ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP:JOSE REINA has said it is "vital" that Liverpool's co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, sell the club this summer in order to remove the uncertainty around Anfield and enable Rafael Benitez to commence necessary rebuilding of the team.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper and the forward Dirk Kuyt have become the latest senior players to voice their concern over the direction of a club laden with debt and where the absence of Champions League football next season has cast doubt over the futures of Fernando Torres and club captain Steven Gerrard.
While the new chairman, Martin Broughton, has said it is “a matter of months” before he completes the club’s sale, Hicks has given conflicting messages.
The Americans have also agreed a six-month extension to the refinancing deal with Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, that was due to expire in July.
Reina said: “It is vital . It would be simple as it would mean we could start planning for next season earlier. All that I ask is that if it is going to happen, then it happens as soon as possible to help the club.
“We (the players) worry. It is a concern and we need to sort out these kind of things, like the sale of the club and the thing with the owners. Once we settle all this then we can begin to look forward and improve the squad.”
Benitez’s own future remains uncertain, despite positive talks with Broughton last week. “I want to stay if everything is fine,” said the Liverpool manager after the final game of the season, a draw at Hull City.
Juventus, who have long coveted Benitez but want a definitive answer on his intentions by this week, are now exploring alternative options such as Luigi Del Neri of Sampdoria and Fiorentina’s Cesare Prandelli.
Reina, who signed a six-year contract with Liverpool last month, believes Benitez must spend competitively this summer to compete for a Champions League place.
“It is not about quantity, it is about quality,” he said. “We need to improve on the players we already have.
“It is not cheap but I am sure that the manager and his technical staff will be working hard to change that.”
However, Kuyt is unsure whether the club’s leading talents will remain at Anfield.
“In football you can never be sure what is happening and at this time we know the club looks very bad,” he said.
Fulham expect no disruption to their travel plans for the Europa League final after fears that the volcanic ash cloud would spread eased yesterday.
The club, who had drawn up alternative arrangements in case the situation deteriorated, will fly to Hamburg from London as scheduled this morning.
