Liverpool face a battle to keep hold onto midfielder Yossi Benayoun.

The Daily Mail says according to sources close to Benayoun, senior figures at Barcelona have contacted their Anfield counterparts and enquired about his availability and an asking price.

Benayoun crowned an impressive season for Liverpool with a late Champions League winner against Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, and his form has been noted by Pep Guardiola, who believes his touch and vision would make him a useful addition to his Nou Camp squad.

But Benayoun's Liverpool future already appeared to be in the balance after he recently admitted receiving approaches from clubs at home and abroad.

Manchester City and his former club West Ham have been monitoring his impact on Liverpool's hunt for honours, while Atletico Madrid and Villarreal have also declared an interest.

It is understood that, at 29, he feels there is one more big pay day to come and that an offer of contract talks at Anfield would be enough to banish any thoughts of moving on.