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Benitez confident of Bellamy deal
 Bellamy scored 17 goals last season to help Blackburn reach the UEFA Cup. LIVERPOOL, England -- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has voiced confidence that Craig Bellamy will joing the club after being granted permission to talk to the Blackburn striker. Wales international Bellamy, 26, is believed to have a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Blackburn for a cut-price fee of £6m if a Champions League club bids for him. Liverpool have agreed to meet the asking price and a final decision now depends on talks between Benitez and the player. Bellamy would command a considerably bigger fee in an open bidding war after scoring 17 goals last season -- and Benitez has admitted to being a big fan. "We have an agreement which allows us to talk to the player. He is on holiday but we will talk over the next few days," said Benitez. "I know the player's qualities very well. He is a very good footballer and now we need to see if he has the passion to play for our club. "I don't think this will be a problem because he is a Liverpool fan, so I think it will be easy for him. "I will be talking to him to express my ideas. He has the ability, the pace and the talent we've been looking for and now we need to talk about other things." Bellamy was a key player for Blackburn last season as Mark Hughes' side clinched a place in the UEFA Cup and they are desperate to keep him. "We have made it crystal clear to Craig and his advisors that we want him at Ewood Park," said Blackburn chairman John Williams. "We made him an improved offer before Liverpool declared their interest, an offer that was consistent with our ambition and determination to build on last season's success. The decision now rests with the player." Benitez is keen to improve the cutting edge of his side after offloading Spanish misfit Fernando Morientes to Valencia and losing the services of Djibril Cisse because of a broken leg. Bellamy proved during his time at Newcastle that he can be a highly effective performer against Europe's best defences. But he also comes with a record or recurring knee problems and a degree of baggage over what some see as a disruptive nature. At Newcastle he fell out publicly with captain Alan Shearer and manager Graeme Souness, who sent the striker on loan to Celtic before selling him to Blackburn. 
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