Rafa Benitez plans summer of change at Liverpool FC

May 2 2008

Rafael Benitez, Liverpool FC Manager _320

"Every year you must improve. This squad is much better than my first squad at the club, but if we can improve we will do so.

"I am still in contact with the owners, we are working together and we will progress."

Benitez’s determination to boost his squad is being carried out against a back-drop of the continued boardroom problems at the club, and a perceived lack of cash.

Failing to reach Moscow has been a financial blow, but it is also believed that co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are being confronted with a severe problem over funding for the new stadium.

Sources suggest that they have been told by bankers on both sides of the Atlantic, that cash for the new stadium is out of the question in the current climate.

That leaves the Americans facing problems not only with the building start-date but with the re-generation of the Anfield area.

The community venture was a fundamental part of the planning application, and work and funding has to be secured soon.

Any further delay could cause problems over council, government and EU funding.

The local council could soon be pressing the American owners for a start date for the stadium so re-generation work can also commence.

So Benitez is now working in a difficult transfer market with growing cash problems hanging over the club and he can only hope for a decent performance in front of the Kop on Sunday.

He said: "It is important to win in front of our own supporters in the last home game. Those fans have been magnificent so we want to play well, score goals and give them a good final game."