Desperate Liverpool

Who does Rafa Benitez think he is? In the space of two months both he and Liverpool FC (quite openly) have courted the services of two high-profile players in Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and now Spurs' Robbie Keane. Not content with unsettling both players Benitez has also placed initial somewhat derisory offers on the table for both individuals well below their respective club's valuations.

Martin O'Neill and Aston Villa quite rightly value their club captain, Barry, at £18m +. Considering Michael Carrick left Spurs for Manchester United for the same amount surely Benitez understands that the going rate for an English international midfield player is unlikely to be below that amount. Still Liverpool have gone ahead on at least two seperate occasions and offered less than that amount and have had the gall to complain when Villa rebuffed their approaches. Now they are preparing a final offer of £17m. Still £1m below the minimum amount Villa has quoted for their talismanic midfielder. The situation with Spurs and Keane is similar. The Tottenham Captain has been openly courted by Benitez but only if Spurs' will take Peter Crouch as a make-weight in the deal.

Bill Shankly was one of the greatest manager's ever to grace the English (or World) game. He ran his beloved club with a determination to succeed above all else and his strong will rubbed off on his players and set the foundation for over 20 years' of domestic and European success. News from the Anfield Boardroom rarely made the papers and the Liverpool club was a model for all others on how to conduct your business properly and where possible, in private. It proved quite effective. Over the past 5-6 years this philosophy has all changed and I find it sad to see what was once a great club now reduced to squabbling in the media with American owners taking cheap shots at one another in an attempt top grab control of the Anfield club.

Throughout the recent turbulent times Benitez was a voice of reassuring calm and professionalism in delivering a Champions League in the midst of the club's seemingly constant internal squabbling. His club's latest attempt to entice the captains of two other clubs to Anfield but failing to meet even the minimum transfer amount smacks of desperation. Liverpool fans won't like it but Man U, Chelsea and even Arsenal can now outbid them when it comes to attracting the top talent.

The Spanish Coach would do well to heed the warning signs that have been present at Anfield over the past two Premiership campaigns namely that Liverpool are moving closer to fifth rather than third place in the League table after yet another failed attempt to challenge the top three. If Liverpool are not careful it won't be long before clubs coming knocking on their own door offering their star players the opportunity to play Champions League football.