Rafa Benitez is set to clash with Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett again this summer over the lack of transfer funds.

The American duo is under time constraints to restructure their finances after the year's financial results were published last week.

Hicks and Gillett have up till July 24 to refinance their £350million deal which resulted in a disastrous £42.6m loss last year.

Football finance guru Keith Harris warned the current crunch was definitely going to restrict Benitez's signings this offseason.

However, Benitez has reiterated that he needs more funds to add quality to the squad if they are to mount a realistic challenge for the title in the next campaign.

The Spaniard has rubbished the idea of offloading any of the Reds' prized assets and wants to retain the spine of his team.

Benitez said: "We still need to improve in some specific areas. We will be working very hard to do that over the summer."

"You can try to move fast but if the other teams go as fast as you, you have to go faster. The only way is to try to sign the right players every time."

Harris - who was involved in trying to sell Liverpool last year - warned: "Whatever happens, Benitez's transfer manoeuvres will be restricted."