Liverpool will have funds to bid for David Villa and David Silva

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has assured manager Rafa Benitez that money will be made available for transfers this summer.

And that could see the Spanish coach granted his dream of being able to bid for Euro 2008 superstars David Villa and David Silva.

Texan tycoon Hicks is hoping to persuade his business partner George Gillett that the time has come to invest in the Anfield club in search of massive future profits.

Benitez was resigned to raising his own cash by selling players and has been looking in the bargain basement for signings.

But if he can offload the likes of Xabi Alonso, Peter Crouch and Scott Carson, he would need about another £20million to at least join the bidding for Villa and Silva.

There is no guarantee, of course, that he would get the pair. It seems that Hicks wants to at least try to raise some cash to allow Benitez to enter the transfer market because he believes a successful Liverpool will be a more viable financial proposition.

Liverpool rejected Portsmouth's £9m bid for striker Crouch yesterday.

They are holding out for at least £12m.

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