http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6087159,00.html Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has conceded he may need to sell one of his big name players this summer. Liverpool's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who are reportedly set to appoint British Airways chief Martin Broughton as their new chairman, are actively looking to find a buyer. But Benitez concedes that if no new investment is found, he could be forced to sell one of his big names - which would mean either Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres going. "I don't think I will have to sell a big player, but it will depend on investors so I cannot guarantee we won't have to sell. Our idea is to keep the spine of the team," he told the People. "Sometimes you have to manage by selling two or three players who aren't playing too many games, but that does not bring in any big money if they are not playing." Benitez agrees with recent assessments from Torres and Jamie Carragher that he needs at least four players next term and suggesting to that he would need between £60million and £80million to do this. "I don't want to talk about figures, but if you analyse what Fernando and Carra have been saying, they were talking about four or five players," he continued. "It doesn't matter if it is four or five or three or five, the cost of a top-class player is about £15million or £20million. "So with three or four players, you start counting and I think we need up to four players. "It is difficult to compete with other clubs who may spend big money again in the summer. Last year we tried to keep players and extend contracts and tried to add some players. "It depends on the money available, and if you don't have too much money then you can't make any mistakes in the transfer market. "It is not easy, I always say that we have to do almost everything perfectly and if we make a mistake in the transfer window it is extra difficult for us to manage. "We have had problems with Alberto Aquilani because his ankle injury has taken longer than expected [to recover]. "We are talking about pressure. Sometimes you bring in someone who needs to settle down or they have a problem, so you cannot guarantee anything. "Other teams have plenty of players worth £20million who are not playing, two or three players in the same position sometimes, but we cannot do that." Jovanovic deal Benitez did confirm that one summer deal, for Standard Liege's Milan Jovanovic, was just about complete. "A deal for Jovanovic is now very close and our scouts are working very hard," he said. "We have our targets and we have to decide when to try and buy them, but sometimes it is too early. "Maybe they are still playing in the Champions League or at the end of the season in their local leagues and you have to wait a bit. "The World Cup is always very dangerous because if one player is playing really well then his value goes up, so I think it is important to do things before if we can." Benitez also admits that the club need to improve on their record of brining through fresh talent. "I think for us to bring players in through the system is crucial," said Benitez. "This is the first year we have had control of the Academy and it is clear that we have not produced a player in the last 13 years, so that was a big problem."
Rafa is heaping more pressure on the yanks to come up with funds imo... through more fans anger. I dont believe for a second hat he'd be willing to sell either Gerrard or Torres, as chances of him getting players better than both is very very slim, and he's not in the way of selling our top top players, unless they want to go like in the case of Alonso. Im quite confident that both will be wearing an LFC shirt next season.
I thought this after my initial reaction, and I think you are spot on,. Calmed me down a little reading this post to, thanks,.
If Rafa is forced to sell one of our two best assests you can guarentee it will be bye bye Rafa and Liverpool FC as we know it and Hello to midtable mediocracy and battling with Everton for an intertoto cup place.
Exactly. Theres other players he can sell for big money if he has to. Doesnt make sense selling Nando or stevie.
I have to say a lot of you on here are very fcukin clever an look deeply into these things an come up with different meanings behind stuff and why they might of been said an all that...
I agree 100% mate, it's only a shame so few of our fellow Reds are actually publically displaying / venting their anger, at the two yanks. The likes of SOS only having circa 4,500 members is shameful .... everyone is happy to have a bit of a moan in the pub, or whinge going home after we've been beaten by a mid table team when Gerard or Torres ain't playing / are off form, but thats where they stop. EVERYONE NEEDS TO DO THEIR PART AND TARGET THEIR ANGER AT THE YANKS
i dont think losing Gerrard would be as bad as we all think he's getting close to 30 now, so being honest, he's possibly on the downside of his career the way i see it is we've built perhaps 2 teams around him now,and have still yet to win a league, so if you can cash in and get 30 million, then jobs a goodun that might sound ludicrous, but just think about it
Gerrards worth the same as Berbatov. Good lad. One bad season in 10 and you want us to cash in? Show some respect for the captain.
Personally i dont think it will happen AND HOPE IT DOES NOT, But sadly it would take something like this to make the head in the sand brigade sit up and realise what a state the club is in !