Benitez sparks a fracas with Spurs by admitting Liverpool want Keane

Rafa Benitez risked the wrath of Tottenham on Thursday by confirming Liverpool want to sign £20million-rated striker Robbie Keane.

Sportsmail revealed last month that Keane had responded to news of Liverpool's interest by urging White Hart Lane chiefs to let him join his boyhood idols.

If Tottenham were unhappy at Keane's stance, they will be more aggrieved at the way Benitez added to the uncertainty by saying: 'He is one of the names on our list. We are still interested in him. He has the game intelligence to fit into any system we want to use.'

Benitez is already at odds with Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill over his pursuit of England midfielder Gareth Barry, but he remained undeterred as he spelled out his determination to add 'two or three' more signings to his squad.

After welcoming right back Phillip Degen on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund and left back Andrea Dossena in a £7m deal from Udinese, Benitez turned his attention to Keane and Barry.

He said: 'We still need another two or three new faces. It depends on sales because we haven't got too much money but there could be a couple of signings in the next few days.'

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos has lined up a potential replacement for Keane in Espanyol striker Luis Garcia.

Negotiations between Spurs representatives and the player's agent Juanma Lopez, together with Espanyol lawyer Vicente Montes, took place in Madrid on Wednesday. Spurs are understood to have agreed a £9.5m fee for Garcia, who is expected in London this weekend to undergo a medical.

Garcia could join up with his new team-mates next week as they flew to southern Spain for a pre-season training camp on Thursday.

Benfica had also been tracking Garcia, 27, who was Espanyol's top scorer last season with 13 goals.