Contract impasse could spell end for Benitez

Liverpool are facing up to the threat of Rafael Benitez walking out on the club in 18 months after the Spaniard turned down a new contract after the owners refused his demands for complete control of transfers.

The club’s two owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett insist they will find a solution to the stand-off but unless they cave in to his demands then Benitez could walk away – just as he did at previous club Valencia over exactly the same dispute.