Source: Telegraph
Liverpool target Stoke's Ryan Shawcross
Liverpool had been linked with moves for Hull central defender Michael Turner and Portsmouth's Sylvain Distin, but Benitez is in desperate need for cover at the back after Jamie Carragher sustained an ankle injury against Atletico Madrid at the weekend.
Benitez is reported to be considering a £5 million bid for the 21 year-old Stoke centre-back.
Carragher joined Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger as doubts for next weekend's Premier League launch.
Benitez said: "I know how easy it is to lose players to injury, and we do need cover.
"I have some ideas and will discuss them with the club, but it depends on prices. If we need something, we will talk to the owners."
Benitez is convinced that his defensive injury problems will clear up before next weekend's opening league game of the season at Spurs.
Liverpool lost their final pre-season friendly on Saturday, going down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid side in front of a 44,000 sell-out crowd.
Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres picked up ankle problems, and will be carefully monitored this week ahead of Sunday's trip to north London.
Benitez said: "Jamie's injury is not serious, just a twisted ankle. But with our injury problems which include Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, we felt we needed to take him off as a precaution, just in case.
"We will keep an eye on him for two or three days to see how he reacts, but I feel he will be OK. Hopefully, Agger or Skrtel will be fit too.
"Agger has a back problem, and that should be OK in a couple of days. Skrtel is nearly over his hamstring injury, he's nearly there.
"He is training again and I believe that at the end of this week both of them will be fit to play.
"I do not believe that the injury to Fernando Torres is anything serious, he had an ankle problem but it was a minor one and he also came off as a precaution."
