Who’s left to generate money from the Anfield scrapheap?

SO far this summer, despite four early signings, Liverpool have spent a net of just £3 million.

After bringing in Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure for a combined fee of just over £23 million, Liverpool have balanced their books with the sales of Andy Carroll and Jonjo Shelvey for just north of £20 million.

It is indisputable that Liverpool’s team needs strengthening excessively with the club stumbling to a 7th place finish in last year’s Premier League.

With the owners not fascinated by the idea of extravagant spending, there may yet be further outgoings from the playing staff.

So, what players are in the firing line? Who has not quite cut the mustard and could be sacrificed for a reasonable fee?

For me, Martin Skrtel provides the club with the best chance of generating cash for potential purchases. The Slovakian is coming off the back of a frustrating campaign and, with talk of a centre-back riding high on the list of likely recruits, Skrtel’s value, upwards of £15 million, could be exploited for the financial gain of Liverpool.

As well as Skrtel, his fellow central defender Sebastian Coates looks destined for the Anfield exit doors with a £5 million price-tag being placed on his head. Follow those two sales with income for the signatures of Oussama Assaidi and Jay Spearing and the Anfield coffers could be boosted by the tune of £25 million.
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Although slightly ambitious, if anything between £20-£25 million is generated from the sale of that particular quartet, Brendan Rodgers could well have the best part of £50 million left to spend if the rumours of a pre-sales £25 million budget is anywhere near the truth. That is before the sale of Luis Suarez comes into the equation.

The most favourable outcome of the summer would be for the Uruguayan to stay at Anfield, however, if he gets his wish and leaves for the £50 million it would take to force Liverpool’s hand, then we could be talking about a transfer budget circa £100 million – a staggering amount of money.

What is achieved with that money is a completely different kettle of fish. Nevertheless, that is the next chapter in a summer of transition for Brendan Rodgers and for Liverpool as they look to negotiate a top four finish for the first time in five years.

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