The Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez is included on a shortlist of potential new managers drawn up by Real Madrid to replace Vanderlei Luxemburgo at the Bernabéu at the end of the season, casting serious doubt over his long-term future at Anfield.

　　Benítez is understood to be Real's second choice behind the re-appointment of the Italian Fabio Capello, who is currently at Juventus but won La Liga in his only season with Real in 1997. However, should the Real president Florentino Pérez fail to lure his primary target back to Spain his attention would switch to the former Valencia manager.

　　It is understood that the 44-year-old Benítez has assured the Liverpool board his immediate future remains on Merseyside. Yet there is a reluctant acceptance among the club's hierarchy that, should a tempting offer come in, they would struggle to retain the services of the man they had hoped would restore Liverpool to the pinnacle of both domestic and continental competition.

　　The Spaniard was guarded about his position yesterday, his mind focused on this evening's Premiership game against Blackburn Rovers. When asked if he saw his long-term future at Liverpool, he replied: "I have a five-year contract, so why not? I will work as hard as possible to win for my club. I'm very proud to be here at Liverpool."

　　Yet the two-time La Liga winner with Valencia has made no secret of his desire to return to the Bernabéu at some stage. Benítez spent seven years in the youth ranks at Real before joining Parla in 1981. He returned to Madrid five years later to work with the club's youngsters and led the club's B team to seventh in Spain's second division in 1994, before a spell as Vicente del Bosque's assistant.

　　His subsequent achievements at Valencia impressed Pérez, though Benítez would have to be convinced that Real would change their galáctico and hire-and-fire culture.

　　Real have had three coaches in the past six months, with Luxemburgo's future cast into doubt by their Champions League elimination and the 11-point deficit to Barcelona at the top of La Liga.