Chris Bascombe, News of the World

Liverpool's American owners will attempt to win back Rafa Benitez’s trust with an £18million bid for Valencia winger David Silva.



Kop boss Benitez is furious after the collapse of the Gareth Barry deal left him looking foolish.

Now owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett know they have to do something quickly to appease the Spaniard.

They blocked a move for Barry because they considered Aston Villa’s £18m valuation excessive.

They want to resurrect a bid for Silva, a hero of Spain’s Euro 2008 win and an Anfield target earlier this summer.

But Manchester United are ready to hijack the deal by making their own £20m bid and Arsenal are also interested.

And a move for Silva might not appease Benitez — who, amazingly, is backing a deal for a millionaire friend to pump upwards of £12m into Anfield.

An approach was made on behalf of Belfast millionaire and Liverpool season ticket holder John Miskelly several weeks ago, offering a massive interest-free loan for transfers.

This was instantly rejected by the Anfield board who, under strict banking conditions, cannot accept such offers.

Sadly for Benitez and his supporters within Anfield, the Barry decision was not about lack of funds. Hicks and Gillett decided it made no sense to sell Xabi Alonso and recruit Barry in a loss-making deal.

Last May, the Americans were convinced to bid for Barry when Benitez told them Alonso was in secret talks with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He said Alonso could be sold for £25m and Barry bought for £15m, with the extra £10m earmarked for another player.

But Villa stood firm on £18m, and only one bid, of £16m from Juventus, was received for Alonso.