Sunday, February 01, 2009

Manchester City Eyeing Liverpool's Rafa Benitez As Their New Manager

Rafa Benitez is a shock target for Manchester City - with the club's Abu Dhabi backers watching his Liverpool contract stand-off closely.

City's multi-billionaire Arab owners are lining up a big-name manager as they consider sacking Mark Hughes, under more pressure after City's shock 1-0 defeat by ten-man Stoke yesterday.

Their interest comes after Benitez halted his contract talks. He wants full control over Liverpool's transfer dealings in his power struggle with chief executive Rick Parry.

The link to City will be a bombshell to Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who arrived on Merseyside last night ahead of today's key title battle with Chelsea.

Benitez claimed last night that he "didn't know" if he would walk away from Anfield when his contract expires in 16 months.

People Sport understands Benitez is one of THREE managers under review by City's owners.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho and Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari are the others on City's list.

The scrutiny of Benitez will cause more turmoil at Anfield with warring coowners Hicks and Gillett set to lock horns again this week over Parry's future.

Both owners will be in the Anfield directors' box this afternoon - albeit seated apart - for the first time in 18 months.

In the coming days they must decide whether to back Benitez to the hilt by getting rid of Parry.

The Spaniard blames Parry for a series of transfer blunders, including the £20.3million purchase of Robbie Keane last summer.

The Reds gaffer believed he could have signed Keane for around £10m - leaving funds to land Aston Villa's Gareth Barry for £18m.

Hicks arrived on Merseyside last Sunday in a bid to convince Benitez to sign the five-year deal on offer.

He and his son, Tom Jr., back the boss 100 per cent, while Gillett and his son, Foster, have faith in Parry.

It will come to a head at a meeting this week, with ex-chairman David Moores expected to have the casting vote over Parry's fate.

Benitez has been accused of losing the plot since his outburst against Sir Alex Ferguson last month, his team have fallen from the Premier League summit and skipper Steven Gerrard is facing a charge of assault and affray.

As he defended his five-year Anfield reign, Benitez played down talk of a first League title in 19 years.

He said: "How long did it take Alex Ferguson to win the league? Seven years. The Champions League? Thirteen years."

But with City's mega-rich owners considering giving untold transfer riches as the new ruler of Eastlands, the question is: Has the time come for Benitez to walk away from his Kop wars?

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