Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that one of his top priorities in the transfer market at the end of the season will be the acquisition of a new forward.
The Spanish tactician splashed out £20 million for Robbie Keane last summer, but the Republic of Ireland international returned to Tottenham Hotspur in January having failed to settle in at Anfield.
The Reds boss says he has not been put off by the episode and neither does he believe that it will make potential targets wary of joining the Merseyside outfit.
It appears that Benitez favours a system whereby Fernando Torres plays up front with Steven Gerrard just behind, but he insists he needs, and wants, top quality cover for his attacking duo.
"I don’t think it is going to be a problem – I think we will manage," Benitez is quoted as saying by The Daily Post when asked about the Robbie Keane saga.
"We have been working hard identifying players, it is just a question of signing the right ones, but I am confident we will.
"Everyone knows how good Torres and Gerrard are, and they do play very well together. But we have 60 games or so a season.
"That means there are going to be plenty of chances for everyone, so I don’t think it would be a problem."
The 49-year-old also suggested that he has not confined captain Gerrard to playing just off Torres, insisting he is good enough to play in a variety of positions.
"Stevie is an intelligent player and he knows he can play on the right, middle or left, as well as a second striker, so we will have options," he said
"He’s clever and has matured, so we just have to make sure we use his quality in the best way for the team. I don’t think that makes a big difference, it doesn’t matter what position he’s in."
The Spanish tactician splashed out £20 million for Robbie Keane last summer, but the Republic of Ireland international returned to Tottenham Hotspur in January having failed to settle in at Anfield.
The Reds boss says he has not been put off by the episode and neither does he believe that it will make potential targets wary of joining the Merseyside outfit.
It appears that Benitez favours a system whereby Fernando Torres plays up front with Steven Gerrard just behind, but he insists he needs, and wants, top quality cover for his attacking duo.
"I don’t think it is going to be a problem – I think we will manage," Benitez is quoted as saying by The Daily Post when asked about the Robbie Keane saga.
"We have been working hard identifying players, it is just a question of signing the right ones, but I am confident we will.
"Everyone knows how good Torres and Gerrard are, and they do play very well together. But we have 60 games or so a season.
"That means there are going to be plenty of chances for everyone, so I don’t think it would be a problem."
The 49-year-old also suggested that he has not confined captain Gerrard to playing just off Torres, insisting he is good enough to play in a variety of positions.
"Stevie is an intelligent player and he knows he can play on the right, middle or left, as well as a second striker, so we will have options," he said
"He’s clever and has matured, so we just have to make sure we use his quality in the best way for the team. I don’t think that makes a big difference, it doesn’t matter what position he’s in."
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