Benitez Still Wants To Sign Barry

Rafael Benitez has confirmed he must sell again to bring Gareth Barry to Liverpool after completing the £20.3million signing of Robbie Keane.

The Reds manager insists that is what he aims to do, but he has no intention of selling Spain international Alvaro Arbeloa.

Liverpool are believed to have had a £7million bid from Sevilla for the 25-year-old, but Benitez has made it clear the player is going nowhere, despite speculation defender Arbeloa wants to return to Spain for personal reasons.

Benitez maintains there is no truth in the assumption Arbeloa is eager to leave and the former Deportivo La Coruna player will be part of his plans in the coming season.

But there is no question that Benitez still wants to sign former Aston Villa skipper Barry, the subject of a summer-long saga which has frayed tempers at Villa Park and Anfield.

Benitez could sell Jermaine Pennant, Andriy Voronin or Steve Finnan, but it is still more likely that he will persuade Xabi Alonso to leave if he can get a £15million-plus bid for the Spanish midfielder.

After completing the Keane deal, Benitez talked in terms of one more major departure rather than a string of smaller deals, to finance an £18million move for Barry.

Benitez said: "We knew that we could only spend money by selling players and we have been doing this (for Keane).

"We are still trying to sign the players that we need, and if we need to sell someone now, okay, we will do so.

"If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try. We will always continue to improve our squad."

Benitez was delighted to finally land Keane, and he declined to discuss Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's anger over how the move was concluded.

Benitez said: "We are pleased he is here. We dealt well with Mr Levy, and my role was to bring the player here as quickly as possible.

"Robbie is one of the very best forwards in the Premier League. He is settled and more than used to the requirements. He is a good professional with a solid mentality, obviously I am pleased he is here, other managers would say the same.

"Robbie can play alongside (Fernando) Torres and (Dirk) Kuyt, and also (Steven) Gerrard. He is clever and is the right kind of player.

"He can play on the right, he can play up front. If you have clever players it makes it easier for the manager."

He added: "If you play 4-4-2, Keane can play alongside Torres. If we play 4-2-3-1 he can play as a second striker or on the right.

"He is the kind of player who is adaptable, and can be used in different positions and will give you 100%.

"Robbie is intelligent, he can play on the right and he can adapt. He is a very positive signing.

"He scored twice at Anfield last season, he knows where he has to be to score and where he must be to support team-mates. He is very clever.

"We have known he was a good player for a long time, the goals he scored against us just underlined what we already knew.

"We wanted the player, he said he was a Liverpool fan and wanted to come here. We are happy, our fans are happy."

Hammers Return For Benayoun?

Liverpool’s Yossi Benayoun is being linked with a return to former club West Ham, according to a report in the Echo.

The Israeli joined Liverpool from West Ham last year in a deal thought to be worth £5 million but has struggled to become a regular at Anfield.

Benayoun managed only 15 Premier League starts and 4 goals in his first season at Anfield which has led to speculation he may be surplus to requirements at the club.

The former West Ham man was a popular figure at Upton Park and a return would certainly be warmly welcomed by the fans who have fond memories of his time in East London.

Benayoun managed 8 goals in 63 appearances for West Ham and helped carry them to an FA Cup final with Liverpool which they eventually lost on penalties. However, the Israeli’s flair and creativity were as important as his goals and ensured he is still highly thought of by the Hammers.

The Echo reports that West Ham have contacted Liverpool to discuss the possibility of a move for Benayoun as they hope to be reunited with their former player.

Rafael Benitez has been widely quoted this week as saying he needs to sell players in order to finance more moves and it is possible Benayoun could potentially be sold as Liverpool look to strength their squad further.

Peter Crouch, John Arne Riise and Harry Kewell have already left Anfield this summer whilst Cavalieri, Degen, Dossena and Robbie Keane have all arrived. Liverpool are also still thought to be chasing Gareth Barry, although any further signings may be impossible until further funds are raised.

Rafa: We'll Scare You To Death

Rafa Benitez insists his Premier League rivals are running scared of Liverpool’s new strike force.

Benitez yesterday completed the £20.3m signing of Robbie Keane and can’t wait to unleash him alongside Spanish hotshot Fernando Torres.

Keane scored 23 goals for Tottenham last season, while Torres smashed 33 for the Reds in a blistering debut campaign.

And Benitez believes the arrival of Keane will ensure an avalanche of goals next season to leave opposition defences quaking in their boots at the sight of the team-sheet.

“I think defences will be worried for sure,” he said.

“Other managers and defenders will try to do things (to stop them).

“Robbie is one of the very best forwards in the Premier League.

“Everybody knows he is a very good player, a clever player.

