Rafael Benitez has held positive talks with the Liverpool board, according to a club spokesperson.

Benitez met with chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow on Thursday to discuss plans for the future on the back of a disappointing season.

His six-year reign at Anfield has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the failure to secure top four finish in the Premier League and Champions League football for next season.

Italian giants Juventus are reported to waiting in the wings should Benitez or the club decide that the time is right for a change, but a spokesperson claims that positive talks between the manager and the board have now taken place.

Benitez is believed to have asked the board for clarification over summer transfer budgets following the recent decision of co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to put the club up for sale.

"We are pleased that the first of what is intended to be a series of meetings took place between the chairman, managing director and the manager. The meeting was constructive," said a club spokesperson.

"The chairman shared his views about plans for the future of the club.

"There was an exchange of views on issues of concern to both the board and the manager which were either addressed or to be picked up in forthcoming meetings."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email