Benitez refuses to make league win his priority

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez refused to admit the Premier League title has become his number one priority as the Reds prepare to conclude their summer-long quest to sign Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

Villa have rejected a number of bids which fell short of their £18 million (€22.8m) valuation but manager Martin O’Neill admitted the door was open for Benitez to come in again with an acceptable bid for his skipper.

Robbie Keane was signed from Tottenham in the last week for £20.3m (€25.7m), and although Benitez has said he will have to sell before he can buy Barry, the recruitment of the England international would give added hope of bringing the league title back to Anfield for the first time since 1990.