ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:JUVENTUS HAVE identified Rafael Benitez as the man to replace Ciro Ferrara as manager and hope to capitalise on the Spaniard's frustration with financial constraints at Liverpool with an imminent approach for his services.
Ferrara is close to the sack at Stadio delle Alpi following a run of six defeats in eight games, the latest courtesy of a stoppage-time winner by the former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise for Roma, and officials at the Turin club have drawn up a list of possible replacements for the inexperienced coach.
Liverpool’s manager is understood to head their list and will be formally invited to join Juventus once Ferrara has departed, although Benitez could delay his appointment until the summer should he choose to accept.
Benitez is aware of the Italians’ interest and his agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, last night refused to rule out the possibility of a stunning departure from Anfield.
“Benitez to Juventus? In football you never know,” Quilon said. “I don’t know what will happen in four to five months. In football everything changes quickly, but the basic principle is that Rafa still has a four-year contract with Liverpool.”
Benitez’s agent insisted, however, that a move to Juventus is not a fait accompli. Quilon added: “Right now, that hypothesis is not correct, because he is a very important figure. The idols of the fans are Gerrard, Torres and Benitez.”
With the gamble on Ferrara yet to pay dividends Juventus want a more experienced, proven coach to take control. Guus Hiddink priced himself out of a move to Turin.
While Benitez, a fluent Italian speaker who cites the former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi as his tactical role-model, has been fiercely loyal to Liverpool he has become increasingly dismayed at the impact of the club’s debt on his squad.
The 49-year-old is acutely aware that the problems caused by the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett will ultimately affect his reputation and there is a sense a move to a club of Juventus’ standing may suit all parties.
The Liverpool hierarchy intend to review Benitez’s position at the end of this campaign but cannot afford the maximum €18.4 million he could claim if sacked.
Hicks and Gillett would not face such a crippling bill should their manager walk away, although they hope to improve the club’s finances with new investment in the coming months.
Several Italian newspapers are reporting that, should Benitez accept the Juventus offer, Hiddink would replace the Spaniard at Anfield. They include La Stampa, which is owned by the Exor investment company and whose chairman, John Elkann, is also vice-chairman of Juventus. Last week Liverpool officials rejected claims by Hiddink’s agent that they had made an approach for the Dutchman.
Benitez’s transfer strategy has stalled in recent days with Ryan Babel remaining at the club, Sunderland’s Kenwyne Jones priced out of his reach and no answer, as yet, on the pre-contract offers made to strikers Milan Jovanovic of Standard Liege and Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh.
On the eve of tonight’s Premier League visit to Wolves, where Gerrard will return from a hamstring injury, Benitez admitted he does not expect to see any of the money Hicks will raise through the €402 million sale of his Texas Rangers baseball franchise.
Defenders Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger missed the win over Tottenham with knocks which may keep them out again but striker Fernando Torres (knee) and midfielder Yossi Benayoun (rib) are still weeks away from fitness.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has included new signing Adlene Guedioura in his squad. The French midfielder has signed on loan from Charleroi for the remainder of the season with a view to the deal becoming permanent in the summer. His club team-mate Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, who impressed as a substitute against Crystal Palace on Saturday, is also poised to feature tonight.
Defender Richard Stearman will return after missing the 2-2 draw while serving a one-game suspension. Kevin Doyle and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann are set to return after being rested for the cup tie.
Guardian Service
