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France defender Abidal, 28, moved to the Nou Camp last summer from Lyon for £10million, but widespread changes are expected at Barca following a disappointing campaign.[> [> Benitez is

ready to offload John Arne Riise, who has one year left on his contract, and is looking for competition for Fabio Aurelio, who has a poor injury record. Argentine teenager Emiliano Insua

made his Anfield debut against Manchester City on Sunday, but Liverpool will need an established star ahead of next season.[> [> But Abidal’s price-tag could be a stumbling block to

any deal.[> [> Benitez is also pursuing free transfer signing Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund rather than trying to bankroll a £20m bid for Sevilla’s Daniel Alves.[> [>

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has approached some of the hedge funds that backed Malcolm Glazer’s takeover of Manchester United as he seeks to finance his buy-out at Anfield.[> [>

Hicks’ advisers are understood to have approached the firms in an attempt to secure George Gillett’s 50 per cent stake in Liverpool and help pay for a 70,000-seat stadium.[> [> Hicks’

difficulty in raising new finance has raised fresh doubts over Liverpool’s plans to move to a new ground in Stanley Park.[> [>