Rafa wants 60 million to spend

[BlueSuedeSambas 53,775]

Rafa wants £60m to spend Manager Rafael Benitez has hinted Liverpool may need to spend as much as £60million in the summer if they are to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title next season.

The Reds were expected to make a concerted bid for the title this season but have endured a painfully below-par campaign that finds them in sixth place and 19 points adrift of leaders Chelsea. Benitez believes the club must buy at least three new players in the summer to reinvigorate his squad and admits he will need to sell some of his squad to fund their arrival.

"The cost of a top-class player is about £20million. I think we need three," he said.

"We want to keep the spine of the team. But sometimes you have to manage and you have to sell two or three players who aren't playing many games.

"I think we can improve but it depends if we can do the right signings and it is always easier to sign more players with more money.

"It's not easy for us to compete for players. We have to do almost everything perfectly. People can talk about this player and that player but they have to blend in because if you don't have £60million every year you have to sell."

Benitez believes the lack of depth in his squad has cost them dear this season. The Spaniard's only major purchase last summer was the £20million he spent on Alberto Aquilani, who has struggled with injury since arriving at Anfield, and he admits he needs more star players in his squad.

"Look at other teams, they have plenty of players worth £20million who are not playing, but they manage because of the squad," he said.

"Last year we tried to keep players and extend contracts and to add some players. It depends on the money available but the key is if you don't have too much money then don't make mistakes.

"Sometimes you bring someone who needs to settle down or they have a problem - this year we had a problem with Alberto Aquilani and his ankle - so you cannot guarantee anything."

He always acts like he is hard done by, but I have no sympathy for him whatsoever.

He's had plenty of money to spend but by and large he's spunked it up against the wall on average players for massive fees.

He has nobody but himself to blame for the lack of quality in his squad.

[Jeff crap in the head 120]

No way i would trust him with that sort of money. As you have said, his track record for wasting money on shite and mediocrity is horrifying.

[Chookes 20]

He can get 3 more Aguilanis for £60M .

[papaguy51 912]

I wouldn't give him 60p to spend!

[disgruntled_bear 157]

His time is up.

[BlueSuedeSambas 53,775]

Last Summer he spent 37 million Aquallani & Glen Johnson.

With a bit more care and consideration he could have picked up 4 players for 8 million each who could have improved the squad depth and the first team at the same time.

[papaguy51 912]

Last Summer he spent 37 million Aquallani & Glen Johnson.

With a bit more care and consideration he could have picked up 4 players for 8 million each who could have improved the squad depth and the first team at the same time.

Absolutely.

He could easily have picked up someone like Azpilicueta for less than £10m, a better player than Johnson.

He could have had Steven Davis for £6m who is easily better than Aquilani!

[Emerson 2]

Anyone who thought Kyriakos was worth £2M doesnt deserve another penny to spend.

[FlippinEck 3,705]

The moment he says top class players cost £20Million is the moment a team starts asking £20Million for the average player that Rafa then targets

[papaguy51 912]

Rafa is an incredibly hard manager to call.

Take Lucas, for example. He's played utterly shite for months and Rafa kept putting him in the side. Against Benfica, he played in his more natural position (he was allowed further up the park) and was superb, yet Rafa drops him for the next game.

Incredible decisions. Sometimes I think he's just an overrated manager who is living off the luckiest European Cup victory you'll ever see.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

I can see Martin O'neill in the Liverpool dug out next season.

[broxi51 48]

i was shocked last summer when they let alson go, great player and replaced him with a 20 million pound injured player then letting arebola go for peanuts and spending 17 million on the way overrated glen johnston.

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

Anyone who thought Kyriakos was worth £2M doesnt deserve another penny to spend.

He's fully been worth the £2 million fee.

[Blue Stars Bearette 1]

Anyone who thought Kyriakos was worth £2M doesnt deserve another penny to spend.

He's fully been worth the £2 million fee.

he's been better than I thought he would be...judging by the last few games

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

Anyone who thought Kyriakos was worth £2M doesnt deserve another penny to spend.

He's fully been worth the £2 million fee.

he's been better than I thought he would be...judging by the last few games

He's arguably been their best defender.