Everyone is focusing on who we should sign but it's clear Rafa must sell before he spends so here's the lowdown on who's going where and for how much...
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KEEPERS
GETTING THEIR COATS
Itandje - £1.5m to Galatasaray
Unfairly made a scapegoat for the embarrassing FA Cup demise against Barnsley but clearly not putting pressure on Reina's no 1 status.
Carson - £4m to Stoke City
At this stage of his career, needs regular action to progress so Rafa had to recoup some cash for him, although far short of the £10m fee agreed with Villa a year ago!
Recouping cash for Itandje and a £4m profit on Carson would've allowed Rafa to buy experienced back-up for Reina. Benitez has gone overseas and signed Diego Cavalieri from Palmeiras (right), a Brazilian with a newly-acquired Italian passport. I would have preferred a
cheaper, English-speaking keeper with Premiership experience and invested cash on improving the first 11. Fingers crossed Pepe stays fit and new boy Diego settles in on Merseyside learns the lingo fast.
DEFENDERS
AT JOHN LENNON
Riise - sold for £3m to Roma
A 700k loss on the Norweigan tho but he was in like Crouch in the last year of his deal and far from the form that he had in his early Liverpool career, where he was at his best in midfield.
GET YER COAT!
Finnan - £1m to Villa or Sunderland?
Fulham inquired but can't afford his wages, contracted til 2010. Fell out of favour last season and further threatened by Degen's arrival. At 32, Rafa is looking to the younger Arbeloa and Degen. Finnan is 100% reliable defensively but full-backs with more attacking instincts are required to push on and add creativity that's been lacking from wide areas.
Rafa clearly has faith in his scouts with the signings of Degen and Dossena. Degen is a low-risk deal: no fee involved for a player with potential who can be eased into action gradually to compete with Arbeloa at right-back. However, the Dossena deal is more expensive and risky. Dossena (right) is taller and stronger than Fabio Aurélio but it's still doubtful whether he can settle immediately into the frenetic pace of the Premiership. Viable alternatives include Chelsea's unsettled Wayne Bridge, 28, or Reading's Nicky Shorey (26 like Dossena and on verge of international squad). They would've been cheaper and safer alternatives despite their relative lack of height. The jury is out on the Italian but of course, he'll have my full support.
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MIDFIELDERS
ADIOS AMIGO!
Kewell - released
Hope Galatasaray have a good physio.
Guthrie - £2.5m to Newcastle United.
A good loan spell at struggling Bolton last term attracted admirers and Toon Army swooped.
GET YER COAT?
Xabi Alonso - £12.5m to Juventus?
An excellent passer and loyal servant. His influence in European games is not matched in domestic games, as his game isn't suited to demands of Premiership nor the 4-2-3-1 system. Neither a holding nor attacking midfielder, too rarely contributes goals and assists. His reluctance to leave added to Liverpool's stubbornness to reduce their asking price has stalled progress.
Leto - £2m (or part-exchange) to La Liga club?
His performance against Marseille was enough to banish him from the 1st team. Already been offered to Espanyol in part-exchange deal for Albert Riera. Another budget South American attempt to replace Kewell has seemingly failed, like Mark González in 2006/07.
Pennant - £4m to Blackburn?
He wants to stay to fight for his place, hopefully not like fellow badboy buy Craig Bellamy!
Decent performer, which he proved against lowly opponents in run-in but never looked a consistent match-winner with only 3 goals in 2 years. Not good enough - was another Rafa Plan B purchase. He wanted Alves and got Pennant. Taxi for Jermaine!
Following the demise of several disappointing wingers (Gonzalez, Leto, Kewell, Pennant, Nunez), Rafa's recent comments seem to suggest he won't sign any wingers as he seeks to improve Liverpool's creativity...
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STRIKERS
ADIOS AMIGO!
Crouch - £11m to Pompey.
Would've liked Rafa to at least renew his contract last summer and get more substantial fee. Proven in Prem and under-used by Benitez in games where we needed more aggressive approach. Draws to Pompey, M'boro, Spurs, Brum, Villa and Wigan?
Possible replacements for Crouch include Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at £15m or boyhood Red Robbie Keane (pictured, on hearing news of LFC's interest!) valued by Spurs at £20m. The Keane deal looks unlikely in the short-term given our lack of funds and the imminent departure of Berbatov.
It could be argued that Kuyt, Babel and Voronin plus Nemeth and Pacheco are ample back-up for Torres. Given our limited budget, transfer funds could then be focused on wide attacking midfielders. Although then we must wrap Torres in cotton wool!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
KEEPERS
GETTING THEIR COATS
Itandje - £1.5m to Galatasaray
Unfairly made a scapegoat for the embarrassing FA Cup demise against Barnsley but clearly not putting pressure on Reina's no 1 status.
Carson - £4m to Stoke City
At this stage of his career, needs regular action to progress so Rafa had to recoup some cash for him, although far short of the £10m fee agreed with Villa a year ago!
