RAFAEL BENITEZ has warned Liverpool’s board they must find new investment if he is to resist overtures from Juventus this summer.

Speculation surrounding the Spaniard intensified yesterday when the Serie A side sacked Ciro Ferrara as coach and named Alberto Zaccheroni as his replacement for the remainder of the campaign.

It leaves the door open for Juventus to make a move for number one target Benitez at the end of the season, with the Liverpool manager yesterday stating he is “proud” at the rumoured interest.

That will act as further encouragement to the Italians after Benitez earlier this week expressed his ongoing frustration at the current financial climate at Liverpool that he believes is stifling attempts to improve his squad.

And while revealing assurances have been given over fresh investors and the building of the much-delayed new stadium on Stanley Park, the Spaniard has cast renewed doubt over his Anfield future by insisting the time has now come for those words to be followed by actions.

“We are working very hard in the conditions that we have at this moment,” said Benitez. “I think we have a new investor or maybe more people coming this year, the possibility of a new stadium is a big boost for everyone here so all these things are on the agenda.

“We have to trust and have the belief that they will happen. In the meantime, we can talk about names in the market, players who are available for free and that means we can prove that we want to go forward and we can prove that we can manage sometimes without big money.”

When asked if there needed to be concrete evidence of this happening, Benitez said: “Yes, I think that is important for all the fans and for all the people here to see these things happen. I think so. For everyone here.

“Everyone wants to see the team and the club progress and I think we are going in the right direction but we have to move forward.

“Sometimes this means signing players who are good and are available in the market. Sometimes it is changing things and the key at the end we know is the stadium and the new investors.”