Benítez targets £20m Silva

by Andy Hunter and Tom Kington
The Guardian,Friday June 20, 2008

Rafael Benítez has targeted the Valencia midfielder David Silva for a summer move to Liverpool providing he can raise the funds necessary to prise the Spain international from the Mestalla.

The 22-year-old Silva is valued at £20m by Valencia and so is beyond Benítez's budget as the Liverpool manager concentrates his resources on Gareth Barry and Andrea Dossena. Should Benítez complete those deals and increase his funds with the sales of Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch, Scott Carson and Jermaine Pennant, and with almost £4m now banked from the departure of John Arne Riise to Roma, he will turn to Silva in the search for quality wide players for next season.

Valencia's price tag would remain prohibitive but Liverpool hope the current financial pressures at the Spanish club, with Benítez's former employers having to fund a new stadium, will force them to reduce the asking price for the versatile Silva. The player is also close to Liverpool's chief scout, Eduardo Macia, who coached him through Valencia's youth system.