DANIEL AGGER has hinted he is unable to sign a new deal with Liverpool because of a problem with his manager, Rafael Benitez. The Danish centre-back is a free agent in less than 15 months and has been in on-off talks over staying on since the start of the season.

Benitez has continually trumpeted his desire to keep him, but Agger said: ‘The most important thing is the things he tells me when I look him in the eyes — his eyes, not what it says in the papers, it is what he says behind closed doors.’

Asked if Benitez was telling him good things in person, Agger replied: ‘I will tell you another time.’ The 24-year-old, who joined Liverpool in January 2006, is rumoured to be a target for AC Milan. Having missed almost the entire 2007-08 season through injuries, his appearances have been limited during this campaign, thanks in part to a series of minor knocks, but mainly because of Benitez’s preference for Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher as his pairing at centre-back. The veteran Sami Hyypia has also been ahead of Agger in the pecking order, although the Dane was in yesterday’s starting line-up against Blackburn, scoring Liverpool’s third goal. ‘I want to play,’ Agger said. Asked whether selection issues lay behind his reluctance to commit to a new deal, he said: ‘No. But I am at that stage where I need to play. ’

Agger confirmed his desire is to stay with Liverpool but admitted a number of top clubs would be his suitors if no agreement was reached at Anfield.