Rafael Benitez _460

RAFAEL BENITEZ has been handed his summer budget – but may have to sell players to ensure he can land his main targets.

The Liverpool manager is already planning to raid the transfer market this summer as his side stands on the verge of their best Premier League finish of his five-year reign.

Benitez admits that the circumstances of his side’s season – they go into May and are still in with a chance of pipping Manchester United to the title – makes it more difficult to improve the squad.

But the Spaniard is determined to boost his side’s chances of ending their championship drought by bringing in more quality players in the forthcoming window.

“Every single year it is important to sign good players, the right players. This year will be the same,” said Benitez.

“We know we have better players than before and it will be more difficult to find better players than we have now.

“But still we have to do it.

“We are working very hard during the whole season, looking and watching players. I think that we will be ready.”

Benitez has warned, however, that he is still financially constrained when it to comes to landing his top targets.

He has made the top three most expensive buys in Liverpool’s history over the past two years with varying degrees of success.