Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has hinted that he could become Steve McClaren's England replacement.Having apparently been rebuffed in his request for substantial sums to be made available for the January transfer window, Benitez was 35 minutes late for his appearance in front of the press on Thursday.

When he finally showed, The Guardian claims he was still 'visibly shaken' from his earlier talks with owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

According to The Daily Mail, a 'frustrated' Benitez is 'ready to tell Gillett and Hicks to dig deep or consider whether they should start looking for a new manager.'

"Maybe I could be (McClaren's replacement) if I improve my English," he announced.

Later Benitez told reporters: "I was being serious. You never know what can happen in the future."

Hours later, speculation that a rift had grown between Benitez and the club's owners was heightened by a statement issued by Gillet and Hicks.

"We made a significant investment in the playing squad during the summer and desperately want this team to succeed," it read.

"There are some very important games coming up in the next couple of weeks and all of us need to focus on winning those games and getting the best out of the players we already have at the club. We will leave any talk of buying or selling players until we come across to Liverpool in December and sit down with the manager then."

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