Rafa targets £7million goal-machine

Rafael Benitez is looking to bolster his squad in the summer with a series of transfers, both in and out of Anfield, with John Arne Riise, Dirk Kuyt, Sami Hyypia and Harry Kewell looking like the likely culprits to feel the force of Rafa’s axe.

Contrary to reports, Rafa will be armed with a transfer-kitty during the summer months as a direct result of the deal brokered by our American owners which secures funding, albeit made up of loans primarily from The Royal Bank of Scotland, to complete the takeover and begin development on our new stadium over the way on Stanley Park.

Although nobody can actually put a figure on the summer war-chest, numbers in the region of £45million are being thrown around many news sources, and Rafa has ear-marked £7million of any future funds to prise-away former Arsenal-target, Jose ‘goal-machine’ Sand from Argentinean champions, and current league leaders, Lanus.

Sand, 27, who has scored 15 goals in 16 starts this season, is attracting interest from all corners of Europe including Werder Bremen, Olympiakos, Ateltico Madrid and ambitious Genoa - giving the former Banfield striker an array of options in the summer.