BENITEZ WARNING HYYPIA BIDDERS

Rafa Benitez says Newcastle, Wigan and Portsmouth will be wasting their time if they try to tempt Sami Hyypia from Anfield this summer. Benitez today confirmed he wants the Finnish defender to stay at the club for the last year of his contract as the perfect cover for Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger.

Hyypia revealed while on international duty he’d spoken to Benitez about his plans, and the Liverpool manager says he’s told the 33-year-old he remains a key member of his squad. However, suggestions Liverpool are preparing to offer Hyypia a new deal are premature at this stage.

“It’s true I spoke to Sami and I told him I wanted him to stay. I expect Sami to be with us for the start of pre-season. He is a good professional and it’s not easy to find defenders with his experience. I told Sami I need him here and the positive thing is he wants to stay with us,” said Benitez.

Hyypia isn’t short of offers if he wants a new challenge. Newcastle have tried to tempt him to St James’ Park in each of the last two seasons, and new boss Sam Allardyce was also being linked with a fresh move. But the centre-half, widely considered Gerard Houllier’s greatest signing when he joined for a bargain £2.5m from Willem II in 1999, has accepted his new role at Anfield deputising for Agger and Carragher.

There’s no doubt the player would also love the security of an additional 12 months on his current terms, but that’s not currently on the agenda. In an illustrious career at Anfield, the giant Finn has won every honour except one – the Premiership. He’ll be hoping to complete his collection in what could prove to be his last season at the club in 2007/08.

Meanwhile, any thoughts Liverpool may have had of joining the race for West Ham’s Carlos Tevez appear doomed. Tevez’s representatives have slapped a whopping £30m price tag on the striker. Even if Benitez had that kind of kitty, and there’s no suggestion at this stage he has, he’d be prioritising other areas of the team rather than spending so much on Tevez.

In Spain, Daniel Alves’ agent has announced the time may be right for the player to leave Seville, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Liverpool holding a long-standing interest. Liverpool failed with a £12m bid a year ago and Alves’ value has spiralled since then but Benitez would still love him at Anfield. Meanwhile, Spurs are believed to be preparing a £3m bid for Harry Kewell.