[Petnanny]

Benitez, Set To Sign Barry, Says Reds Will Go For Everything

With Liverpool finally expected to secure the signature of Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry this week, manager Rafael Benitez has stressed that the Reds will seeking to win all four major trophies this season.



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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is keen not to make a challenge for the elusive Premier League title the club’s only focus this season.
He insists he is not prioritising trophies, simply going all out to win every one of them.
Benitez watched his side thrash Rangers 4-0 in a friendly at Ibrox on Saturday, maintaining their unbeaten pre-season programme after six games to date. Anmd the Spanish tactician would like to be able to have Barry in his squad ahead of the friendly against Lazio on Friday.

While not willing to say much about the Barry transfer negotiations, Benitez said of this season’s targets:
"Everything is important. Europe is important, the Premier League is important, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup, so we will try to win every trophy and you never know.
"We will try to win from the first game and then see the situation.
"Clearly we have confidence in ourselves and have the quality to try to win every game but you never know what can happen in any competition.
"We started really well and finished really well last season.
"If we can do the same this time then hopefully we will be better in the middle of the season.
"But we will be working really hard to be as competitive as we can."
The Barry Saga
Regarding Liverpool’s summer-long pursuit of Barry, Aston Villa have already rejected more than one bid from the Reds that failed to match their £18million valuation of the England midfielder, but Villa boss Martin O'Neill admitted at the weekend that the door was open again for Liverpool to table an acceptable bid.
O’Neill seems resigned to losing his skipper, probably to Liverpool, although after spending £20.3 million on Robbie Keane last week, Benitez said he would have to sell before he could buy Barry.
Nevertheless, although Liverpool haven’t yet sold Xabi Alonso, the club are now believed to have the money required to sign Barry nin place, after co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett agreed to underwrite the transfer.
With newspaper speculation that a deal could now be completed within the next few days, the £18million fee is expected to be paid in two instalments - the first half immediately, the second in a year's time.

Then, it is assumed, Benitez will then start selling players like Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Voronin to pay back the loan from the two American owners.
Mark Hinton, Goal.com