Summit to shape Anfield future

Jan 8 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Summit to shape Anfield future

LIVERPOOL’S American owners will meet today to determine the design of the revised new stadium plans.

But the current position of Rafael Benitez’s tenure is almost certain to be discussed as chief executive Rick Parry joins owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks for negotiations in New York.

Parry yesterday dismissed any suggestion the summit has been convened specifically to debate the Spaniard’s long-term future at Anfield.

“The appointment is a diary engagement to discuss the new stadium plans, it has been in the diary for a long time to discuss the stadium,” he said.

However, it is almost certain Benitez’s situation will also be on the agenda as the club’s hierarchy discuss their next move over the new stadium.

Having been forced to cut back on their initial ambition, Gillett and Hicks invited Dallas architects HKS, who were behind the spectacular proposals revealed in July, and

Manchester-based AFL, designers of the original 60,000-seater stadium that was ditched by the Americans, to produce a cheaper, less extravagant plan.

The final decision could be made later today, with Liverpool then having to submit yet another planning application.

Parry was in Russia at the weekend holding talks over the proposed move for Martin Skrtel, who is expected to become the most expen-sive defender in Liver-pool’s history within the next 48 hours.

The 23-year-old Slovakian international is poised to complete a £6million transfer from Zenit St Petersburg.

The deal will mark the end of Benitez’s search for a new centre-half that began with the unsuccessful pursuit of a similarly-priced Gabriel Heinze and which became increasingly urgent in recent weeks following injuries to both Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia.

Skrtel, 23, has 15 caps and has made more than 100 appearances in the Russian league.

Meanwhile, Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri has fuelled speculation linking him with a move for unsettled Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko. “He is a player that I like a lot and I know well,” he said. “I had the pleasure of coaching him at Valencia.”

Reports in Italy suggest Juventus are preparing a £11million bid for the Mali international, who is currently on African Cup of Nations duty.