Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is the latest name to be linked with the Liverpool job, according to a prominent football insider.

GettyImagesMartin O'Neill believes there should be a winter break in the Premier League.

However, there is a growing belief that Liverpool simply haven't got the finances to dispense with current boss Rafael Benitez.

"There is a great deal of talk within the game that Martin O'Neill is highly regarded by Liverpool's American owners," an insider with contacts to the boardrooms of all the Premier League clubs told Soccernet.

"I've heard Alex McLeish's name mentioned, but Martin O'Neill would be the much stronger candidate, and if you asked my opinion he would take the job if it were offered to him.

"But Liverpool's big problem is the cost of sacking Benitez, if indeed they decided to do this. The figure being mentioned is £15 million in compensation to be paid to Benitez.

"It is clear that the Americans [Liverpool's owners] now feel they made a big mistake in handing Benitez such a long-term and lucrative contract. Liverpool, though, are seeking a new buyer, and are very, very much in the market.

"There has been talk of seeking a £100 million investment, but more realistically the club will have to consider an outright sale, and that will become more pressing if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season."

The other solution for Liverpool is that Benitez accepts the offer to coach Juventus. The Anfield boss has been linked with Juve for some time now, although there have been denials that a provisional deal has already been struck for Benitez to coach the Serie A side next season.

While McLeish would be a cheap option for Liverpool, O'Neill would be the big name capture that would appease those Liverpool supporters who continue to have faith in Benitez.