“He can play on the right, as a central striker or in a deeper position.

“He scored twice at Anfield last season, he knows where he has to be to score and where he must be to support team-mates. He is very clever.

“We have known he was a good player for a long time, the goals he scored against us just underlined what we already knew.

“We wanted the player, he said he was a Liverpool fan and wanted to come here. We are happy, our fans are happy.

“It is important for Torres to have another player who can score goals.

“In addition to Torres and Keane, we have Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.

“Those players will cause problems for defenders and maybe they cannot cope with everyone.”

Keane, 28, will get an early taste of action in a Liverpool shirt in today’s friendly against Spanish side Villarreal.

Benitez claims that he has yet to decide how to deploy his new goal-scoring weapon.

But he insists Keane gives Liverpool a much better chance of getting close to Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the league.

But he admitted he will need to sell before he can bolster his ranks again by finally signing Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

“We knew that we could only spend money by selling players and we have been doing this (for Keane),” said Benitez.

“We are still trying to sign the players that we need. And if we need to sell someone now, OK. We will do so.

“If we can do it (the Barry deal) before the end of the transfer window, we will continue to try.”

EXCLUSIVE: Spanish Defender Arbeloa 'Definitely, Definitely' Staying At Liverpool

Alvaro Arbeloa is 'definitely, definitely' staying at Anfield despite rumours that he is unsettled on Merseyside.

Media reports have linked the Spanish right-back with a move back to La Liga after just one season in a Liverpool shirt.

Yet a senior club source said all speculation was unfounded and that the 25-year-old defender will still be with the Reds next season.

Arbeloa’s £2.5million purchase from Deportivo La Coruna last year was one of Benitez's shrewdest signings and the club official insisted he is happy and that Liverpool fans has nothing to worry about.

The source said: 'I don't know where that came from about Arbeloa, but it is nothing.

'He is definitely, definitely staying here. He is happy and will be staying.'

Internazionale In For Alonso

After reportedly have a £25million bid for Steven Gerrard rejected in May, Internazionale may have better luck prising Alonso away from Anfield.

Internazionale may be preparing to swoop for out-of-favour Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, if reports today are to be believed.

After securing long-time Liverpool fan Robbie Keane's signature for £20million, Rafa Benitez will need to sell, in order to finance any future deals and the money from Alonso would aid that process.

Jose Mourinho would want to pay no more than £10million for the 26-year old number 14.

Arsenal are also rumoured to be interested in the Spanish international so Internazionale would have to act fast if they are to avoid getting embroiled into an unwanted bidding war.

On other news, Patrick Vieira looks set to stay at Inter.

Pongolle Eager For Liverpool Reunion

New Atlético Madrid striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle is eager to meet up with his former club, Liverpool, in the Champions League.

Speaking to Marca, the French forward stated that reuniting with the Reds would be a dream scenario.

"Of course I'd love that," he said.

"It's not about revenge for me because it's already well in the past.

"I started off there playing many matches, but then I picked up a knee injury and everything ended. Liverpool would be good, but also Juventus, Marseille... If we play Liverpool, that's good. Those are the matches that everyone wants to see."

The former Recreativo man added that he felt that Atleti were sufficiently grand to be counted alongside these illustrious names.

"I believe that opponents don't want to play against Atlético because we are a great club with superb players, and they know that we're hard to play against," he said.

"Our qualification round? On the 12th we will face a key game and we're keen to see the draw on Friday to find out who we'll play. We're continuing well with pre-season to be physically ready. That's key."

It is thought that Sinama is third-choice for the two striking berths at the Vicente Calderón, given that Diego Forlán and Sergio 'Kun' Agüero comprise the regular partnership.

"Forlán and I are similar players: we love playing in space and we're always ready to make a move," said the 23-year-old.

"The lineup? I think that, as the coach said yesterday, it's possible for us to play with a forward force of three, but now Kun isn't here (due to the Olympics) so we'll try to do damage in each game we play.

"How many will I score? I never set a target of a certain amount. I'm a striker - to score is my job - but I always put the team first in these matters. The more I score, the better, but if I can help my colleagues, that's better still."

Looking at the case of his teammate Maniche, who could still be exiled from the club, he said, "We met on Monday - that was the first time I've seen him and spoke to him.

"I don't know what happened and I'd rather not get embroiled in the controversy, because that's a personal matter for him.

"As for Messi, I would personally go (to the Olympics) as that's a great competition for professional sportsmen.

"There were many players such as Zinedine Zidane who lacked only an Olympic medal, and they didn't have the luck to go.

"I'm also of the Olympic age but in the end we didn't reach the competition.

"Messi, they must let him go. He's a young guy. Atleti let Kun go. That's best for the club and the player."