The Liverpool chief hopes to agree a deal with
Sunderland as he desperately needs cover for crocked hotshot
Fernando Torres.
And it will see out-of-favour Dutchman Babel head for
the Stadium of Light.
But Benitez faces a fight with Aston Villa for
unsettled Trinidad and Tobago ace Jones, 25.
The Kop boss has been chasing a back-up striker to
Torres for months with the Spaniard plagued by injury this
season.
That hunt became an urgent priority on Wednesday when
Torres damaged a cartilage in the shock FA Cup defeat to
Reading.
He needs surgery and will be out for six weeks.
Babel, 23, has been an £11.5million Mersey flop since
moving from Ajax 2½ years ago, starting just 24 league games.
Benitez will need some hard bargaining for Jones after
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claimed he was worth £40m on his
day.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill is plotting a £12m move
for the Black Cats forward.
Bruce has already knocked back an £11m offer from
Birmingham while Stoke are also keen.