Liverpool set Morientes deadline for Real Madrid

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has set a deadline on the protracted move for Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes.

"I said last week that it was a holiday in Spain and now we don't have any news and the only thing we can do at this moment is wait," said Benitez.

"We need to wait, but we cannot wait forever, we will wait maybe two more days before looking for another player."

"I am always optimistic and I think in a few days or a few hours we will know more things and I'm sure we will have possibilities."

"I have a lot of confidence because he says he either wants to play for Liverpool or to stay at Madrid."

"We do not have anything new on Morientes, other than that we know he wants to come here."

"We have done the right things but we must wait for Real Madrid to decide."

"At this moment we are only talking about Morientes with Madrid, not anyone else there."

"And I can only make it clear, we do not want to sell Steven Gerrard."