Peter Crouch has been reassured about his Liverpool future by manager Rafael Benitez.

The Spaniard has stressed the need for the beaten Champions League finalists to spend big and spend quick this summer.

But England striker Crouch, linked with a possible move to Newcastle, is adamant that he has not been earmarked for the exit door at Anfield to make room for new signings.

"He's (Benitez) told me I'm part of his plans and that's good enough for me," Crouch said. "At a club like Liverpool there's going to be competition for places, especially as the manager likes to chop and change."

Last season Crouch battled for a starting place up front with Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Robbie Fowler.

Fowler has not been offered a new deal and Bellamy has been strongly linked with a move away from Anfield but Benitez is bound to bring in replacements so it seems likely that Crouch will face a renewed threat to his place next season.

Despite his determination to bring in established professionals, Benitez has not abandoned his search for the best young players in the world.

The Spaniard today agreed a deal to bring two promising Hungarian youngsters to Anfield.

Krisztian Nemeth, 18, and 17-year-old Andras Simon, who both starred for their country in last year's Uefa Under-17 championships, will move to Merseyside from MTK Hungaria.

Both players are strikers, although Nemeth can also drop into midifeld, and the pair will be added to the Reds' reserve squad for next season.