Benitez in no rush to purchase for 'Pool

RAFAEL BENITEZ has warned the Liverpool public not to expect a deluge of new signings before the Premiership campaign starts.

The new Spanish chief officially unveiled French ace Djibril Cisse - a £14 million signing organised by former boss Gerard Houllier and Liverpool's only summer acquisition so far - insisting the money he has for new faces will be spent on quality not quantity.

Cisse is expected to make his Liverpool debut in tonight's sell-out friendly at Wrexham before flying out with the rest of Benitez's squad at the weekend for a three-match tour of the US.

There is little time left before the transfer window slams shut but Benitez said: "Who else I sign depends on the market, maybe one, maybe two more.

"People are saying that we are not making signings - but I say we will sign the best.

"I have discussed the issues with our chief executive [Rick Parry] and we will spend our money wisely and carefully on the best.

"It is important not to spend a lot - but to spend it well."

But Benitez admitted he was delighted to have one of Houllier's long-term targets in his squad now he has arrived in England and started working with his new team.

He said: "Cisse is strong and quick, he is a fine young player and I was more than happy to know he was going to sign."

The one 'signing' Liverpool fans are still waiting to hear confirmation about is England striker Michael Owen, who is believed to have agreed a new two-year contract but has yet to put pen to paper even though it was widely predicted he would do so before going on his recent holiday following Euro 2004.

Owen returned to training yesterday with the rest of Liverpool's Euro 2004 stars - Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann, Vladimir Smicer and Milan Baros - and he has still yet to officially conclude his contract wrangle.

Benitez said: "He has returned happy and he is happy here.

"I expect we will be able to announce his signing very soon, hopefully before the season starts. But I see no problem."

The problem Benitez does see is keeping four strikers - Owen, Cisse, Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle - happy. He describes them as "the best forwards in the Premier League - if we work as a team we can enjoy good fortune next season".