Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits no-one from the club has moved to reassure him over rumours linking the Spaniard with Juventus.

On the eve of the Europa League semi-final return leg against Atletico Madrid at Anfield, Benitez revealed his bosses have made no attempt to stop him quitting Anfield for the Italian club.

Admitting that constant speculation about who might replace him was having an unsettling effect, Benitez said: "No, I haven't heard from anyone. Does that surprise me? It is very clear that if you read things in the press, you would expect it to be this way.

"For the past year, I have been working at my job but reading or hearing about Martin O'Neill, Jurgen Klinsmann, Frank Rijkaard, Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink.

"There have been a lot of names, so I just have to try and make sure it does not affect me and does not stop me focusing on the team.

"Who would I expect to reassure me? I don't want to keep talking about that."

Juventus officials are seeking an urgent meeting with Benitez about taking over in the summer. They have already held talks with his agent about personal terms and transfer targets.

But Anfield co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett appear preoccupied with finding buyers for the club and have yet to respond to the Juventus overtures.