Rafa plans defender swoop
14 Dec 2007 - 11:04:55
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed he will be on the lookout for a new defender when the transfer window reopens next month.
Benitez believes the club's inability to sign Gabriel Heinze from Manchester United in the summer has left him short-handed at the back.
The Argentina international eventually joined Real Madrid after a Premier League tribunal ruled he couldn't move to Anfield from Old Trafford.
United disputed Henize's claim that he was given written permission to join another club should a bid of £6.8million be received.
Benitez has also seen Daniel Agger sidelined by a broken metatarsal in recent weeks and is keen to bolster his defensive options in January.
"We have had a problem at centre-back because we could not close the signing of Gabriel Heinze," said the Spaniard.
"Then Agger got injured. This has forced us to play with Sami Hyypia, who is 34, and Jamie Carragher in every game.
"You are looking at two matches per week and with the intensity that the game is played here, it is not easy for them to do it.
"Our idea is to bring in a centre-back, to provide balance to the team in this position."
Meanwhile, midfielder Xabi Alonso is set to return to the squad for Sunday's showdown with United after a two-month absence with his own metatarsal injury.