Rafa Benitez Ready to Walk Out on Liverpool

Rafa Benitez is threatening to quit Liverpool at the end of the season - after a stunning decision to reject a fourth contract offer.

Anfield co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett expected Benitez to sign a new deal on Friday that would keep him at the club until 2013 - as revealed by Sunday Mirror Sport.

Talks were concluded on Thursday with both Americans convinced the concessions they had granted over transfer policy, player and staff contracts and the club's academy had finally gained Benitez's approval after almost a year of wrangling.

But less than 24 hours later the two owners were left "shocked and confused" by the Spaniard's latest refusal to put pen to paper.

Benitez, 48, has made it clear he is unwilling to commit to a deal while Gillett and chief executive Rick Parry remain at Liverpool and doubts about the long-term ownership of the club persist.

And while he has another season left on his contract, it is now likely he will leave at the end of the current campaign.

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Benitez rejected an offer from Real Madrid to become their coach in December, the second time he had resisted overtures from them. But the power struggle that has gripped Anfield for 18 months could open the door for a return to the club he served as a coach.

Benitez feels the crumbling relationship between the two Americans makes it impossible for him to do his job.

A source close to Benitez said: "It has been claimed that Rafa wants full power on transfers, contracts and the academy, but what he really wants is everyone at the club pulling in the same direction.

"The club are missing out on transfer targets and that contracts for players and staff are not being done because things move too slowly. Rafa had transfer targets lined up in January.

When he missed out on those because of how the club functions he realised it could not continue. He has told the owners it would be impossible for him to work another four years under these conditions."

Liverpool's owners have been stunned by Benitez's latest rejection and it seems his tenure will continue next season only if a buyer can be found for Gillett's stake.

( Simon Mullock / Mirror )