Rafael Benitez will resist any late overtures from Valencia and become Gerard Houllier's successor at Liverpool.

The Spaniard has emerged as the unanimous favourite within the Anfield boardroom to replace Houllier after they parted company with the Frenchman on Monday.

Liverpool are in advanced negotations with the 44-year-old Benitez and are confident he will be installed as new manager before the start of pre-season.

Talks will not be finalised until Rick Parry returns from a family holiday in Barbados in 11 days' time, with reports in some quarters suggesting the chief executive has already shaken hands with Benitez on an agreement.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "Rick Parry is out of the country and no decision on the managerial side will be made until he is back."

But while Benitez was quoted on Spanish radio yesterday saying he would prefer to remain in his current job, it would appear that is just a smokescreen as the search for Houllier's successor reaches its conclusion.

Benitez told Valencia-based Radio Nou: "I want to stay at Valencia. It is already a big club."

Out of courtesy, the coach will listen to what Valencia are prepared to offer as inducement to stay, with a shareholders' meeting planned.

But Benitez is known to have grown tired of the financial constraints he has been working under during his three-year spell at Valencia, in which he has guided the club to two championships.

A clause in his contract in line with Spanish legislation, which would allow him to walk away from the club at 15 days' notice without Liverpool paying any compensation, means the decision ultimately

rests with Benitez himself. The chance to fulfil his ambition of working in the Premiership and the prospect of a healthy summer transfer kitty due to expected new investment at Liverpool are factors that make a move to Anfield a highly attractive prospect.

Nevertheless Valencia, who Benitez has recently guided to a double of Spanish championship and UEFA Cup, will make one final effort to tempt him into staying.

They will offer the coach a two-year contractextension - which would keep him at the Mestalla until 2007 - and give assurances that top players will not be sold to ease the club's debts.

And Valencia are hoping the pull of finishing off the job he has started by guiding the club to Champions League glory next season will persuade Benitez to stay put.

But it appears that only an exceptional package from the Spanish champions would solicit a dramatic change of heart from the coach.

Bayern Munich and Inter Milan were also interested in taking Benitez from Spain, but it is clear only Valencia themselves are the remaining obstacle to Liverpool capturing their number one managerial target.


that would be ace

apparently he will bring pablo aimar and ayala along with him. He'd make us a class act.