[lfc-news] Benitez sets sights on Solari - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 24 Jan 2005
Benitez sets sights on Solari
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ has made Real Madrid midfielder Santiago Solari a prime
transfer target as he prepares a radical rebuilding of his squad this
summer.

The Liverpool boss will return to Spain in an attempt to lure the
Argentinian winger to Merseyside on a free Bosman transfer, although he
faces competition from Manchester United and Inter Milan for his signature.

Benitez hopes the Spanish influence which helped entice Fernando
Morientes to Anfield will prove successful again.

Solari, 28, is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs now
before completing a move on July 1, 2005. He's made over 200 appearances
for Real Madrid, but had limited opportunities this season.

Benitez is under no illusions about the scale of restructuring needed to
make Liverpool challengers again.

Although his squad has been decimated with injuries in recent weeks,
he's seen enough to know the squad he inherited is well below the
necessary standard.

Benitez has finally found some light at the end of the tunnel as several
injured players prepare to make their comebacks this week.

Both Steve Finnan and Josemi will be included in the squad which travels
to Watford tomorrow.

And Vladimir Smicer is pencilled in to make his first appearance of the
season for the reserves against Birmingham on Wednesday.

But with Sami Hyypia ruled out of the Carling Cup semi-final with a hip
injury, the Spanish boss must patch-up his defence yet again as
Liverpool seek to restore the club's flagging morale.

Jamie Carragher will be able to return to centre-half, where he'll
partner Mauricio Pellegrino.

Both Pellegrino and Fernando Morientes are eligible to face Watford.

Meanwhile, Stephane Henchoz is waiting for Celtic to make a realistic
move for him before deciding on his future.

Henchoz's agent, Jorg Vonmatt, said: "Celtic are one of the teams
interested, but we are still waiting for their proposal.

"If they are really serious, they need to move quickly as there are
other clubs that we have held discussions with in much more detail.

"The window closes next week so we can't afford to wait a long time
before making a decision.

"Stephane wants to get his future sorted out by the start of the week."


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