Benitez close to Liverpool exit

Rafael Benitez’s days as Liverpool manager appear to be numbered following a disappointing season for the Anfield club.

The Reds boss is reported to have been offered £3million to end his six-year reign following a disappointing 2009/10 season where the Merseyside club finished seventh in the Premier League and suffered early exits from the Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.

Meanwhile, reports claim that Benitez could be offered the Internazionale job should he move on this summer.

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Avram Grant has been confirmed as the new manager of West Ham United on a four-year contract.

Grant was widely expected to take the reins at Upton Park after standing down as Portsmouth manager on May 20.

The Israeli coach led a beleaguered south coast club to the FA Cup final last season and was the only candidate interviewed for the job by joint chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold.

England’s World Cup squad numbers may have given a strong indication as to which players will start the first game against the United States in Rustenburg next week.

Fabio Capello and his 23-man squad touched down in South Africa on Thursday morning before travelling to their training base at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus.

David James has been given the number one jersey despite West Ham’s Robert Green being widely tipped to start as England’s first-choice goalkeeper.

The widely predicated back four of Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole, captain Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are numbers two, three, five and six respectively.

Peter Crouch may be given the nod to start alongside number ten Wayne Rooney in attack after being handed the number nine shirt.

Meanwhile, Aaron Lennon could be the set to start the tournament as the first-choice right-sided midfielder after taking the number seven jersey.

World golf number one Tiger Woods has no plans to appoint a new coach ahead of his latest return to action at this week’s Memorial Tournament.

Woods will play at Muirfield Village this week as he returns from a neck injury which followed a self-imposed five-month exile from the game following allegations about his private life.

During his latest lay-off, Hank Haney resigned as his coach in a further blow to the embattled 14-times Major champion.

However, Woods, who is second favourite to win the Memorial in the online betting markets, has no immediate plans to hire a replacement.