RAFA BENITEZ says the upcoming World Cup finals is hampering his attempts to land his summer transfer targets.
Despite ongoing speculation linking him with a move to Italy, the Liverpool boss has insisted his future is at Anfield and is pressing on with plans to strengthen his squad.
Benitez has already snapped up teenage midfielder Jonjo Shelvey from Charlton for £1.7million and is expected to complete a £2.5m deal for Rangers defender Danny Wilson when the transfer window opens next month.
However, with most top stars currently away on international duty in the build up to next month’s World Cup in South Africa, the Spaniard insists it’s a difficult time to do business.
“We are working on our signings for the next transfer window,” Benitez said.
“But now we have the added difficulty that the World Cup always brings.
“I have my ideas and I know what I want, but we just have to wait.”
Benitez’s coffers have been boosted by the sale of Mikel San Jose to Athletic Bilbao for £2.6m.
The 20-year-old defender spent this season on loan at the Spanish club. San Jose originally arrived at Anfield from Bilbao in 2007.
He was a regular in the reserves but never made a competitive first team appearance.
His new contract will tie him to the Basque club until 2015 and has a buy-out clause of 30million euros.
Benitez was in Spain yesterday to receive the Agustin de Betancourt medal from the University of Madrid. The award marked his contribution to the sport since he obtained a degree in physical education in his home city in 1982.
Benitez insisted his days as a student helped prepare him for life in management.
And he believes the intense pressure he’s under at Anfield won’t ease until he ends the Reds’ 20-year wait for the league title.
He said: “Back then I learned methodology, the habit of studying, analysing and finding solutions and the knowledge to tackle problems.
“As a manager you know you have responsibilities. There are demands on you and you have to get used to it. Every week you have to pass a test.
“As a manager you have to try to be respectful, correct, sometimes positive, other times not so much.
“A coach has to try to protect his players so that they can perform. When things go badly, it is the manager’s responsibility. That is normal. It is impossible to ignore the pressure until you have won the title.”
Liverpool’s pre-season friendly away to Borussia Moenchengladbach has been put back a day to Sunday, August 1.
The change has been made because Benitez’s side play the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie on July 29.
The friendly is part of the German side's 110th anniversary celebrations and will kick-off at 2.30pm local time.
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