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Football Italia - the Italian football website for English-speaking football fans There are reports Inter could appoint Rafa Benitez within 48 hours, sparking transfer bids for Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt. Benitez is now free to engage in negotiations after accepting an early termination by mutual consent with the new Anfield owners. The Italian media are confident the Spaniard will pen a new deal with Inter within the next 48 hours, as President Massimo Moratti has given the all-clear. “Benitez is a Coach with real personality, just what we needed after Jose Mourinho,” said Walter Samuel. “He certainly knows how to work within a high-pressure locker room environment.” With Rafa, the tactician is also likely to bring other stars from the Liverpool squad. According to the Corriere dello Sport, he has requested midfielder Mascherano and forward Kuyt to reinforce the squad. Liverpool could be tempted into accepting a double £37m offer for both players. “Benitez will really fit in with Italian football, as he is a very tactical person who studies the games carefully,” Mascherano told the Gazzetta dello Sport. “Will I follow him to Milan? I don’t know anything about my future yet. I can only say that I spent some wonderful years with him and his style of football suits me perfectly.” The cash would be raised by selling Douglas Maicon to Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid for around £25m.