Rafael Benitez challenged his youngsters to make an impact after Liverpool were linked with Europe's bright prospects.

The Liverpool manager wants to give several of the club's reserves and youth players the chance to impress in pre-season as he plans for the new campaign.

Benitez is also having to contend with continued speculation about the futures of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, with strong rumours from Spain that Barcelona have lodged a £35million bid for the Argentina captain in the past 24 hours.

Liverpool declined to comment on that piece of speculation today, but the Merseysiders are believed to be on the brink of confirming the addition of two more teenage stars to their ranks.

They have been linked with Danish 16-year-old Nikolaj Kohlert, from Esbjerg. The under-17 international had a trial at Anfield recently and is likely to sign a three-year contract.

Liverpool are also closing in on Paris St.Germain youngster Chris Mavinga on a similar three-year deal. The defender has already been capped by France at under-18 level.

Such acquisitions underline Benitez's policy to search Europe for the best youngsters.

And as Liverpool approach their first warm-up game away to Swiss club St.Gallen on July 15, it is clear that Benitez will be running the rule over the club's current crop of potential talent.

Spaniards Daniel Pacheco, Mikel San Jose and Daniel Ayala, Hungarian duo Krisztian Nemeth and Peter Gulacsi along with local defender Martin Kelly are training alongside Anfield's senior players after the Reds returned to work at Melwood this week.

Benitez is urging the youngsters to make the most of their chance and stake a claim for first-team involvement next term.

It is a similar policy to last season when the likes of Jack Hobbs, David Ngog, Emiliano Insua, Stephen Darby, Damien Plessis and Jay Spearing were given opportunities in the early warm-up matches.

Benitez said: "We have already had conversations with the likes of Pacheco, Ayala and San Jose and we have told them that it depends on them.

"They are now training with the first-team squad and this is their chance to show what they can do ahead of the new season."

While Benitez offered his youngsters the chance to put pressure on the seniors, Danish defender Daniel Agger revealed the battle for first-team places amongst the established squad.

Agger admitted he has a fight on his hands with Martin Skrtel to hold down a starting spot.

He said: "Martin is a top, top player. I was surprised when he came here (from Zenit St Petersburg) just how good he was.

"I have to be honest and say I don't know much about the Russian Premier League, so I did not really know what to expect when Martin came to the club.

"But he is a really good player and, just as importantly, he is a really good guy to have in the dressing room too. He's a guy who is good to talk to away from the pitch and who I admire a lot because of the way he plays on it.

"If you play all the time, if you get the chance to play week in, week out, then you must be a good player.

"But I don't care if Martin and I are rivals for a starting place, he is still a friend of mine and I will still tell the world how highly I rate him.

"He is an excellent defender and will keep getting better. We are competing with each other, maybe, to play in the team but it's not a rivalry. Both of us play and train to the best of our ability and then the manager makes the decision."