Rafael Benitez Proves A Hot Topic In New York

Rafael BenÍtez was close to securing a £6.5 million deal to sign Martin Skrtel, the Zenit St Petersburg defender, last night, but his long-term prospects as Liverpool manager appear bleaker than ever before a critical board meeting in New York today.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, Liverpool’s American owners, will meet Rick Parry, the chief executive, in a meeting that was ostensibly called to discuss plans and ways to finance the club’s proposed new stadium in Stanley Park. The future of BenÍtez is not officially on the agenda, but it is certain to be discussed, with sources indicating last night that the relationship between manager and board is more strained than ever and that a parting of the ways is only a matter of time.

Barring a dramatic development at today’s meeting, BenÍtez is expected to stay in charge for the remainder of the season, but he is increasingly aware that his days at Liverpool are numbered. Even if the signing of Skrtel, the Slovakia defender, would appear to represent a vote of confidence in the manager, BenÍtez has little doubt that Hicks and Gillett are plotting to replace him, with rumours in the football community - although not yet from within Anfield – continuing to link Jürgen Klinsmann, the former Germany coach, with Merseyside.

It is not clear whether Liverpool have a serious interest in Klinsmann or if the 43-year-old would be prepared to turn his back on his life in California, where he works as vice-president for Soccer Solutions, a consultancy firm, but there have been indications from Germany that he is eager to return to management in Europe.

Beyond the issue of BenÍtez’s future, Hicks and Gillett, whose working relationship has run far from smoothly, are under serious pressure to refinance the £270 million loan that they used to buy the club last February. The loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland expires next month and a new refinancing deal is imperative if the Americans are to have any hope of delivering the new stadium that they promised at the time of their takeover.

Luton Town are investigating claims that Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool defender, was involved in an angry confrontation with home supporters at the FA Cup third-round tie between the clubs at Kenilworth Road on Sunday. Carragher, the former England defender, is alleged to have responded to taunts from fans as he warmed down after the match by scaling a barrier and shouting obscenities at the occupants of an executive box.