"We are looking in the market but it’s not easy to find good players available because the majority of them are playing in top sides. But we are trying to find solutions if we can.

"We have some good players who people are interested in because they’re not playing too many games for us, but we have to manage carefully."

Ryan Babel will be allowed to leave, but his agent has been told there is no chance of a loan move, while Andrea Dossena is a target for Atletico Madrid.

Other players linked with the Reds are Galatasaray midfielder Arda Turan, Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic, Malaga defender Ivan Gonzalez and Crystal Palace youngster Victor Moses.

But first, they need to avoid a cup disaster in Berkshire, having established some measure of confidence and form with back-to-back league wins over Wolves and Aston Villa.

Benitez added: "The FA Cup is always important, but when you are out of the Champions League it becomes a major trophy.

"Our fans are still thinking of winning silverware this season, so that means the FA Cup. It is a very important competition for us now.

"We must look at our squad and decide what we are going to do at Reading. We have more training sessions to see how they are, but because the competition has added importance now maybe we will not change too many players.

"We know we are facing Spurs eight days later, but that does give us more time to get players fit so we can field a strong team at Reading."