Benitez plots summer recruitment drive

RAFAEL BENITEZ knows he will have to be “cute and clever” in the market this summer but would not rule out breaking the club’s transfer record again.

In the last two summers, the Liverpool boss has spent £20m (€22.7m) plus on first Fernando Torres and then Robbie Keane.

And although Benitez is believed to have been given only £20m (€22.7m) by the club’s American owners for a transfer spree the Spaniard is planning purchases at both ends of the financial scale.

Linked again with Carlos Tevez this week – a move that has been talked about at Anfield now for some while – the club say they have not made a bid to the players’ third party owners.

But Benitez is known to be keen to pair Tevez again with his compatriot and former West Ham team-mate Javier Mascherano.

However, he said: “We may well break our transfer record, but certainly not Manchester United’s. But it does not matter about the prices, it is doing the right thing and finding the right players.’’

He added: “The next step is to overcome Manchester United, and that is the hardest. It does all come down to the money they have been able to spend, that is the difference. If we want to reduce this gap we have to be really good in the transfer market this summer. That can be the difference between winning the two or three extra points that we would need to win the title.

“We do not have that sort of money, so we have to be cute and clever in the market. Then it does not matter if you have money or not. When you have a lot of money it is easier because nobody notices your mistakes. For us it is important to find good targets to buy and make ourselves successful.

“We have learned a lot about our squad this season, we know each player that little bit better and it means we can improve for next season.”

Xabi Alonso is being linked with a £22m (€25m) move to Real Madrid, while Ryan Babel could also be sold. Striker Andriy Voronin is also expected to be moved on.

But before a summer of change, Liverpool have their last game of the season on Sunday at home to Tottenham – and a reunion with Keane.

The day will be a special one for veteran defender Sami Hyypia, who is leaving the club after 10 years to join Bayer Leverkusen.