LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez was last night trying to plot his next move after finding Sunderland unwilling to let Kenwyne Jones head to Anfield on loan.

Benitez spent Monday trying to convince Liverpool’s American owners to offer £12m for the Trinidad and Tobago international, after learning that Sunderland were not prepared to lose his services on a temporary basis.

Claims that there have been talks between Liverpool and Black Cats officials for two weeks are being denied by Sunderland, who are insistent that there has been no club-toclub contact regarding Jones.

It is clearly an unwanted situation, with Jones sure to have been unsettled by talk surrounding his future.

But the reality is that unless Benitez can suddenly convince the Liverpool board to stump up £15m, Jones will remain in the North-East.

The under-fire Spanish boss, who has recently raised £6m through the sales of Andrea Dossena and Andriy Voronin, is desperate to add a new striker to his squad following the injury which threatens to keep Fernando Torres out for six weeks.

Jones is not Benitez’ only target, with Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh a cheaper alternative.

The Liverpool manager tried to lure Jones to the North-West in a loan deal for the remainder of the season, with a view to a permanent arrangement in the summer.

But that has been laughed off by Bruce, who said: “It’s massively disrespectful to even suggest we would consider sending Kenwyne out on loan. You don’t loan out a player of his calibre. I don’t know where these ridiculous stories come from but there’s no way I’ll be loaning Kenwyne Jones to anyone.”

It is the second time inside eight days Bruce has been forced to explain Jones’ situation.

He dismissed suggestions the £6m signing from Southampton was on the verge of being sold to either Birmingham or Stoke.

But the emergence of Liverpool as a genuine contender for his signature changes things, with Jones certain to be interested in at least talking over a move to Anfield.

However, with Benitez unable to come up with the funds to make a satisfactory offer, Liverpool may be forced to admit defeat for the time being.

Sunderland manager Bruce remains on the look-out for a new striker, but does not seem any closer to making any new signings before the trip to Portsmouth on Saturday, in the FA Cup fourth round.

Despite the striker search, the latest name to be linked with Sunderland yesterday was French full-back Rod Fanni.

Fanni, who has previously caught the eye of Newcastle, was due to be watched by Sunderland and Manchester City scouts playing for Rennes during last night’s Ligue 1 clash with St Etienne.

The 28-year-old full-back has played four times for his country since earning his first cap in October 2008, and he is under contract at Rennes until 2012.

But with the likes of Hamburg’s Guy Demel, Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa and Tottenham’s Alan Hutton all in Bruce’s sights, it is clear that Fanni is just another defender under consideration.

Bruce is keen to revive a season that is threatening to descend into a relegation fight by adding some new faces to a small squad.

He is, though, expecting to have his options boosted this weekend, with midfielder Lee Cattermole declaring himself fit to play at Fratton Park.

Cattermole has struggled to regain full fitness since damaging ankle ligaments against Liverpool in October, but he expects to be involved this weekend.

He will not be the only key player to return either. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who has been out of action since breaking an arm at Tottenham in November, has come through full training unscathed for the past ten days.

Irish winger Andy Reid is also fit again, and Michael Turner has completed a fourmatch suspension to ease Sunderland’s list of absentees.