Liverpool were rocked earlier this summer by the accounting revelations that under Hicks and Gillett, Liverpool FC are making annual payments to the RBS of £40M – effectively stripping out the small amount of profit from the club, and thanks to the complex accounting with Kop Football Holdings as a parent company – the club’s debt – overall – is massively increasing.
With the arrival of Hicks and Gillett – Liverpool were promised the funds to compete in the transfer market – but that promise is looking as hollow as all the rest of the big promises from the clubs owners.
If anything – Liverpool appear even less forceful in the transfer market.
We all knew that with the departure of Keane – the reds would need a solid backup striker for Torres – and we’ve all lamented our lack of a world class winger. In those games when we struggled to break down defences at Anfield – results that cost Liverpool the title – the absence of someone with creativity to relieve the pressure on Gerrard and Torres was clear for all to see.
Last summer Liverpool spent a net total of £21 million on players.
This summer, with the reds in a great opportunity to build on last season’s improvement, it looks as if LFC will be trying to make a profit.
£13 million up front was pocketed by the club in January lets not forget – for the sale of Robbie Keane (and this deal could increase to bring another £3 million in)
£3 million was raised with the departure of Sebastian Leto and around £500,000 was raised with the sale of a few fringe players.
In contrast Liverpool have signed Glen Johnson in a £16.5 M deal – but with money already owed by Portsmouth for Peter Crouch – the reds did not need to shell out the full amount.
OUT
Robbie Keane £13M (could rise to £16M)
Sebastian Leto £3M
Others £0.5M
IN
Glen Johnson £16.5M
TOTAL TRANSFER SPEND = £0
You have to wonder exactly who Hicks and Gillett think they are fooling. The calculator doesn’t lie. The Xabi Alonso speculation has been going on for months now – and now we hear various rumours that if we sold him – both David Silva and a central midfielder such as Wesley Sneijder could be arriving.
But when Liverpool FC have technically not shelled out a penny this summer – then we shouldn’t have to sell anybody to fund two such transfers.
Meanwhile the reds will carry on paying RBS £1 million every 9 days in interest alone.