RAFA TO RAISE CASH FOR ETO`O BID

Rafael Benitez will sell Momo Sissoko and Craig Bellamy and then ask Liverpool's owners for the rest of the cash needed to sign Samuel Eto'o.

New Anfield owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have promised to back Benitez in the transfer market this summer - but the Spaniard knows he will have to help fund a £35million for Barcelona hitman Eto'o.

Benitez is ready to offload fiery striker Bellamy, who is being chased by West Ham and Aston Villa, for around £6million - and Sissoko is also surplus to requirements following the successful impact of Javier Mascherano at Anfield.

The Mali midfielder has fallen behind Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard in the pecking order - and would command a fee of £7million, with both Barca and Juventus said to be monitoring him.

Benitez is desperate to break Chelsea and Manchester United's stranglehold on the Premiership title race - and believes Eto'o is the world-class striker Liverpool need to bid for the English crown.

i personally thinks we really desperately need a striker like eto's calibre for us to challenge for the title. so if we have to sell really just to fund eto's transfer then be it.