LIVERPOOL:Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admitted on Saturday that he has held talks with Hull boss Phil Brown over a bid for defender Michael Turner.

Benitez desperately needs a centre-back after Jamie Carragher limped off with an ankle injury early in the first half of Red’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

The Spanish coach is short of defenders as Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are also nursing injuries, while Sami Hyypia and Alvaro Arbeloa joined Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid respectively during the close-season.

Benitez is believed to have offered £6 million for Turner, with Hull demanding closer to £12 million.