Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ciggy** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:34 am

Worryingly for Benitez, the figures underline how revenue from the Champions League and Barclays Premier League is being swallowed up to service the parent company's loans.

Losing out: Benitez had hoped to stage multi-million pound bids to land Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson and Valencia winger David Silva this summer

The manager was hoping for substantial backing in the transfer market but has already seen Barry sign for Manchester City and is beginning to lose hope over his other two main targets, Portsmouth's Johnson and David Silva of Valencia.

His overall budget is believed to be as little as £15m, plus anything generated from sales, and there are questions over whether he can afford Johnson or Silva, let alone both.

Chelsea's interest in Portsmouth right back Johnson can only inflate his asking price, while Valencia's reluctance to accept a £15m bid for Silva continues to block the Spain winger's route to Anfield.

Benitez has been forced to consider cheaper alternatives, such as Middlesbrough striker Tuncay and Portsmouth centre back Sylvain Distin, but there is at least a ray of hope for him in the form of possible new investors.

Sportsmail understands three representatives of the India-based GMR infrastructure company, who hold the franchise for the Delhi Daredevils cricket team in the Indian Premier League, have met intermediaries acting on behalf of Liverpool's American owners to discuss a takeover.

Should Hicks and Gillett finally relinquish control, Benitez could at least count on greater transfer funding but may still struggle to convince Xabi Alonso to remain at Anfield after a £20m bid from Real Madrid and interest from Manchester City.

Alonso almost joined Juventus last summer and has now reluctantly concluded he may have to end a five-year stay at Liverpool after sensing Benitez is prepared to sacrifice him to raise funds.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport....TO=1490

by **Reg** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:09 am

The first thing you do when you realise you're in a hole is stop digging.

We have a good squad, more than capable of reproducing the same performance level as at the end of the season so lets keep what finanical security we have and battle on as we are.

Surely you must agree with this, there is no point spending more money that we dont have and only exacerbating the interest payments we cant already afford.

by **DanAn** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:30 am

I think you make a good point Reg.

Out Pennant, Hyppia, Voronin, Dossena, Degen and 1/2 dozen reserve/loaned players
In: Owen, Distin, Sturidge and Neil

We'd make a decent profit in the transfer window, lower our wage bill and IMO we'd be a slightly stronger team than we were last year.

However that's not the big worry. The big worry is that every day we go without the new stadium is effectively us throwing away millions.

by **Penguins** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:49 am

Reg wrote:The first thing you do when you realise you're in a hole is stop digging.

We have a good squad, more than capable of reproducing the same performance level as at the end of the season so lets keep what finanical security we have and battle on as we are.

Surely you must agree with this, there is no point spending more money that we dont have and only exacerbating the interest payments we cant already afford.

There is a problem with that logic.

Every year all teams in the PL improve and spend vast amounts of money on new players making it harder to win games/titles by the year.

If you stand around doing nothing while other clubs around you improve you fall behind.

And with fans only demanding league title, league title, common sense would not prevail and no matter if we couldn't afford to do anything and other teams spend a fortune many fans would ask for Rafa's head if we ended 4th.
Because he must perform miracles without money :no

by **DanAn** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:08 am

I can see Man City bringing in Barry, Tevez Forlan, G.Johnson Hangeland and Lescott.
Giving them a team of:
Given
Johnson Hangeland Lescott Bridge
De Jong Barry
Tevez Ireland Robinho
Forlan

That team would rival us. We on the other hand are looking at bringing in Tuncay, Distin, Owen Downing and Lennon. At this rate we won't last long as a top 4 team but what choice do we have if the money ain't thier?

by **Greavesie** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:13 am

It's a very worrying position we're in at the moment. Only time will tell...

by **Toffeehater** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:20 am

Tevez won't play for city and if the mancs don't sign him , we've got every chance to go for him , if not take eto for 20 million

by **GRAHAM01** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:56 am

he may not go to city but i think us getting him is getting harder and harder as we just don't seem to have the money

it has been reported that we have put in a bid but that are bid was the lowest of all??

why a team / club like liverpool isn't able to afford the players needed for the job is beyond me? we should not have this problem

IT IS A FECKING JOKE

by **Greavesie** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:05 am

My thoughts exactly, steady CL football and consistently high standards in the league and we cant afford players like those around us, absolute p!ss take

by **GYBS** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:17 am

Maybe a bit of calm is needed - only one player has been bought so far in the prem and thats barry to citeh . Think there is a lot of overreaction to something that isnt there yet and mainly its down to the press printing pure speculation and rubbish as normal and the fact there is no football to talk about - we go through this every summer but Rafa always has his targets and is doing the talking without letting the world know .

by **GRAHAM01** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:22 am

GYBS wrote:Maybe a bit of calm is needed - only one player has been bought so far in the prem and thats barry to citeh . Think there is a lot of overreaction to something that isnt there yet and mainly its down to the press printing pure speculation and rubbish as normal and the fact there is no football to talk about - we go through this every summer but Rafa always has his targets and is doing the talking without letting the world know .

are you mad?? calm down!! a player has been bought and we didn't get him, what do you mean calm down COME ON panic panic panic

this means we are not going to sign anyone my god lad can you not see that!!!

:laugh:

by **desmdlow** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:25 am

i am more concern are we even able to fund any players at all..

by **GYBS** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:31 am

Im pretty sure people are going over the top with all the doom and gloom business - it has been the same every summer yet we still manage to be able to fork ouot over 40 mil on players . There will be money there for us to spend on very good players - or rafa wouldnt of signed his new contract if there wasnt

by **DanAn** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:02 am

Leeds were saying the same thing

by **GYBS** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:05 am

We arent leeds - Leeds blew it when they spent well above their means and their survival for all those purchases they made were being able to make the CL - they didnt and then had to sell all those players at a big loss .

FFS we wont go bust and we wont go into administration - if we do then the mancs go before us with thier 700 mill pound debt .

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