What we know for a fact is that Benayoun, Insua and Riera have left, and that Jovanovic, Joe Cole and Wilson are in. This is what has happened so far, however, we might be in for another couple of both pleasant and unpleasant surprises before this longer transfer window is over.
What is being said and what is being reported! We are told Torres is locked in talks with Club over his future (but the chances of El Nino leaving are very remote). Mascherano on the other hand will feature as a repeat of last year’s ‘Alonso Saga’ and will ultimately leave for Inter Milan (the Club will probably look to make a substantial stash from this move as the player is still under contract). We are told Degen has been told he can leave, Ngog and El Zhar are both on the brink of being sold/loaned. I also read that newly promoted Serie A Club Lecce have offered Euro 1.2 million for 50% ownership of Kriztian Nemeth (if the Italian media is to be believed and the Club crazy enough to take the bait). Rumour of the week goes to talk of the Club going for Jan-Klaas Huntelaar in exchange for Ryan Babel (or an outright purchase), as well as a possible interest in Carlton Cole to partner/be a stand-in for Torres (both the Dutch and England internationals are 26 years old and cost more or less the same). The Reds have been linked with Wayne Bridge (unlikely) and Paul Koncheski (more likely) for the left-back position. For any quality left back that wants to be assured of first team football with one of the top teams in the world, then Anfield should be their obvious choice. They really should be knocking on our door! And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. What we must not forget is that we have an interesting posse of reserves players that are waiting to burst into the first team! That is one resource we must never ever keep out of the equation.
Three more aspects to consider:
• Roy Hodgson is slowly but surely restructuring the backroom staff. New coaches, new medical staff ecc, ecc. Sammy Lee is staying on too so there is also continuity here.
• More ‘England’ at Liverpool. An English coach after so many years, another England international in our ranks and the possibility of more arriving is well and truly refreshing.
• Money, money, money. The media, both written and online, continues to mention financial issues and this is has not only become stale, but utterly ridiculous. I don’t think we need to spend mega-bucks, what we need to do is spend wisely.
I read this week that Man Utd have been again named the richest Club in the world, and that includes being over Stg 750 million in debt. We are just a third of that and we have the same marketing potential as they have, not only, the Reds remain the most titled Club in England.
Roy Hodgson seems a sensible man and definitely not a risk taker. He will go for what is right for the Club and is used to work without extravagant amounts of cash on hand. Contrary to what is being said, Roy does have a decent amount of money to spend and when Mascherano’s transfer is finalized, this will become more substantial. As I said, we need to be shrewd in our choices. Three of our latest signings (Rodriguez, Jovanovic and Cole) have come on a free and they are all outstanding players….let the trend continue.
Great post Tonio, it is unfortunate that we have to sign Free Agents.
Roy has been a manager for almost a month now and he hasn’t been able to spend a penny (Jova & Wilson were Rafa’s deals originally).
I can’t recall of any manager going to any club (with exception of Pompey) and not spending a penny in the first month during the Summer Transfer Season.
We need to get Hicks & Gillett out.
-Antoine
I too want Masch to leave coz that’ll give us about 25m atleast for other transfers,though im not very sure if all of the money would be allowed by H&G for recruitment..coz if you think about it,Roy was promised a sum of 15m of his own and that amount could be increased with whatever amount Roy is able to generate through player sales..that makes it 15 + 6(yossi) + 5(insua) + riera(3.5) – 2(wilson) = 28.5m,which is a pretty good amount to actually buy players like Remy/ruiz/huntelaar etc..
But all i can read till now is that Roy is short of funds n all,while he should be having alteast 28.5m in his hands! Thats why,somehow,i dont want masch to leave,coz as long as i know,H&G will only allow Roy the money to buy his replacement..say poulsen for 10-15m n the rest is gonna go to ease the debts..
If you noticed carefully,Last year H&G promised the same amount of funds and player sales amounts to Rafa,yet we could only spend about 15m out of the 30m generated from Alonso’s sale..
H&G,OUT NOW!
Very good article. The bottom line is… and will always remain till it actually materializes….’Out with the Yanks ‘
antoine, what’s the problem with free transfers if they are of the quality of joe cole? don’t understand your logic mate, maybe we should call chelsea and ask them how much they would like us to send them!
so far, so good from roy. i hope his next bit of business is to sell that ungrateful little bollocks mascherano and buy someone who actually WANTS to play for Lfc, namely arda turan! i also read that AC’s flamini is available for around £4m, an ideal replacement and lots of spare change for a quality LB
Steve I don’t have a problem with free transfers, Maxi & Cole have been quality signing.
The problem I have is that there isn’t much to pick from when you are just signing frees and cheap players.
The money situation at Liverpool is admittedly bad. However on some strange level it leaves me quite excited (on the playing side) to see how skillful hodgson is in the market. Since football became all about money I have found myself perplexed at the constant whining about cashflow and as a result defensive boring winning football. it is actually a breath of fresh air that if we do make it somewhere near the top in the future it will be down to coaching and astute signings rather than lavish outlays.
Those wanting Masch out should remember why we got first Sissoko, and then Masch, in the first place.
Without a bit of steel in midfield we tend to get bullied, especially away from home. There are lots of places in the premier league where you have to stand up for yourself first and play football after.
There are also plenty of teams who would be more than willing to kick us off the pitch at Anfield if we lacked a bit of grit.
When the opposition look across the tunnel before kick off there needs to be at least one bloke growling menacingly from the back of his throat and muttering “I’ll bite your legs off”.
Just wait till all EPL clubs are forced to only spend money they have earned. Were already following that plan.
For now I am happy with the glass being half full. Its a new era, and the Club is going back to being more British (this perhaps also caused by the new Uefa rules).
I understand Antoine’s predicament regarding spending power, but somehow I feel Roy will get us around this and field a more motivated team with great belief in it’s capabilities. Let’s face it, it’s not that we never had the squad…..we just need the right pieces to get the jigsaw together.
@brian, it’s mascherano who WANTS mascherano out! ask any fan to pick a holding mid-fielder and i bet 99% would say javier mascherano and i am no different, but here’s the thing, the player himself has forgotten who saved his career when he couldn’t get a game at west ham, he has showed absolutely no loyalty, only disrespect so good riddance! and it was rafa who put £50m on his head so surely he would consider £30m a bargain!
were going to have new owners soon and then we will win the league for years to come in roy we trust
ever banega has plenty of grit. masch, or banega and turan? hmmm…
We need younger players and this over hyped thing with players like Remy and Co. should end fast!! Either get him or leave him..
I understand Hodgson going slow…but going too slow would mean nobody decent to pick from and also too much to do too late!!
If Masch wants to leave get that done ASAP..in this month itself preferably!!