Benitez to walk alone as Europe's top clubs eye Boss
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Rafa Benitez to walk alone as Europe's top clubs eye Liverpool boss
Liverpool will not stand in the way of manager Rafa Benitez if he is headhunted by one of Europe's top clubs.
Benitez, already courted by Juventus, is waiting to see if AC Milan become interested in his services and Liverpool are prepared to waive the vast majority of their entitled £16million compensation so they do not have to keep an unhappy manager.
Heading out: Anfield boss Rafa Benitez
Benitez, whose team will finish seventh - their lowest position for 16 years - if they fail to beat Hull today, held 'constructive' talks with chairman Martin Broughton last week and has cooled on going to Juve since they failed to qualify for the Champions League.
But, with Liverpool's debts having increased to £350m, Benitez knows his plans to spend on established internationals are unlikely to be realised at Anfield.
It means today's game could be the 49-year-old Spaniard's last at Liverpool after six years in charge, with the club wanting to resolve the situation by the middle of next month.
Liverpool will not sack Benitez if it means having to pay up the remainder of his contract, but there would be relief within the club if they were able to make a fresh start under a new manager.
Their main priority is to keep Fernando Torres.
The £70m-rated striker is seen as crucial to the club's international branding as a major force in world football.
New Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has tired of Benitez's brinkmanship after he initially showed an interest in the job in Turin, and is demanding a quick answer.
But, even if Benitez does not move to Juve, he is likely to go if a top Champions League club make a firm offer.
Liverpool's policy of trying to buy the best young players in Britain continued yesterday when they agreed a £2m fee for Rangers defender Scott Wilson, 23. Benitez agreed with the club to cancel his normal media arrangements ahead of today's game.
He publicly complained last weekend that Liverpool had broken promises.