[lfc-news] Benitez steps up the transfer hype - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 16 Aug 2004
Benitez steps up the transfer hype
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFAEL BENITEZ has started another busy week in the transfer market by
offloading El-Hadji Diouf to Bolton.

The Senegal forward has moved to the Reebok on a season's loan.

Benitez is now working over-time to ensure his squad is strengthened before
the transfer window is closed on August 31.

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Spurs revealed the lack of strength in depth the
Spanish coach has inherited.

Although it's presumed Benitez will try to sign a striker to replace
Michael Owen, he's confirmed he'll be improving other parts of the side
before turning his attention to the forward line.

Contrary to popular belief, the Spanish coach doesn't have much money to
work with.

Part of the £10m he'll earn by qualifying for the Champions' League group
stage has already been accounted for due to the capture of Djibril Cisse.

When the Reds concluded the Cisse deal for £14m in July, they were banking
on getting through their two- legged qualifier.

The £6m sale of Emile Heskey to Birmingham, £2.5 transfer of Danny Murphy
and £8m received for Michael Owen has given Benitez some funds.

He's hoping £10.5m will capture Xabi Alonso this week. Benitez also wants
another midfielder as well as Antonio Nunez, who joined as part of the Owen
deal.

Barcelona's Luiz Garcia has been a target for several weeks and is quoted
at £6m.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, who would have been a more popular acquisition with
the fans, ended hopes of a switch to Anfield by signing a new deal at
Manchester City on Saturday.

Benitez was content with a point from his first Premiership encounter at
White Hart Lane.

He said: "The first half was good. We had lots of opportunities and I was
very happy.

"The second half was more difficult because they played more forward balls.
When teams play long balls it means you have to go backwards to recover
possession and we got a bit tired doing that.

"That's why I took our two strikers off during the second half.

"I wanted us to press their defenders more and I thought Cisse and Baros
were getting tired."

Benitez is hoping Cisse's debut goal will inspire him to score 20 goals for
Liverpool this season.

"I hope he can do that," said the boss.

"He's a good player with a lot of potential and hopefully we'll see a lot
of good things from him."


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