Benitez admitted earlier this month that he was interested in bringing striker Keane, 28, to Anfield this summer.

BBC: Tottenham submit Berbatov dossier

Peter Crouch's imminent move to Portsmouth means Liverpool are in the market for a new striker and on Tuesday Benitez admitted Villa was an option.

BBC: Benitez rules out move for Villa

Tottenham striker Keane has also been linked with a move to Anfield this summer and Benitez admitted he is one of several options the club are currently looking at.

BBC: Benitez rules out move for Villa

After an early Champions League exit and an ongoing struggle to secure fourth in the Premier League, boss Rafael Benitez admitted his players knew it was their "last opportunity to win a trophy".

BBC: Liverpool 3-0 Lille (agg 3-1)

Reds boss Rafael Benitez has also admitted an interest in Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.

BBC: Barry returns to Villa training

"When we were talking (to Roma) about Aquilani we knew he was recovering from an operation and would not be able to play for the first weeks of the season, " admitted Benitez.

BBC: Liverpool sign Aquilani from Roma

Benitez had a fractious relationship with the pair, who admitted sounding out former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann about the possibility of him taking over from Benitez at the end of 2007, when they feared the Spaniard could leave the club.

BBC: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez leaves by mutual consent

While Hicks and Gillett have publicly backed their manager, who signed a contract until 2014 in March last year, they undermined Benitez's position in 2007 when they admitted to having held talks with former Germany boss Jurgen Klinsmann.

BBC: Liverpool put up for sale by American owners

Benitez has defended his decision to pay over the odds for the player, even though he admitted the deal has cost him more than he had hoped.

CNN: Johnson poised to complete Liverpool move