Rafael Benitez has paved the way for the imminent departures of Jerzy Dudek and Milan Baros from Liverpool by leaving the European Cup winning pair out of this evening's Champions League qualifier against Total Network Solutions.
Their omission will ensure they are not cup-tied for continental competition this season and therefore maintain their market value, leaving them available for potential suitors competing in Europe. There has been interest in both players over the close season, with Sporting Lisbon considering a move for Dudek, though neither has been actively seeking to leave.
That may now change. Baros - who was the subject of a bid from his former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, now at Lyon, earlier this summer - and Dudek remained in Switzerland yesterday while Benitez brought an 18-man party back from the club's pre-season training camp for tonight's second leg against TNS. The travelling party is otherwise at relatively full strength, despite the fact that the holders lead the Welsh champions 3-0 after last week's first leg.
Baros's agent Pavel Paska, aware that his client still has two years to run on his current deal, was due to hold talks with Benitez over the weekend to clarify the forward's future, though that meeting was postponed. Instead, the discussions are expected to take place later this week and are likely to prompt Paska to find a new club for the player.
Liverpool remain in dialogue with representatives of Luis Figo with a view to signing the Portuguese international on a free transfer from Real Madrid.