Source: Team_Talk
Agent: Rafa wishes to stay with Reds
Rafael Benitez's agent claims the Liverpool boss has not received any offers from Juventus or any other club - and wants to stay at Anfield.[LNB] Speculation over Benitez's future shows no signs of abating, with Manuel Garcia Quilon's comments in the last few weeks having ranged from suggesting Juventus were ready to sign Benitez this summer to the latest proclamation that he has no intention of leaving Anfield.[LNB]Even Benitez himself may not be entirely sure where his future lies as he waits to hear what chairman Martin Broughton has to say about plans for next season and beyond.[LNB]Crucial to everything remains any proposed takeover after co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett officially put the club up for sale last month, appointing Broughton to oversee the process.[LNB]Having finally scheduled a meeting with the chairman for this week Benitez will eagerly await the latest update on potential investors and, more importantly, what his likely summer transfer budget will be.[LNB]Even with the £6million generated from the January sales of Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena and money from the expected summer departures of a few first-team fringe players the Liverpool manager will still be looking for a figure around the £40million mark.[LNB]If there are no indications he is likely to get anything close to that sum Benitez then has a decision to make, although his options have been complicated by the fact that long-time suitors Juventus have, like Liverpool, failed to qualify for the Champions League.[LNB]And despite their very public courting of Benitez in recent months, Quilon denied the Serie A side had made an official approach.[LNB]"We have not received any offers from any club," Quilon told Press Association Sport. "Benitez's aim is to remain at Liverpool and try to help the team improve with new owners.[LNB]"He is under contract and his wish is to remain at Liverpool."[LNB]Quilon's denial of any interest has not prevented Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from praising Benitez's qualities.[LNB]"Rafa's CV is really good. Tactically he is a very good manager but he has also showed he can deal with problems off the pitch," said the Italy international.[LNB]"Benitez is a great professional that every team would like to have."[LNB]If new owners are found, and there is little likelihood of any development on that score before the end of the month, they may decide Benitez's future for him.[LNB]The former Valencia coach has four years remaining on his long-term contract and would be entitled to around £12million compensation were he to be sacked.[LNB]Hicks and Gillett are unlikely to sanction such a payment as they are looking to maximise their return having bought the club back in 2007.[LNB]But a new investor may have their own ideas about who they want to lead the club forward.[LNB]
