RAFAEL BENITEZ has prepared for his first summer in full control of Liverpool’s transfer budget by admitting he has no margin for error with the major signings he requires to overhaul Manchester United next season.
The Liverpool manager intends to fine-tune rather than overhaul his squad following a season in which the Anfield club emerged as the strongest challengers to United’s recent supremacy in the Premier League. Established talent such as the Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry will be a priority but, having taken that route and failed with Robbie Keane last summer, Benitez admits there are no guarantees of success and that his main acquisitions will be exposed to far greater scrutiny than they receive at Old Trafford.
“If you spend big money on one player and he’s not successful for you, it’s worse for us than it is for United,” the Liverpool manager said. “If they make one or two mistakes, because of the difference in money they can spend £40 million-£50 million on other players. That’s why I am so proud of our team this year, because we are closer than before with the same problems, the same differences between the teams but money is the most important thing.”
Benitez will have between €23 million and €£34 million to spend this summer plus whatever he can raise through player sales, as has been roughly the case throughout his Anfield tenure. This pre-season will see the Liverpool manager assume far greater control for his recruitment under the terms of his new five-year contract, which allows him to set the valuations on players he signs and sells. He still requires the blessing of the owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, for major purchases.
Transfer fees and player contracts were previously under the domain of Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, who will relinquish his post at the end of this season. Liverpool’s owners have appointed a firm of head-hunters to identify Parry’s successor only in the last few weeks and, unless the candidate is an internal appointment – and the commercial director Ian Ayre is in the running – the process of interviews and notice periods could leave the position unfilled until next season.
All of which leaves Benitez with more responsibility for this summer’s transfers than he has enjoyed at Anfield before but, despite the need to sell to satisfy all his squad needs and the salutary lesson of Keane, the Liverpool manager is confident he can ease the burden on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres next season.
Benitez, who made a potential €3.9 million loss in six months on Keane and will encounter the Tottenham Hotspur striker at Anfield on Sunday, added: “If you have more money you can sign players with more quality, like United have. It doesn’t matter if they play Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez or Ronaldo. They can play with two and rest two but keep the same level.
“We’ve been talking of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for the whole season. We have good players in the squad but the experience of fighting for titles and the quality of players makes a difference. Sometimes that means money and it is easier if you have it. If not, you have to work harder and I do have a lot of confidence that we can improve.”
The Liverpool manager has also paid tribute to the performances of the goalkeeper Jose Reina this season, who could draw level with Edwin van der Sar on 21 clean sheets should he thwart Spurs and the Dutchman, as anticipated, misses United’s trip to Hull City. “In England people talked about Petr Cech and now Van der Sar but Pepe for three or four years now has been at a really good level,” said Benitez. “This consistency makes him a top-class goalkeeper. I would say he is one of the best keepers in the world now.”
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso’s agent admits Liverpool will decide the midfielder’s future at the end of the season. The Spain international has been the subject of speculation in recent weeks with a number of clubs thought to be lining up summer moves for the player.
Real Madrid are believed to be leading the chase for Alonso with the 27-year-old thought to be one of presidential candidate Florentino Perez’ top transfer targets if he gains control at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alonso’s agent Ignacio Ibanez has refused to confirm the midfielder will remain at Anfield, admitting Liverpool will have the final say. “Many things could happen in the summer,” Ibanez said. “The first is to finish the season and after that to attend to other matters. Xabi has signed for three more years and his future depends on Liverpool.”
GuardianService
