Rafael Benitez’s agent has moved to dispel speculation that his client could be on his way to Italy to replace under-fire Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara.
Benitez is widely believed to be the Serie A outfit’s first choice to replace Ferrara, who has presided over a disappointing campaign.
Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Roma was Juve’s fifth loss in six Serie A matches and Ferrara’s days in charge appear numbered.
Benitez has now emerged as the favourite to replace Ferrarra, but his agent Manuel García Quillón claims he remains focused on Anfield.
“I have had no contact with Juventus or with any other Italian club regarding an interest on Rafa Benitez,” Quilon told Press Association Sport.
“There have been rumours linking Rafa to Juve just as there have been reports linking (Guus) Hiddink to Juve. But they are all media speculation and there is no truth in it.
“Rafa has a four-year contract with Liverpool. He feels he has the strength to continue with the team and he is fully focused on guiding Liverpool up the standings.”
Former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has also been linked with Juve in the event of Ferrara being fired, but his reported demands of €3.5 million to take on an interim role similar to his position at Chelsea last season was seen as too expensive.
Benitez currently earns £4 million per season at Anfield but it is unlikely that Juve will be able to improve on that figure, though his spending is unlikely to be as restricted as it is under the current Liverpool regime.