Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is pleading with his board to secure Dan Agger to a new contract.

The Mirror says Benitez is desperate to keep the Danish centre-half at the club in the face of mounting pressure from AC Milan.

Agger's agent, Per Steffersen, was pictured this week having lunch with the Italian club's sporting director Ariedo Braida at a high-profile restaurant in the city.

Reports suggest Milan are prepared to offer the defender upwards of £70,000 a week, and there is even speculation in Denmark that a deal worth around £7.5m has been agreed.

Liverpool's American owners have been reluctant to even entertain Agger's wage demands of around £60,000 a week, which would more than double his salary.