Recouping cash for Itandje and a £4m profit on Carson would've allowed Rafa to buy experienced back-up for Reina. Benitez has gone overseas and signed Diego Cavalieri from Palmeiras (right), a Brazilian with a newly-acquired Italian passport. I would have preferred a
cheaper, English-speaking keeper with Premiership experience and invested cash on improving the first 11. Fingers crossed Pepe stays fit and new boy Diego settles in on Merseyside learns the lingo fast.DEFENDERS
AT JOHN LENNON
Riise - sold for £3m to Roma
A 700k loss on the Norweigan tho but he was in like Crouch in the last year of his deal and far from the form that he had in his early Liverpool career, where he was at his best in midfield.
GET YER COAT!
Finnan - £1m to Villa or Sunderland?
Fulham inquired but can't afford his wages, contracted til 2010. Fell out of favour last season and further threatened by Degen's arrival. At 32, Rafa is looking to the younger Arbeloa and Degen. Finnan is 100% reliable defensively but full-backs with more attacking instincts are required to push on and add creativity that's been lacking from wide areas.
Rafa clearly has faith in his scouts with the signings of Degen and Dossena. Degen is a low-risk deal: no fee involved for a player with potential who can be eased into action gradually to compete with Arbeloa at right-back. However, the Dossena deal is more expensive and risky. Dossena (right) is taller and stronger than Fabio Aurélio but it's still doubtful whether he can settle immediately into the frenetic pace of the Premiership. Viable alternatives include Chelsea's unsettled Wayne Bridge, 28, or Reading's Nicky Shorey (26 like Dossena and on verge of international squad). They would've been cheaper and safer alternatives despite their relative lack of height. The jury is out on the Italian but of course, he'll have my full support.______________________________________________________________
MIDFIELDERS
ADIOS AMIGO!
Kewell - released
Hope Galatasaray have a good physio.
Guthrie - £2.5m to Newcastle United.
A good loan spell at struggling Bolton last term attracted admirers and Toon Army swooped.
GET YER COAT?
Xabi Alonso - £12.5m to Juventus?
An excellent passer and loyal servant. His influence in European games is not matched in domestic games, as his game isn't suited to demands of Premiership nor the 4-2-3-1 system. Neither a holding nor attacking midfielder, too rarely contributes goals and assists. His reluctance to leave added to Liverpool's stubbornness to reduce their asking price has stalled progress.
Leto - £2m (or part-exchange) to La Liga club?
His performance against Marseille was enough to banish him from the 1st team. Already been offered to Espanyol in part-exchange deal for Albert Riera. Another budget South American attempt to replace Kewell has seemingly failed, like Mark González in 2006/07.
Pennant - £4m to Blackburn?
He wants to stay to fight for his place, hopefully not like fellow badboy buy Craig Bellamy!
Decent performer, which he proved against lowly opponents in run-in but never looked a consistent match-winner with only 3 goals in 2 years. Not good enough - was another Rafa Plan B purchase. He wanted Alves and got Pennant. Taxi for Jermaine!
Following the demise of several disappointing wingers (Gonzalez, Leto, Kewell, Pennant, Nunez), Rafa's recent comments seem to suggest he won't sign any wingers as he seeks to improve Liverpool's creativity...
“We knew we were creating a lot of chances last season but everybody was talking about the wide areas. If you go to the market and want to sign a top-class right-winger, they'll be in the top sides and the price will be crazy. To sign two full-backs with an offensive mentality can give us more quality out wide.” [Liverpool Daily Post, 11/07/08]
____________________________________________________________________
STRIKERS
ADIOS AMIGO!
Crouch - £11m to Pompey.
Would've liked Rafa to at least renew his contract last summer and get more substantial fee. Proven in Prem and under-used by Benitez in games where we needed more aggressive approach. Draws to Pompey, M'boro, Spurs, Brum, Villa and Wigan?
Possible replacements for Crouch include Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at £15m or boyhood Red Robbie Keane (pictured, on hearing news of LFC's interest!) valued by Spurs at £20m. The Keane deal looks unlikely in the short-term given our lack of funds and the imminent departure of Berbatov.
It could be argued that Kuyt, Babel and Voronin plus Nemeth and Pacheco are ample back-up for Torres. Given our limited budget, transfer funds could then be focused on wide attacking midfielders. Although then we must wrap Torres in cotton wool!
BALANCE SHEETSo assuming Alonso is eventually replaced by Barry, Rafa's business leaves him about £15m to spend plus any money in the budget for additional buys. The figure of £20m extra from the board for Rafa has been widely quoted this summer but this much seems unlikely given the endless bartering over the Barry and Alonso deals.
Following the departure of Kewell, the squad lacks a left-sided attacking option. Crouch's sale also has left many fans questioning Babel and Kuyt's ability to provide sufficient cover for Torres. With limited funds, a final purchase for around £15m seems the most likely deal.
Where will Rafa spend this hard-earned money?!
I'd like to hear your views...
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