With a flood of reports doing the rounds that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is preparing to sign a new four year contract following the Reds final match of the season, rumours continue to persist that the Northern Irishman will be handed a £60mil transfer budget this summer as he looks to build a side able to challenge both in the Premier League and in Europe.
As the finer points of his new contract are worked out — with the manager reportedly looking for more control over transfer dealings a major point — the Anfield outfits American owners look set to back their man with a substantial amount of cash. With Champions League football already secured for next season, Rodgers has hinted at an influx of world class players in the next couple of months as he tries to address a number of short comings in the squad. The collapse against Crystal Palace on Monday is a perfect example of that with the Reds squandering a three goal lead to slink away from Selhurst Park with just one point.
Although it’s still a bit too early to talk specific targets, after the debacle against the Eagles, it’s more apparent than ever that Liverpool need to sort out their defensive frailties if they’re going to have a chance of competing on four fronts next season. While a number of fringe players can be deployed in the early rounds of the domestic cups, the Northern Irishman will be looking to field the crème de la crème in both the Premier League and for those big Champions League nights.
A lack of European football has been both a blessing and a hindrance for the Reds this season. While the decrease workload has given them a leg up in the league, the diminished status of not playing on the continent stifled their efforts in the transfer market with a number of marquee signings turning up their noses at the Merseyside outfit. If rumours of a substantial war chest being handed to Rodgers turn out to be true, then we could be in for an entirely different summer altogether — and a radically enhanced squad next season.
