Inter close on Benitez as talks to get underway

FORMER Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez’s prospects of taking over at Inter Milan increased yesterday with the disclosure that he is to have talks with the European champions this week.

At the same time, former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson hinted that he would be available if the vacancy at Anfield came his way.

Inter president Massimo Moratti confirmed that Benitez is the number one choice to take over the reins at the San Siro from Jose Mourinho in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

Speculation has been rife concerning Benitez since the Spaniard left Liverpool by mutual consent on Thursday and Moratti said: “I can only speak well of him because he is very good. Yes, that is the direction and in the next few days we will see, we will decide.

“It’s also important that he has always done well in Europe, to continue to get joy from the Champions League is our aim.”

Inter have been on the lookout for a new coach since Mourinho’s departure for Real Madrid after the former Chelsea coach had steered the Nerazzurri to a treble of the Champions League, Serie A title and the Coppa Italia.

Benitez’s six years at Anfield ended after a difficult season in which the Reds finished seventh in the Premier League and failed to get past the Champions League group stages.

Benitez, 50, is the coach who has inflicted the most number of defeats on Mourinho, a fact of which Moratti is well aware.

The Inter chief added: “I know, I know. He beat him five times, right?

“It is a sign that he is prepared, that he works well and that he doesn’t make mistakes in important games.”

Reports suggest Inter director Marco Branca is on his way to Sardinia to meet with Benitez who is currently on holiday on the Italian island.

Eriksson, meanwhile, at the age of 62, has discovered he’s a Liverpool fan and yesterday dropped a hint he would be available for the manager’s job.

Last seen at Notts County and currently steering Ivory Coast through the World Cup, Eriksson revealed his secret attachment during a radio interview in which he was asked about the vacancy at Anfield.

Eriksson, who previously managed Manchester City, insisted he would like to return to the Premier League and made it clear that he would be “free” after the World Cup.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live that he had been a Liverpool fan all his life and was adamant the club would have no problem finding a new manager after the departure of Benitez, even though the new man at the helm would have limited funds to spend on transfers.

Eriksson said: “My situation is easy. I have a contract with the Ivory Coast until the end of the World Cup and then I am free.

“Hopefully I will sit on some bench somewhere in the world, I don’t know where.

“The Premier League is the best league in the world so everybody wants to be a manager in the Premier League.”

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp’s name was also thrown into the frame yesterday by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.

Fowler said: “Redknapp has done fantastic with Spurs and he would be a very good manager for Liverpool.”