Speculation rife that Benitez agrees new deal at Liverpool

SPECULATION is growing that Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has extended his contract at Anfield to end fears that he could soon end his spell on Merseyside.

Sources in Spain claim that he will sign a one-year extension to his current five-year contract, taking him to 2010, a deal which would be a “symbolic” gesture to reinforce commitment on both sides.

Benitez has been linked with Real Madrid and Inter Milan, but both clubs have distanced themselves from such a move in the last 48 hours.

In fact, Real are about to appoint a new coach “within two or three weeks”, according to the club’s new president Fernando Martin.

Benitez is approaching the end of his second year at Anfield, and has recently been talking of needing large summer funds to spend on the squad to make it competitive in the Barclays Premiership with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

A source close to Benitez suggests there could be credence to the current speculation and both the Liverpool board and Benitez would view such an extension as a way of underlining the longevity of the Spaniard’s stay at Anfield.

The source said: “It would be symbolic on both sides. Rafael would be saying he is determined to stay at the club while the board would underline their desire for him to be in charge for several seasons.”

Benitez currently earns around £2.5m a year and the new deal would include a wage rise, but he pointed out recently that his own finances were not the reason for his concerns about the future and he was “only concerned about Liverpool’s progression”.

So far, Liverpool have made no official confirmation.