Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen to renew his contract at Liverpool, so rumours of Juventus wanting Benitez is a timely bargaining tool.

Rafa Benitez has heard nothing from the Liverpool board about an extension to his contract which runs out at the end of next season. With the club owners Hicks and Gillett expected to sell Liverpool in the coming months, Benitez is desperate to sort out a new contract with Liverpool, ensuring he is part of the furniture when new owners become involved.

However, after falling out with the current owners last season and with constant questions aimed at the rotation of his team, Benitez is not in a position of strength. Now call it coincidence, stroke of luck, media manipulation, or intelligence a story is being circulated stating that Juventus may be interested in signing Benitez.

What better way to push the Liverpool owners to tie Benitez down?

Sure Ranieri is struggling, Juventus have not recorded a win from their last four games and they have scored just five goals scored in the opening six league games, but would the ‘Old Lady’really decide to hit the press with a call for Benitez at this stage?

Of course not, Juventus are tired of Ranieri’s tinkering with the team each week, something that Benitez is also famed for.They wouldn’t want to pay the compensation that Liverpool would insist on, but most importantly, Juventus know that Benitez wants to stay at Liverpool and would not instigate a move to Juve.