Tom Hicks and George Gillett are on the verge of securing complete control of Liverpool after accumulating 94.4 per cent of the club's shares, though their sense of optimism may have been dampened by indications from Rafael Benitez he is seeking talks to clarify their vision.

The manager remains committed to the club, though his publicly expressed intention to meet the Americans is disconcerting given Real Madrid's apparent desire to lure the Spaniard back to his home city.

Liverpool rejected an approach from them last year, with Benitez subsequently signing a new long-term contract, yet Real's interest in him remains. That is unsettling on Merseyside, even if Real are aware Benitez' instinct is to remain.

Real's interest does offer Benitez a position of strength from which to negotiate, however, and he will do so with Hicks and Gillett when they return to England on March 31st.

"There are always a lot of rumours and a lot of people have been talking about Madrid," said Benitez. "I have read in some papers I've had a meeting with people from Madrid. This is not true. I'm very happy at Liverpool. I couldn't have more support, but now we have new people taking over and it's important I talk to the American owners.

"I have spoken to them once, when they first came to the club, but now I would like to see them as soon as possible and talk about the future. I don't just want to talk about money to spend on players. I would like to hear about the plans which will improve the club. We need to do things which not only help for one or two years, but will help for the next 100 years."

Gillett and Hicks will attempt to convince Benitez they have the means and intention to pour resources into long-term planning with special emphasis on youth recruitment, an area where the manager feels they have fallen behind.

The Americans are also exploring ways of increasing the proposed 60,000 capacity of the Stanley Park stadium and have ordered a review. The club are considering suspending work on the £215 million project, due for completion in 2009, while they consider the options but are aware if major changes are needed a new planning application would need to be submitted.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "There is a total commitment to a new stadium but the new owners are conducting a thorough review of the current proposals, to see if there is any way they can be improved."

It is believed the club's hierarchy regard the move to commission a review of the plans as a sign of the huge ambition of Gillett and Hicks rather than any move to back away from the original scheme.