Rafa sees eager Benayoun as ideal replacement for Garcia

RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Yossi Benayoun will be an ideal replacement for Luis Garcia as he is desperate to play for Liverpool.

The Israel midfielder is set to secure a deal at Anfield after a fee, believed to be £5 million, was agreed with West Ham.

He could be joined by £10m-rated Ryan Babel in a double swoop after Ajax gave Liverpool permission to talk to the player. The Holland under-21 winger is reportedly on his way to Merseyside for a medical.