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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has reportedly been left 'devastated' after being informed by the club's owners that he will be given just £2m - or less - to spend in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Concerned about the lack of options he has in defence, with Daniel Agger still troubled by his ongoing back problem and Martin Skrtel a doubt for tomorrow's clash with Stoke, Benitez is understood to be determined to acquire new defensive cover before the window closes.
However, according to The Times, he will have 'no more than £2 million' to spend, 'despite having recouped at least as much as he has spent in the transfer market this summer'.
The Daily Mirror claims that the exact amount at Benitez's disposal may be as little as £1.5m, although neither sum will probably be sufficient for the Spaniard to buy. The Liverpool boss will instead have to scour the bargain basement in the hope of landing a player either on a free transfer or on loan.
The Mirror says that, 'His first choice was Ryan Shawcross, but Stoke have laughed off the suggestion that they would let a defender important to them go out on loan for an entire Premier League season.
'He has also enquired about taking the Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin on loan, but was again met with near incredulity by the South coast club.
'What will have angered Benitez most is that he was in a position to sign the Spain international winger David Silva from Valencia, but then had to pull out of the deal because he didn't have the money to meet the £17million asking price.'
Despite spending approximately £37m on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani this summer, Benitez has more than recouped that amount through the sales of Xabi Alonso, Sebastian Leto, Alvaro Arbeloa, Paul Anderson and Jack Hobbs. He also offloaded Robbie Keane for £12m in February.
In explanation for why Benitez's transfer kitty is now reputedly all-but empty, The Times suggests that 'The Liverpool owners argue that the club must be run as a business and made it clear that pay increases handed out to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Agger would be subtracted from the money made available to Benítez'.
Concerned about the lack of options he has in defence, with Daniel Agger still troubled by his ongoing back problem and Martin Skrtel a doubt for tomorrow's clash with Stoke, Benitez is understood to be determined to acquire new defensive cover before the window closes.
However, according to The Times, he will have 'no more than £2 million' to spend, 'despite having recouped at least as much as he has spent in the transfer market this summer'.
The Daily Mirror claims that the exact amount at Benitez's disposal may be as little as £1.5m, although neither sum will probably be sufficient for the Spaniard to buy. The Liverpool boss will instead have to scour the bargain basement in the hope of landing a player either on a free transfer or on loan.
The Mirror says that, 'His first choice was Ryan Shawcross, but Stoke have laughed off the suggestion that they would let a defender important to them go out on loan for an entire Premier League season.
'He has also enquired about taking the Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin on loan, but was again met with near incredulity by the South coast club.
'What will have angered Benitez most is that he was in a position to sign the Spain international winger David Silva from Valencia, but then had to pull out of the deal because he didn't have the money to meet the £17million asking price.'
Despite spending approximately £37m on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani this summer, Benitez has more than recouped that amount through the sales of Xabi Alonso, Sebastian Leto, Alvaro Arbeloa, Paul Anderson and Jack Hobbs. He also offloaded Robbie Keane for £12m in February.
In explanation for why Benitez's transfer kitty is now reputedly all-but empty, The Times suggests that 'The Liverpool owners argue that the club must be run as a business and made it clear that pay increases handed out to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Agger would be subtracted from the money made available to Benítez'.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
James Collins has won 30 international caps for Wales
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