SOCCER NEWS: RAFAEL BENITEZ has promised there will be at least one new big-name striker at Liverpool before the start of the season and admits Robbie Keane remains an option for the Anfield club.
Benitez, who has allowed striker Peter Crouch to join Portsmouth, ruled out making a move for Spain striker David Villa but confirmed that a move for the Republic of Ireland captain was a possibility.
"I said the other day that Villa is one of the names we had on our list, but I can say at this moment that it is not an option for us," Benitez said.
"Keane is one of the other names and okay we are still working with other names. We were in contact and we will see now.
"We will have another main striker before the season starts, maybe two," he added.
The Liverpool manager also admitted his exasperation at the drawn-out campaign to prise Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, which shows no sign of ending.
There have been rumours for weeks that Benitez is working with very little money, although sources insist that he can complete the deal for Barry without selling Xabi Alonso.
That deal - with Juventus - has also gone cold and Benitez revealed: "The situation with Alonso has not changed. Juventus made an offer that was not good enough and now we are just waiting. I do not know, really, whether that will go through.
"Xabi wants to stay because he is happy here but he also knows that Juventus is a top side. I have talked to him, he knows my ideas and he knows why. So we will try to find a solution for him, for us, and the best for the club.
"We are still waiting on Gareth Barry. I prefer now not to say anything and to wait."
The Merseyside club yesterday unveiled two new full-backs, Swiss international Philipp Degen and €7.5-million Italian defender Andrea Dossena, and expects to formally announce a €3.75-million deal for Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri in the near future.
The club also announced the signing of 17-year-old Dutch forward Vincent Lucas Weijl yesterday. The teenager, who came through the academy at AZ Alkmaar, has signed a three-year deal.
It has, however, become increasingly obvious that Benitez is working with a much smaller budget than was expected at the end of last season when figures of €31-37 million were being suggested as a potential kitty.
He admitted: "We know the situation regarding what we can spend, and we are trying to find solutions if we do not have enough money.
"And we will still try to sign players that will make us better. But if you do not have too much money, and that is clear, we will have to have a little bit of imagination to progress in the market.
"We had our ideas at the end of the season. We have tried to use players to raise money for business in the past, sometimes selling players who have not settled down.This summer it is very much the same idea. We know we will have to sell some players if we want some cash. So we have to do that."
