RAFAEL BENITEZ will belatedly meet new chairman Martin Broughton this week – as Liverpool face an early start to next season.

Benitez is finally due to hold showdown talks with Broughton in the next few days during which he will seek assurances over the future direction of the club.

It emerged yesterday the manager has twice cancelled a planned summit during the past fortnight due to his commitments with the first team.

Benitez’s position at Anfield has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks given his ongoing frustration at the financial restraints at the club that has encouraged interest from Juventus.

The Serie A side are keen to recruit the Spaniard as replacement for outgoing coach Alberto Zaccheroni but want a decision inside the next week.

But while Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, has confirmed his client’s imminent talks with Broughton, he believes the manager would ideally prefer to stay at Liverpool.

“He (Benitez) has a meeting with the chairman this week, and from what I can see Rafael Benitez wants to continue at Liverpool,” said Quilon.

“Benitez needs to know what the plans are for the future, for the investment into players at the club. That is going to be important.”

One report claimed last week Quilon has already agreed a four-year deal for Benitez with new Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli.

But the agent said: “I have not made any agreement with Juventus. Benitez has four years left of his contract.”

Quilon’s denial of any deal has not prevented Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from praising Benitez’s qualities.

“Rafa’s CV is really good,” said Buffon. “Tactically he is a very good manager but he has also showed he can deal with problems off the pitch.

“Benitez is a great professional that every team would like to have.”