At these times in the world of football, transfer rumours are flying quicker than the time it takes for Cristiano Ronaldo to go down after a feather touch, but amidst all the reported negotiations, Liverpool just sunk deeper into the money crunch mire. The club’s parent company lost 42.6 million pounds according to the most recent accounts, and all indications are that Rafa Benitez may be forced to sell to get in the funds, and also set his sights lower in the transfer market. Gareth Barry is already out of sight, and even Portsmouth’s Glen Johnson will probably not be wearing the Reds’ strip come next season. Benitez mentioned last month how the club’s spending power isn’t able to match up to Manchester United, and though at that time I remember thinking we can’t keep making excuses for losing the Premiership when we were so close, now I realize we really do need some quality signings, and the money to do that too, of course. Tom Hicks and George Gillett apparently have a 350m pound debt, and a deadline of July 24 by which they must clear it. The repercussions from that will obviously tell when Liverpool go shopping for next season.

The worst thing that could come out of this, probably, would be the possible farewell to Xabi Alonso. Last year, the Spaniard was exceptional and didn’t thread a pass wrong even after the transfer rumours had shipped him way out of Merseyside to Juventus, and the situation is the same this time around. But just like the Istanbul dream in 2005 was followed by a feeble fizzle-out in 2007 against the same opposition, I think the whole Alonso drama will end badly now. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

I must say I was shocked to see Tom Hicks and George Gillerr sitting next to each other in the directors box during the Arsenal game on Tuesday. Does this mean the two have put their differences aside and have finally realised that they need to work together if we are to be successful?

I am not sure if they will be able to arrange the financing they require to keep the club and inject some more cash with the way the global markets are looking. The two have to refinance the club’s £350 million loans with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Wachovia, the American bank, before they are due to be repaid on July 25. It is understood they (Hicks and Gillett) were entertaining representatives from RBS on Tuesday night at the game so maybe thats why they showed signs of solidarity.

For me personally, I hope Hicks and Gillett sell the club to someone with cash. We need some big money to make big names signings to push us to the next level.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163657090318-2103.htm

It’s now official, Rafa Benitez has signed on to lead the Reds for a further five years.  As you can read yourself on the official site, following the end of this deal, he will have been at the helm of Liverpool for over a decade.

With the club now possessing the #1 ranking over the past five years in European competition I don’t see how there is any way to receive this news as anything but joyous.  Add to that our continued progress in the league with, let’s admit it, far lesser financial clout and you have a recipe for success that is unrivaled in England or elsewhere.

With several seasons more to grow and develop, perhaps we’ll be the ones contemplating quadruples and quintuples before you know it.

Congratulations Rafa, but more importantly congratulations to you and me and everyone who loves this club.

Today is a major turning point in our history and from here it seems that we’re heading in the best direction possible.

p.s.  Hello to you all again, some personal issues have kept me out of action, but I hope to return on a permanent basis.

Come on you Reds!

According to reports in the Mirror, Tom Hicks may have finally come to the realization that investing in the club on the pitch may help his investment off it.

Apparently the Texan has gone to Gillett with the intention of securing his backing for a push towards Valencia pair David Villa and Silva. Rated at £35 million minimum for the pair this would imply more funds available than simply whatever the manager can sell off to make ends meet.

In my eyes, the “who” matters not as much as the “what” in this instance. I have faith in Rafa’s selections for his squad so long as the owners give him their full backing. It’s time we make that financial step toward the Uniteds and Chelskis of the world. With the new stadium finally showing some progress and the increased revenues that will bring, it’s good to see the side putting on a new face for the move in that direction.

Will this turn out to be simply another “shovel in the ground in 60 days”? Or will we finally see this club heading towards what we all crave.

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