As contract discussions continue to be on-going with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, major steps appear to be moving towards the direction of a long-term future for Benitez at Anfield.
The week started with rumors of Jose Mourinho being the favorite to succeed Benitez if he was not resolve contractual issues.
An unnamed source told the Sun, “The Americans [Hicks and Gillett] had read Mourinho was interested in returning to the Premier League and wanted to know if he meant it.“But it wasn’t a firm approach or a job offer. It was more a case of testing the water in case Rafa did decide to walk out.”
On the heels of those rumors, the week ended with chief executive Rick Parry confirming that he will step down at the end of the season. Parry was long figured as a rival of Benitez at the club, and with Parry stepping down, could pave the way for Benitez to be given more say in what happens in the day-to-day operations in the club, including player transfers.
It is understood the pair have failed to see eye-to-eye over the club's transfer policy and academy recruitment plans, with Benitez - who guided his team to a UEFA Champions League victory at Real Madrid on Wednesday - thought to be looking for full control.
Last summer, Benitez criticised Parry’s handling of the club’s pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and other transfer targets.
"I have a lot of experience in football at different clubs and if you do not have a technical director and you are the manager you have to have control of the football decisions – but always within the confines of a budget which is controlled by the owners and the club," said Benitez.
"In this scenario the manager knows the amount of money he has available to him and can decide how much he should spend on each player according to the needs of the team.
"The only person who can decide the value of a player to his squad is the manager because he knows what elements are needed to improve the squad."
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