Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 07 November 2008 )

English Premiership football News

Benitez to discuss new Reds deal
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is ready to begin talks with the owners of the club on a new contract.

The Spaniard arrived at Anfield in 2004 and his current deal is not set to expire until 2010, but Benitez wants to prolong his stay.

"I received a phone call from Tom Hicks, on behalf of George Gillett also," he told the club's official website.

"They talk of a meeting with my advisers and a contract extension. This is great news."

Liverpool have received a good start to the season and are currently second in the Premier League, trailing only Chelsea on goal difference.

Tottenham are the only team to have beaten Liverpool so far and they seem to reach the final stages of the Champions League.

The 48-year-old former Valencia manager adopted a new four years in 2006 and Gillett and Hicks have now to secure its long-term future.

"We decided to meet in the next week, and now my advisers are in contact with them," added Benitez.

"We did not talk about the duration of the contract, but we talk and we all want to find a solution as soon as possible.

"For me, it's easy. I want to stay here - I'm where I want to be. It is very simple.
"My family and I know how the fans were with us. The club is moving forward and we have the new stadium project. There are many positive things.

"I want to stay here for long. Obviously, I want to be present when the new stadium opens. The other day I was joking that if they offered me a contract for 20 years I would really happy. "

Benitez has not always seen in Liverpool with a view over the club's American owners transfer policy, but they seem to have resolved their differences in recent months.

The crisis erupted in the summer after the board Baulk to Aston Villa £ 18m asking price for midfielder Gareth Barry, a player Benitez was keen to add to his team.

However, they have £ 20.3m penalty to move forward Robbie Keane and last summer they paid anyone club record fee for the Spain forward Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid.

The fractious relationship has resulted in Benitez be related to the initiatives of Italy or back to his native Spain with Real Madrid but he hoped that talk of a new agreement will allow his team to rely on their good start of the season.

"The team is in very good position if I did not talk about my contract from now, it will be perfect," said Benitez.

"The owners know that we do well. The atmosphere is really good, we are at the top of the League and Champions League in our group. The team plays well."

Despite the Reds finishing fifth in his first campaign at Anfield, Benitez won the Champions League after a dramatic penalty shootout against the AC Milan and also guided the club to the final of the Carling Cup.

The following season, Liverpool won the FA Cup and a year later they were back in the final of the Champions League but were defeated by Milan.

Gillett and Hicks are said to be pleased with the club early in the campaign 2008-2009 and a statement issued on their behalf, said: "Rafa continues to do a great job, we're really pleased with the progress of the team and we look forward to talk about him and his advisors about extending his contract. "
by bbcnews.