By Aron
As the season winds down I can’t help but wonder who will be brought in over the summer to get Liverpool back up on top of the perch. There is no argument that the current squad isn’t top-4 worthy, although there is a good base of players to build upon.
But instead of writing a post about the players I think we should bring in, I had a look at the current players we have, what positions they fill, and I tried to guess which ones will go and for how much.
Why?
If we are going to fund the rebirth of LFC, we will need funds and we need space on the roster. Even if NESV is willing to splash some significant money on the team, we want to make sure the books are reasonably balanced so that our new, improved teams can indeed play in the Champions League (per the new fair play rules).
My findings:
Because this is the Internet and online attention spans are what they are, I am presenting my conclusions first followed by the details. I believe Liverpool could earn as much as £42.5M on player sales, but then need to fill 6 roster spots (2 wingers, 2 midfielders, a striker and a left back).
How did I get to those numbers? Here is my list of players that I think will go and for how much. I put a star beside their name if they are currently occupying a first team roster spot:
Gone for sure:
Christian Poulsen*
Anticipated transfer fee: £3M
He was the epitome of the Hodgson era. Not fast enough, not good enough, not accurate enough. He will move to another league and resume his career.
Paul Konchesky
Anticipated transfer fee: £2M
While he was certainly not loved, he was all but gone once his mother made her infamous Facebook post.
Milan Jovanovic*
Anticipated transfer fee: £4.5M
Not a bad player, just not of Liverpool quality. We have already seen interest in him from Germany. I think LFC will be a bump in the road on an otherwise decent career for him.
Joe Cole*
Anticipated transfer fee: £4M
His career has been a non-starter at Anfield. The one concern is his salary. I think he will need to want to move (and accept a lower salary) in order to be sold.
Nabil El Zhar
Anticipated transfer fee: £1.5M
When a club loans out a 24 year old player in a need position, well it doesn’t look good for him sticking around.
Philip Degen
Anticipated transfer fee: £2.5M
Without making any comment of his skill, when he is behind Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly (not to mention being 28 and sent out on loan) it means he no longer has a future with the club.
Total: £17.5 million
Might be sold:
Here is where we get into slightly more murky waters. Will these players want to leave? Will the club want to give them another shot? Time will tell, but for now here is my current “maybe” list.
Alberto Aquilani
Anticipated transfer fee: £12M
We could have used a player of his quality this season; especially with Gerrard having groin issues, but Aquilani seems quite happy being back in Italy. The big question mark is that Juventus (who have the right to buy him for 12M) appear to not be able to afford the transfer fee. So, do we keep him? Does he want to come back? I want him back but unfortunately I am rarely consulted on such issues.
Emiliano Insua
Anticipated transfer fee: £5M
By loaning him out when we needed left backs it said that he didn’t rate with the club. But that was when Hodgson was in charge. He brought in Konchesky instead and we all know how that went. Will Kenny give him a chance? Does he want to come back? Do we want him back?
Maxi Rodriguez*
Anticipated transfer fee: £2
Maxi has been a decent squad player, but he has missed some really good opportunities this year. At 30 years old it might be time to let a younger player take his roster spot.
David N’Gog*
Anticipated transfer fee: £6M
There is a school of thought that says that young David jumped to Liverpool too early. He should have stayed at a smaller club in France to develop himself and then make the leap to the Premier League. I don\’t know, but I am not convinced he is good enough. He might get another year to develop though.
Total: £25M
In closing:
Building a top-flight squad is more than a full time job, and I don’t presume to do so. I just thought it would be interesting to have a think about who should and could go and how that would contribute to the rebuilding of the squad.
What do you all think? Did I miss anyone? Anyone on the list that I am crazy to have put there?