Liverpool fans who were hoping Glen Johnson won't be the club's biggest signing of the summer are in for more disappointment. Just days after rumours surfaced of a shock bid for French star Franck Ribery, Rafa Benitez, in a report by the Daily Mirror, claims Liverpool don't need the Bayern Munich player to strenghten their squad.
But after taking a closer look at the report, it appear's as though Benitez didn't specifically mention Ribery's name but stated the club isn't looking to sign anyone for "big, big money - just maybe the ones who can fit into our team." I can't really tell what that means. You can judge for yourself by reading the story here
Still, I think Benitez and Liverpool will have to spend "big, big money" should either Xabi Alonso or Javier Mascherano leave. And he'll have to spend twice that amount should both go. There were some rumours a few weeks back that the Spaniard was looking to bring in Inter Milan's Esteban Cambiasso to Anfield but nothing's happened since.
Nonetheless, I reckon Cambiasso will surface back into the picture if Liverpool lose Alonso and/or Mascherano. Without these two, Liverpool's squad will be severely affected and so will their chances of winning the league next season.
Even if Benitez manages to keep both players, there's no guarantee his squad will mount a better title challenge next season. At the end of the day, it has been pretty clear all along that Liverpool need at least another world class player to their squad to have a decent chance at the league or the Champions League. And it's not Glen Johnson.
What Benitez said is very much keeping to historical trends. He rarely buys money players, rather using the cash to build a squad. Sadly, the squads he's built to date have been found wanting, alas and alack.
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