Rafa Benitez wants control of Liverpool's academy before he inks his new contract.

The Times says Benitez is close to ending the uncertainty over his future at Liverpool by signing a new long-term contract, but, having seemingly won his power struggle with the club's hierarchy, he is awaiting confirmation that he will have control over the youth academy before he finally puts pen to paper.

Benitez has succeeded in persuading Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the club's owners, to redefine his responsibilities outlined in his new contract, giving him overall control of the club's transfer budget, as well as securing a pay rise to about £4 million a year. But he is determined to land one final concession, having requested that he is allowed to oversee the running of the club's youth academy, which at present is managed by John Owens, with Piet Hamberg and Malcolm Elias as technical manager and head of recruitment respectively.