LIVERPOOL, England -- Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett targeted Jurgen Klinsmann about possibly becoming the Premier League club's next manager, according to a British newspaper.
Jurgen Klinsmann will become the next manager of Bayern Munich at the end of this season.
American Hicks told the Liverpool Echo that they were in talks with the former Germany boss following speculation that Rafael Benitez was set to leave Anfield.
But Klinsmann, who played in England for Tottenham Hotspur, has subsequently agreed to return to his home country from the United States to take charge of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in June.
Hicks told the Liverpool Echo: "We attempted to negotiate an option as an insurance policy to have Klinsmann become manager if Rafael left for Real Madrid or other clubs that were rumored in the press.
"Or in case our communication spiraled out of control for some reason."
Benitez's future has been in doubt since the end of 2007 after the Spaniard's public row with his bosses over the club's plans for the January transfer window.
He appeared to have bought himself more time after Liverpool edged into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League -- a tournament they won in Benitez's first season in charge -- despite poor early results in Group A.
However, Liverpool's faltering form in the Premier League has left the Merseyside club 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester United in fourth place.
Liverpool face cash-strapped third division side Luton in an FA Cup replay at Anfield on Tuesday, and failure to progress into the fourth round will leave the manager's future again in doubt.
Benitez said: "We will approach the game with the idea of using our best players, we want to reach the next round.
"I know it will be a different Luton side. They have lost players now so we know it will be more difficult for them, but they will still try their hardest to win."
Defender Jamie Carragher has been handed the honor of captaining Liverpool in his 500th appearance for the club.
Fellow center-back Daniel Agger will be ruled out for several more weeks after suffering a recurrence of the foot injury which has sidelined the Dane since September.
The setback means new $13 million signing Martin Skrtel is likely to be drafted into the team sooner than expected.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough's England winger Stewart Downing has admitted that speculation over a reported $16 million bid from Tottenham has affected his form.
The 23-year-old said: "I am aware and flattered by the interest from Tottenham. But until Middlesbrough and Tottenham agree terms I remain a Middlesbrough player and am fully committed to helping Gareth Southgate and the team any way I can.
"I hope this situation is resolved sooner rather than later as all the speculation is affecting me and I would like to draw a line under the situation and focus fully on my football career."
Birmingham City have paid up the contract of Olivier Tebily so that the Ivory Coast defender can find a new club.
The 32-year-old would have been out of contract at the end of this season and will now be able to end an almost six-year stay at the English club, having made his last first-team appearance in October 2006.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has reportedly failed with improved bids for Everton forward James McFadden and Hibernian full-back David Murphy. E-mail to a friend 
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