Who can Rafa sign with his £12m 'war chest' in January?
-
Rafa's £12m 'war chest': Sportsmail's picks the men Benitez can sign with his limited Liverpool budget in January
Money to burn: But who should Benitez spend £12m on? Sportsmail suggests...
Rafa Benitez has been handed £12m to make improvements to his squad when the January transfer-window opens, a figure that falls well short of what is needed if Liverpool are to resurrect a faltering season.
The club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have made the money available after the Reds suffered three defeats in their opening eight games.
However, Benitez will know that £12m is a mere drop in the ocean when it comes to the fees that clubs can demand for the top players he needs - with the money he has been offered he could afford to buy half a Joleon Lescott!
Still, the Spaniard can start splashing the cash in 85 days, so Sportsmail gives the Reds boss some ideas for his January shopping-list.
DEFENCE
We're not entirely sure what is happening with Jamie Carragher, is he shrinking or are strikers getting bigger? Either way, the ease with which Drogba rolled the former England defender was frankly worrying.
So, Rafa, if you want cover at the back, here's what £12m will buy you:
Michael Ciani
BordeauxThe Guadeloupe-born centre-back has only recently joined French champions Bordeaux so it may prove troublesome persuading him and the club to part company.
Brede Hangeland
FulhamThe Norwegian captain has been the subject of much speculation and he has yet to sign a new deal at the Cottage. Is he waiting for the call from Rafa.
Gary Cahill
BoltonHas garnered much interest with some sterling performances this year and he may have to leave Bolton to fulfill his World Cup 2010 ambitions with England.
Head boys: Matthew Upson could seek a January move to keep his World Cup dream alive while Carles Puyol (L) could be sold ahead of the end of his contract
Matthew Upson
West HamWith so much uncertainty surrounding the East London club, Upson could easily be tempted with the promise of Champions League football.
Carles Puyol
BarcelonaHis contract is up next summer and Barca are hoping to cash-in before he leaves on a free. His Champions League experience could prove vital.
MIDFIELDERS
Despite Glen Johnson's attempts to convince everyone he is a right midfielder, he was bought to play at full-back and Steven Gerrard looks stranded without the service he had come to take for granted from Xabi Alonso.
So if it the midfield that needs some investment, how about one of these:
Alan Dzagoev
CSKA MoscowCSKA Moscow's star of the future, 19-year-old Dzagoev is a pacy attacking-midfielder who would link up very well with Fernando Torres.
Patrick Vieira
Inter MilanIf Rafa wants his Liverpool midfield pulling together then Vieira is an ideal candidate, however, his propensity for injury is worrying.
Steven Defour
Standard LiegeHad a great time terrorising the Arsenal defence in the Champions League recently and has attracted Real Madrid. Could prove too expensive, however.
Centre of attention: Patrick Vieira could compensate for the loss of Xabi Alonso
Sulley Muntari
Inter MilanCurrently attracting attention from Spurs (again) but if it's creativity in midfield that Rafa craves, the former Portsmouth danger man could deliver.
David Bentley
TottenhamWould this be a risk or could Rafa fill the much-maligned Bentley with enough confidence to produce more than just occasional moments of brilliance?
STRIKERS
No man is an island, or so the saying goes, but Fernando Torres has looked cut adrift from the rest of his team-mates on many occasions this season. Torres is good Rafa, but give the boy a bit of help, will you.
If it's help up top Liverpool's No 9 needs, then he won't do any better then snapping up one of these:Goran Pandev
LazioThe Macedonian was valued at £17m when Spurs and Arsenal showed an interest last summer but if Benitez can coax a few more million out of the American owners, a deal is possible.
Edin Dzeko
WolfsburgThe 23-year-old AC Milan target enjoyed a superb 2008-2009 season after scoring 26 goals in 32 league appearances with Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg but price may be an issue.
Darren Bent
SunderlandRejuvenated after his horror-spell at Tottenham Hotspur, Bent has re-discovered the lethal form that made him the top English goalscorer in the Barclays Premier League in 2005-2006.
Going forward: Carlton Cole and Marouane Chamakh are both ideal buys for Rafa
Carlton Cole
West HamAnother player whose future is uncertain, given the current situation at Upton Park, the England man would be ideal for Torres to play off.
Marouane Chamakh
BordeauxA target for Arsenal and West Ham over the summer, Chamakh, the Bordeaux hit-man has made it clear that he wants to move to the Premier League.
The one's that got away: City striker Craig Bellamy and Spurs duo Peter Crouch & Robbie Keane have excelled since they quit Anfield, particularly this season.
