Rafa wants Barry and Johnson

Gareth Barry is Liverpool's prime target in the summer transfer window, along with Manchester City youngster MichaelJohnson.

It is not sure if Rafael Benitez would be the manager of Liverpool next season, reports say that the team's co-owner Tom Hicks had a second meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann over the possibility of replacing the Spaniard. However, Rafa has made up a list of players he wants to add to the squad next season and Gareth Barry tops the list.

Aston Villa's skipper has been in lethal form this season and has found himself a permanent position in the England starting line-up, thanks to Martin O'Neill in transforming him to a holding midfielder.

Liverpool would need to make a bid of around £ 12M to lure the technically gifted Barry away from Villa Park. If the deal happens, it would give depth to the Liverpool squad and Xabi Alonso might fancy a move to Spain, with Real Madrid interested in signing him.

Benitez would also want to sell English striker Peter Crouch or agree on a swap deal for Manchester City's Michael Johnson. The youngster has been showing enough potential to be in the first-team and Liverpool is attempting to bring him to Anfield.

Johnson has three years left on his contract and the club would be reluctant to let him go. However, the prospect of Crouch's availability woud make the deal more interesting.