Benitez relishing prospect of being a big spender

RAFAEL BENITEZ is relishing the prospect of being able to spend big in the transfer market if the proposed Liverpool takeover is completed.

The Anfield boss was anticipating the new “big picture” and an exciting future as he brought his squad back from Turkey following the disappointing — but largely unimportant – Champions League Group C defeat by Galatasaray in Istanbul.

Liverpool were already confirmed as group winners, and can now contemplate the knockout stage draw later this month which could see them paired with second-placed finishers Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Roma or Barcelona.

That is an exciting prospect for Benitez, as is the potential takeover of the club by Dubai International Capital.

Due diligence will now have to be completed before the £450 million (€665m) deal can go ahead, with the prospect of major transfer funds being released by the Maktoum family, the backers of the proposed buy-out.

And Benitez clearly believes he will soon be able to compete in the transfer market with Europe’s big guns, including Chelsea.

Benitez said: “The big picture now is clear. This investment can help us for the future.

“We can have a big stadium, more fans seeing us and also a lot of money.

“That will help us for sure. We will be able to compete at the top end of the transfer market and that is a good prospect for me.

“It is important for a club like ours to have this level of investment, and it is important for the manager, too.

“You can consider buying certain players and you will know that the club is behind you. If they have enough money it will certainly help us for the future.

“Maybe in the future we will have more money. It is a great possibility.”

He added: “It is important for the club to have the prospect of such new investment, we are pleased and so I believe are our supporters.

“If this turns out to be the right thing for this club it will be fantastic. We do have to be careful, we cannot just change all the team straight away, and we would not want to because we have some fine players already.

He said: “If the takeover is good for the club then obviously I am happy. It’s not done yet, but really close.

“They will bring new ideas, and money. The new stadium is a priority and that will help the level that the team can reach as well as bringing in new players.”

Xabi Alonso figured in Benitez’s experimental side in Istanbul, while other senior men – Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia, Steve Finnan and Jose Reina – were left at home to rest ahead of the busy December and new year period.

“You never want to lose a Champions League game, but we had already done the job and there was not that much pressure on us,” said Benitez. “It was harder to concentrate because we already knew we had qualified, and the three points were not important.”

“It’s hard to come into tough Champions League away games, but the lads have to get used to this level. And the more minutes they play the better they will get.”