Rafa: No transfer panic yet
23 Jun 2007 - 16:27:57
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has stressed the importance of patience as he closes in on his summer transfer targets.
The Spaniard has been promised major funds to bolster his squad by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but so far only Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin and Brazilian youngster Lucas Leiva have been brought in.
But Benitez insists he is not unduly concerned by the Reds' slow start in the transfer market and has refused to panic despite title rivals Manchester United spending £50million already and Chelsea bolstering their squad with a number of free transfer arrivals.
"We have a number of targets and I am receiving interesting phone calls all the time," he told the club's official website.
"We are monitoring situations all the time and there is no urgency yet.
"If we bring in players from Spain, they only finished playing a week ago so they will need a longer break, but I would like somebody in before we start pre-season training."
The Reds have been linked with Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres of Atletico Madrid already this summer.
West Ham's Yossi Benayoun is also interesting Benitez, who has reportedly made a revised £2.5million offer for the Israel international.