Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has accused Valencia of making an illegal approach for striker Milan Baros.

Benitez was reacting to a claim by Valencia president Juan Soler that he had opened negotiations with Baros.

“It is illegal to talk to a player with two more years of his contract to go,” said Benitez.

“I prefer not to talk about these things and I need to discuss this with people at this club.

“But the situation is that he is our player and has two more years of his contract with this club still to go.

“I am not worried about Baros. If what their president has said is true maybe it is time to ask them about the situation.”

After spending two seasons on the fringe of the Liverpool team, Baros has been a first-choice striker this season.

“He has scored a lot of goals during the season,” said Benitez. “After his injury problem he is scoring less goals but he is working hard.”

Soler had earlier told Radio 9: “We are negotiating with the Czech (Baros) and with four or five players of the same quality.

“These players are from Europe and South America and we are trying to do things in plenty of time, both with Baros and with the others.”