Liverpool are confident Rafa Benitez will sign his new contract this week.

Benitez and Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks completed negotiations last night on the manager's new deal which will tie him to the club until 2013.

Benitez had earlier rejected FOUR drafts of the deal as he demanded more control over the club's transfer policy. And although he will still be accountable to the board for future signings, he has won many of the concessions he was asking for.

An Anfield source told the News of the World: "The final issues have been ironed out. It's hoped Rafa will sign within a few days."