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Liverpool have turned down a £10million bid for defender Martin Skrtel from Napoli - now managed by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

Brendan Rodgers is battling to hold on to the Slovakian defender, rather than let him be reunited with Benitez and Kop keeper Pepe Reina, who they loaned to the Italians for the season earlier this summer.

It is the latest battle for the Anfield giants after a summer spent fighting to hold on to Luis Suarez and Daniel Agger and seeing some of their prime targets slip through their fingers.

Liverpool had been initially receptive to Napoli's interest in the 28-year-old, who signed a new contract until 2016 last summer, and were ready to let him go on loan.

The Reds moved to tie him down after his displays attracted interest from Manchester City and Zenit St Petersburg, the club Benitez bought him from in 2008.

But Skrtel is unsettled at Anfield, where he was the the club's player of the season for 2011-12.

Last season, he started just one more Premier League game after the club's defeat by Manchester United in January.

However, he may now be needed following the news Liverpool have lost centre-back Sebastian Coates to injury for six months.