Most Liverpool fans will be use to the sell-to-buy policy, that has been imposed on Rafa by the Americans, by now, however, in this critical transfer window, with the Boss seriously needing to freshen up the squad with a couple of new faces to increase competiton, and to keep up with the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotpsur and Aston Villa, who all have much deeper squads (and pockets) then Liverpool, it appears that Rafa Benitez will have to scrape the barrel for free signings and loans, even if he recoups up to £16 million from the sale of fringe players such as Andrea Dossena, Phillip Degen, Andriy Voronin and possibly Ryan Babel.
Benitez has already earned £6.2 million from the sales of Andrea Dossena to Napoli (£4.4 million) and Andriy Voronin to Spartak Moscow (£1.8 million), however even if he manages to recoup up to £3 million for Phillip Degen, he is unlikely to be able spend any money in this January transfer window. In fact, if Athletico Madrid had demanded a fee for their out of favour winger Maxi Rodgriuez (who is almost certain to be one of only two arrivals at Anfield this winter) then the deal probabaly would have fallen through.
Rafa knows that the money raised from sales will not go to signing new players, and instead be used to pay off hefty debts, this has persuaded him to endure with the misfiring Babel, who could be a useful asset for the Reds in the race for 4th spot, as he is incredibly versaitile, and explosive from the bench, as he proved in his first season for the Redmen, when he changed the game after coming on as a substitute in big games, such as the Arsenal Champions League quarter final tie, which Liverpool won 4-2 at Anfield. However, if he doesn't prove himself in the second half of this season, then he should be shown the exit door, in order to build up a war chest in the summer.
Unfortunately, once again the American owners have failed our great club, and it looks like it will be a very difficult battle to grab fourth spot, and with it another season dining at Europe's top table.
YNWA
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