The Times report on Rafa's meeting with G&T...

[kurtangle01]

the echo is one of the only papers i like to believe these days, and occasionaly stuff that dave maddocks prints.

half the ****e that gets posted on here isn't worth reading

If Maddock or Bascombe print something then it's definitely worth reading. Other rumor sites like teamtalk, tribal etc... all print absolute horse **** just to get hits on their crappy sites.

The only time I believe we're really after a player is when he signs or is close to signing or if Rafa says he wants him.

[AFII]

apologies on the behalf of rocket, you DO post BIG TURD, happy now

[captainfog]

Sure about that mate?

There's a difference between having a supposed interest in a player and actually attempting to sign him.

My advice would be to ignore who the media link us with between now and the summer. They'll be playing their favourite game of 2+2=5 every day with these rumours of Rafa having a significant transfer wedge to spend. It basically gives the red tops carte blanche to print complete fiction.

Agreed, while I would love to believe the rumours, I know they probably just paper talk. Rafa could well still go leftfield if he feels he can't get value for money for any of the popular choices. It is just he is in the enviable position of being able to pick and chose who he wants.

Can't wait for the transfer season to open (shortly after we have won the CL )

[nebbers]

Daily Mail reports a budget (pulls random figure out of the air) of £40m. So that's Villa £25m and Alves £15m. Job done.

[alunevans]

everything about the new owners approach gives me a positive vibe. they strike me as two people who have quickly fell in love with the club and who always had it in mind to create something prestigious rather than simply asset strip. plus it feels like we have some leadership at the club at least. i can't remember a time since john smith that i could say that with any conviction. me happy!

[AFII]

Benitez to be given major cash boost
Apr 3 2007
by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post


RAFAEL BENITEZ has been told by Liverpool’s new American owners they will bankroll a major summer spending spree.

The Anfield manager met with co-chairmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks over the weekend for the first time since the duo assumed unconditional control of the club.

And Benitez was given the green light to pursue his top transfer targets with the new board ready to back his squad rebuilding as he attempts to close the gap on Manchester United and Chelsea.

Sevilla’s Brazilian wing-back Daniel Alves, Barcelona forward Samuel Eto’o and Valencia’s David Villa are among several players Benitez is now likely to pursue, with a striker the top priority on his shopping list.

And while Gillett and Hicks won’t follow the example previously set by Roman Abramovich and promise unlimited funds, it is clear the Spaniard will be handed a substantial warchest – understood to be in excess of £40million – when the transfer window opens in June.

Of the meeting, Benitez said last night: “We were talking about ideas for the future and it was good. I think it is a bright future. Everything was positive and for me the future of the club looks brilliant.

“It clear this is important for the club. Hopefully it will be fantastic for us.

“I don’t want to talk about figures because we are about to play a Champions League game, but they said that we are going in the right direction.”

Liverpool are favourites to progress, but Benitez has warned his players to beware the underdog and cited last season’s Champions League exit to Benfica, who were managed by current PSV coach Ronald Koeman.

The Spaniard said: “We have a lot of respect for PSV, they are a very good team with good players and manager.

“Before the Benfica game last season people were saying it was the easier game, but we went out. We must respect PSV, they are a team with experience.”

An injury crisis means PSV are without the likes of key duo, defender Alex and striker Arouna Kone, but Benitez has pointed to Liverpool’s own absentees.

“It could be an advantage that they are without some players, but we are without Luis Garcia who is a key player for us in this competition, Momo is suspended and Harry Kewell has been out the whole season,” he added.

PSV still lead the Dutch Eredivisie, but haven’t won in their last three games and were held to a 1-1 draw by NEC at the weekend.

Benitez will again rotate his squad this evening, with Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise and Dirk Kuyt all lined up to return to the starting line-up.

With Craig Bellamy still troubled by a rib injury, Peter Crouch should continue up front following his hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday.

Momo Sissoko is suspended, which means Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso will continue in the centre of midfield with Steven Gerrard moving to the right flank.

TONIGHT’S officials are from France, with Bertrand Layec the referee.

CLICKY - Daily Post

[simey85]

Daily Mail reports a budget (pulls random figure out of the air) of £40m. So that's Villa £25m and Alves £15m. Job done.

id say villa would cost £40m alone!

[bazza76]

id say villa would cost £40m alone!

id say we are getting more than £40m, just a hunch. but I think it could be £50m or £60m

[AFII]

How much Rafa will get probably depends how much the players he want will cost.

If they costs more than £70m then don't be surprised if Rafa gets £70m+ to spend.

Alves and one of Eto'o and Villa seems to be his top targets.

[AFII]

UNCLE SAM
AMERICAN OWNERS HAND RAFA A £40M WAR CHEST AND ETO'O IS TOP TARGET
By David Maddock 03/04/2007

RAFA BENITEZ will make Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o his prime target after being promised a £40million war chest for summer signings by Liverpool's new American owners.

The Anfield boss emerged from lengthy weekend talks with George Gillett and Tom Hicks rubbing his hands in anticipation of buying the big names to guarantee an all-out assault on the Premiership next season.

Benitez is keen on Sevilla's 23-year-old Brazilian winger Daniel Alves, and he will also move for midfielder Deco - who plays with striker Eto'o at Barca - if the Portuguese becomes available.

But dollar-rich Liverpool's first signing may well come from much closer home - Charlton and England forward Darren Bent, who would cost around £15million.

The Spanish coach has also earmarked significant spending to secure the long-term futures of key players such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.

Benitez wants to tie them to long-term deals, which will cost millions, and he is also looking to offer improved contracts to the likes of Momo Sissoko, Steve Finnan and Argentina's Javier Mascherano, who will command a salary of around £10m to extend his current two-year deal.

"It was a very positive meeting, and for me the future of the club is brilliant," said Benitez last night in Holland.

"After we talked I now have a very good feeling about the direction we are going to take.

"We will not talk about figures at this time because we have a very important game that we must concentrate on here in Eindhoven - but they have assured me that we will go in the direction we need to, and I am very happy and very confident about the future of the club."

Benitez told his new joint chairmen there must also be massive spending on youth players and a process established to identify promising talent and secure it swiftly, as he looks to bring exciting new blood into the academy structure.

CLICKY - The Mirror

[spud_gun]

Given that Rafa has alot of money to spend in the summer expect to see the Chavs being linked with most of the players we go after. Expect to see them inflating the transfer fees.

[AFII]

Bent and Eto'o as the new strikers.

Alves the new right winger.

Deco as the creative link we have missed between midfield and attack.

Strange that Garcia isn't mentioned at all. He is in the same situation as Xabi this summer. Garcia out, Deco in?

[cannotmakeit]

trevez as the missing link

[blacky]

Can't see Rafa signing 2 strikers....I imagine he has a list of possible targets for each position he needs to fill. He will sell GOD and will sign one striker from and his targets are probably Villa, Eto'o and Bent.

[bazza76]

Can't see Rafa signing 2 strikers....I imagine he has a list of possible targets for each position he needs to fill. He will sell GOD and will sign one striker from and his targets are probably Villa, Eto'o and Bent.

I think your right mate.
IMO it will be one striker, possibly costing as much as £30m
Then possibly someone like Alves or Simao if we are lucky. that will be as much as well will be spending big.