Benitez meets with Dubai group
Dec 12 2006
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ has held his first meeting with Liverpool's prospective new owners, but details of their plans to restore the club to the top of the English game are still on hold until DIC complete their takeover.
Benitez met Dubai International Capital chief executive Sameer Al Ansari following the Reds' 4-0 thumping of Fulham at the weekend.
Even though it's been emphasised an Abramovich-style assault on the transfer market is not the intention of the new owners, speculation has mounted since the announcement of the £400m Dubai bid about how much Benitez will have to spend on players in the future.
With the process of due diligence ongoing it's still too early for any such revelations, even to the Liverpool manager.
But Benitez has been assured the investment group have a far-sighted view of the future.
"I have spoken to the people. It was a very nice meeting, but we didn't talk about the details of the takeover," explained Benitez.
"They've made it clear they want to do the right things for Liverpool in the future and this will not be a short term deal. Their idea is to make Liverpool a success in the long-term."
It's highly unlikely there will be any significant impact on Benitez's transfer kitty in January, when it's inevitably tougher to sign top players anyway.
Benitez already has plans to strengthen the squad when the transfer window opens, and they won't be altered whether there's more money available to spend or not.
Come the end of the season, however, both the manager and supporters will be anticipating exciting developments.
The Reds have a week to prepare for the weekend trip to Charlton, for which on loan keeper Scott Carson will be ineligible.
Benitez is hoping the recent improvement which has taken his side into the top four continues.
"The team is playing well, but we can improve," he said. "We're playing with a good tempo for winning and scoring goals.
"In the last two league games we've maybe not created as many chances as in other games, but we're taking more opportunities. That's the difference.
"I'm not someone who looks at the table every week, but clearly it's better for us to be in the top four now."
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html
Dec 12 2006
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ has held his first meeting with Liverpool's prospective new owners, but details of their plans to restore the club to the top of the English game are still on hold until DIC complete their takeover.
Benitez met Dubai International Capital chief executive Sameer Al Ansari following the Reds' 4-0 thumping of Fulham at the weekend.
Even though it's been emphasised an Abramovich-style assault on the transfer market is not the intention of the new owners, speculation has mounted since the announcement of the £400m Dubai bid about how much Benitez will have to spend on players in the future.
With the process of due diligence ongoing it's still too early for any such revelations, even to the Liverpool manager.
But Benitez has been assured the investment group have a far-sighted view of the future.
"I have spoken to the people. It was a very nice meeting, but we didn't talk about the details of the takeover," explained Benitez.
"They've made it clear they want to do the right things for Liverpool in the future and this will not be a short term deal. Their idea is to make Liverpool a success in the long-term."
It's highly unlikely there will be any significant impact on Benitez's transfer kitty in January, when it's inevitably tougher to sign top players anyway.
Benitez already has plans to strengthen the squad when the transfer window opens, and they won't be altered whether there's more money available to spend or not.
Come the end of the season, however, both the manager and supporters will be anticipating exciting developments.
The Reds have a week to prepare for the weekend trip to Charlton, for which on loan keeper Scott Carson will be ineligible.
Benitez is hoping the recent improvement which has taken his side into the top four continues.
"The team is playing well, but we can improve," he said. "We're playing with a good tempo for winning and scoring goals.
"In the last two league games we've maybe not created as many chances as in other games, but we're taking more opportunities. That's the difference.
"I'm not someone who looks at the table every week, but clearly it's better for us to be in the top four now."
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html
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