Decision looming over Dudek future

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek’s future could be decided next week, according to the player’s agent.

Dudek has been out of favour in Rafael Benitez’s side since the arrival of Spanish international Jose Reina to Anfield in the summer.

The 32-year-old is under contract with Liverpool until June 2007 but the Polish ‘keeper is looking for more playing time.

“It’s true that Liverpool have never said that they no longer needed him,” Dudek’s agent Jan de Zeeuw told Portuguese sports newspaper Ojogo.

“Next week we will have a meeting with the the coach and with the club executives to consider Dudek’s future.”

Dudek, who joined Liverpool in 2001 from Dutch club Feyenoord, became a hero for the Anfield fans for his outstanding performance in the Champions League final in Istanbul against AC Milan in May.

But the arrival of Reina has relegated him to the bench.

De Zeeuw added: “There are two situations. There is the Spanish tendency, seeing as the coach is Spanish and Reina is also Spanish and then there is the English one, that prefers Dudek.

“If Liverpool doesn’t want him then all the doors will open. But at this time everything is in Liverpool’s hands.”

Benfica have reportedly shown an interest in acquiring Dudek and the player’s agent has not ruled a possible move to Portugal where he would meet former team-mate and now Benfica coach Ronald Koeman.

He said: “Benfica would in fact be an interesting option. Dudek already played with Ronald Koeman in Feyenoord in 1996.”