Rumour Mill: £20m+ transfer kitty ‘“ who we’re after

Reports in today’s papers suggest that despite the financial crisis that has been reported at Anfield this week, Rafa Benitez in the transfer market this summer by co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Benitez will also be able to use money made off the back of sales of players, although it is unclear as to whether this includes the £14million made from the sale of Robbie Keane to Tottenham in January. It looks like a further £4million will be made from the sale of Italian Andrea Dossena, who yesterday handed in a transfer request after just one season on Merseyside. The Reds bought the full-back from Udinese for £7million last summer.

So whilst long-term transfer target Gareth Barry signed a lucrative deal with Manchester City this week without a murmur from Anfield, who does that mean Benitez is after right now?

Carlos Tevez (Man Utd) is just about to come to the end of his loan deal at Old Trafford and the South American company who own his economic rights say Alex Ferguson must come up with £25.5million to keep him. But there are two issues, United don’t want to spend that much money and Tevez has had doubts as to whether he is happy with the lack of first team opportunities he has experienced at Utd since the signing of Dimitar Berbatov last summer. Benitez is expected to be highly interested in bringing the Argentine international to Anfield, though money again could prove an object.

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Michael Owen (Free agent) has just been relegated with Newcastle and is looking for a new club. Reports last week suggested some Liverpool players are urging Rafa Benitez to bring Owen back to Anfield. Owen could prove a very useful backup striker to Fernando Torres and would be available for free now that his contract has expired at St James’ Park. Owen has made it public several times that he would love a move back to Liverpool, who he left for Real Madrid back in 2004.

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Stuart Downing (Middlesbrough) is another proven Premier League footballer and that might be what Benitez wants this summer. He’s already stated he’s got to make his signings perfect this time round and maybe he can’t risk bringing in a player from abroad that would have to settle into the Premier League. Having said that, look what happened with Robbie Keane. Boro winger Downing has expressed his desire to leave the Riverside and could now be available for a cut-price after Boro’s relegation to the Championship. However, Downing is currently injured and this could hamper a summer move for the England international. Price tag? Around £12million.

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Sylvain Distin (Portsmouth) has one year remaining on his contract at Fratton Park and is reportedly being lined up as a replacement for Sami Hyypia, who will move to Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Distin would cost around £2million.

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David Silva (Valencia) has been admired by Benitez for a long time of the 23-year-old who would fit nicely amongst Liverpool’s Spanish army of quality. However, Real Madrid are also reported to be interested in the £20million midfielder, and their lucrative contracts could tempt Silva to stay in sunny Spain.

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Aaron Lennon (Tottenham) is a rumour that has died down in recent weeks but reports have suggested the Benitez would offer Jermaine Pennant and cash to sign the 22-year-old speedy right-winger.

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Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao) is another central midfielder and Benitez is only likely to go for if he loses Xabi Alonso this summer. Martinez is rated at around £10million and revealed he admires English football. 20-year-old Martinez is yet to win his first Spanish international cap for the senior team.

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Glenn Johnson (Portsmouth) – the Reds are apparently locked in a bidding war with Johnson’s former club Chelsea to sign the England international defender. They could have to brace themselves to lose out to the West London financial heavyweights though, with figures of over £15million floating about.

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Bred Hangeland (Fulham) has been discussed as a possible replacement for Sami Hyypia and at the age of only 27-years-old could be a candidate to step into Jamie Carragher‘s boots and challenge Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel for a first team place in Liverpool’s central defence. But Fulham are unlikely to let the Norwegian go without a large bid being proposed.

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