Benitez Tight-Lipped Over Liverpool's Reported £2m Transfer Budget

The Spaniard remained coy when pressed about the Merseysiders' finanances.

The fiscal ambiguity surrounding title-chasing Liverpool continues to dominate contemporary sports news, and Rafael Benitez's refusal to either confirm or deny the press reports released this morning that indicated the club have £2 million to play with in the summer market will do little to quell the speculation.

The Reds are believed to be struggling financially as parent company Kop Holdings Ltd. suffered losses in excess of £33 million recently, however, this was not believed to have implications on the club's recruitment policy.

Liverpool have made two high-profile summer transfers thus far, acquiring roaming right-back Glen Johnson for €20m (£17m) and Roman midfielder Alberto Aquilani for a similar price, yet they have also granted Xabi Alonso his €35m (£30m) Real Madrid switch.

Speaking at a press conference, Benitez bluntly refused to answer one journalist's probing questions about the club's budget.

"I don't want to talk about money, sorry," the Spaniard said.

"We are always analysing the market, it depends on the injuries sustained, and we will always work with the departments to see what is available."

Regarding the prospect of Argentinean battler Javier Mascherano's contract extension, Benitez said, "There is a possibility that we will talk with Javier Mascherano in private."