Benayoun stalls on contract in hope of Anfield call

Yossi Benayoun is understood to be hoping for a bid from Liverpool despite agreeing an improved five-year contract at West Ham United.

The Israeli international has told friends that he expects the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, to make a move for him by the end of this week. However as the Anfield club will certainly not offer more than £5m for the midfielder, it is unlikely that West Ham will sell.

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Benayoun was linked to Liverpool and Arsenal last summer but decided to stay at West Ham and was offered a new contract, which he did not sign. At the end of this season he again sought talks with the club's directors, as revealed by The Independent, and threatened to submit a transfer request but, instead, was offered a deal that more than doubled his pay to £50,000 a week.

So far the new contract has not been signed with sources at West Ham believing that Benayoun is hoping to give himself more leverage in any further negotiations.

Benayoun's agent, Ronen Katzav, insisted yesterday that the player intended to put pen to paper. "He has not rejected the contract," Katzav said. "He still plans to sign the contract, but there has been such much happening with his new baby and him being on international duty."

Benayoun played for Israel in last night's European Championship qualifier away to Andorra, which was won 2-0. Katsev added: "Obviously, in football you never know and, whilst it is unsigned, there is always a chance of something else. But the deal is agreed and we intend to sign it."