bring in someone at the back and the other option is to keep working with the young players we have."

Source: Eurosport