We're not buying: : Silva (right) is no longer a target for
Liverpool boss Benitez
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez
has hinted Valencia have wrecked any potential deal for Spanish
forward David Silva.
Sportsmail revealed last
month that Liverpool's chief scout Eduardo Macia had held talks
with cash-strapped Valencia but the Spanish side wanted over £20m
for the Spain international.
However, Benitez claims the 23-year-old is no longer a target
for Liverpool because officials leaked his interest in the player
to the media.
Benitez said: 'Our chief scout, Eduardo [Macia], was in Valencia
and was talking with different people from the club, but someone
was talking too much.
'So, at this moment, Silva is not a target. He is a good player,
but not our target. 'If we are going to look for someone we will
not announce it to the press - we will try to do it properly and
secretly.
'We have a very good relationship with Valencia. It was just one
person who was talking too much. Things have to be done in the
right way and now you know we are not thinking about Silva.’
However, Benitez says he is unconcerned at missing out on Silva
as he has a long list of potential targets to choose from to try
and bring to Anfield.
He added: 'People are OK. I am more worried about the number we
are signing. We have a list of 95 players - more or less - players
that we could sign this year.'