However, Benitez could have saved the hassle had he decided to keep hold of any one of Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane or Craig Bellamy who are all banging in goals lately.
-
"However, Benitez could have saved the hassle had he decided to keep hold of any one of Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane or Craig Bellamy who are all banging in goals lately." Don't think they suit his "Defensive" system..
-
go get cahill or Hangeland..they will boost the defence or if possible go get muntari...at least he's better than lucas...
-
that's like 15% of one C Ronaldo isn't it?
-
I do believe that it was a mistake to sell crouch.
For Bellamy it was different. He was very disruptive and everyone team knows that one rotten apple can spoil the team morale. Just look at Adebayor for example. He is good but his attitude sucks.
-
I guess they can sell some of the "dead wood" like Voronin, Dossena, Riera and rise a further $20m to add to the $12m?
-
Originally posted by zocoss:
I guess they can sell some of the "dead wood" like Voronin, Dossena, Riera and rise a further $20m to add to the $12m?
haha, dossena almost went....riera can't be sold yet as the left side dun have any gd player coz' there's no players like david silva there....only gt benayoun nia...voronin very hard to sell too...coz' remember tt voronin is a free transfer agent? if voro is tt gd, his club wouldn't have released him... -
Originally posted by the Bear:
that's like 15% of one C Ronaldo isn't it?
yes it is.. bt ronaldo's price is like overpriced lor.... -
promote those youngsters...some of them are good like Ayala & Jay spearing...
-
Originally posted by charleslee:
yes it is.. bt ronaldo's price is like overpriced lor....
i still think Real Madrid is a radish which MUFC chopped -
Left side got Babel and Benayoun what... Voronin wasn't released, he was free because his contract came to an end with his former club and he didn't want to sign a new one preferring to join Liverpool... He was the star of the Ukraine 2006 WC team where they reach the QFs...
-
i wonder.. voronin was pretty good when he came in but has sort of faded away.. why is that?
-
i think its more of a "who will want to come in" than "how much we have"
-
out of the freaking list maybe only like 2-3 can be purchased for 12m. All others surely are more than that.
-
he can forget abt buying any1 wif a mere 12m pounds
-
voronin is equipped with excellent positional sense which makes up for his lack of speed......i think rafa benitez will be saving the money, can't see him getting new players
-
Liverpool should be investing in their youth squad like Arsenal.
Look at the average age of Arsenal and look at their performance so far this season.
-
Originally posted by Alpha Omega:
Liverpool should be investing in their youth squad like Arsenal.
Look at the average age of Arsenal and look at their performance so far this season.
Is Lucas considered 1 of their youngsters?
-
12m also can be considered war chest ah?
HAHAHAHAA
-
i wont mind if rafael take the money and leave.
-
Rafa should keep the money. Save it till the end of season. Let's be pragmatic. The current crop of players are already good enough to last through the season and still be in contention for the Title. Why waste 12M now when it can be snowballed for better effect next?
If anything, there's a shortage of hungry players. I see jaded players on the field. It's true and Rafa has got to start motivating/cajoling his players, instead of playing hardball management.
This January, anything less than a David Silva is a major disappointment, imho. Otherwise, save that $12M. Why not reward it to the clubs top goalscorer/assist? Haha. That should spur the players. ; )
-
Originally posted by zocoss:
Left side got Babel and Benayoun what... Voronin wasn't released, he was free because his contract came to an end with his former club and he didn't want to sign a new one preferring to join Liverpool... He was the star of the Ukraine 2006 WC team where they reach the QFs...
babel is quite hopeless in the left side as we have seen so far, his threat is better at the right, as for voronin, yes his positional sense is nt bad , but his finishing is left to be desired when under defenders' pressure... -
Originally posted by sg_forum:
promote those youngsters...some of them are good like Ayala & Jay spearing...
will benitez be willing to risk them and blood them soon?u see... he trusts lucas more than benayoun, so it goes to show that hw misjudged can benitez be... -
Considering the financial condition of Liverpool, Ah Ben should saved the money so that he can have the money when he is sacked in January.
No amount of money is enough for a manager who do not have tactical sense and extreme stubborness.
Liverpool have only one full team and full of holes to plug.
The money is not enough.
Ah Ben have to sell torres and gerard to raise some money.
-
Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
Considering the financial condition of Liverpool, Ah Ben should saved the money so that he can have the money when he is sacked in January.
No amount of money is enough for a manager who do not have tactical sense and extreme stubborness.
Liverpool have only one full team and full of holes to plug.
The money is not enough.
Ah Ben have to sell torres and gerard to raise some money.
Which i tink he wouldn't do...