Liverpool's American owners have been speaking with Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner over their new contract talks with Rafa Benitez.

The Mail on Sunday says Tom Hicks and George Gillett met Benitez two weeks ago and agreed he would report to the board, rather than chief executive Rick Parry, on transfers.

They also held informal talks with Aston Villa owner and fellow American Lerner, finding out that Benitez is only after the powers that Martin O'Neill has at Villa Park.