End of the Alonso Saga

News has been going around that Xabi Alonso has handed in a transfer request to Liverpool. No deal has been agreed yet, so it may be a little pre-mature to say goodbye to Alonso, but I'll do it anyway.

I understand his decision to leave, and believe it has nothing to do with Rafa undermining him at the start of last season. The Spanish boys probably grew up as young footballers dreaming of playing for Barcelona or Real Madrid one day, so this is a dream come true for him. So although, I still think UEFA should step in to intervene with Real Madrid's tapping up antics, and isn't Real's biggest fan, I'd say thanks for 5 good years, of which maybe 3 were great. I like I'm sure all pool fans round the world, we wish you all the best.

There have been a few names tossed around the papers as replacements, but Rafa hasn't commented on anything about them yet. Perhaps it's his way of not giving up hope on Alonso, but I think if he wants to leave, let him go. The club will move on, we will sign a high-profile replacement. Currently the names in the press are Lee Cattermole and Alberto Aquilani. Aquilani would be a good signing, but I'm not sure about Cattermole for £12million. In any case, that's just speculation.

People like to say that Liverpool are in debt, and they don't have the money to compete for the top players. I'm afraid that is a myth. Man United are in more debt- about £500million more. And no one talks about them being unable to afford players. We got our refinancing deal, our owners have sold off their other acquisitions. We will have money, despite what Rafa says.

Rafa is just trying to say he doesn't have money, so he wouldn't be paying exuberant prices for players. For example, we all know that Joleon Lescott is a decent defender, but no way is he worth £20million. But because it's Man City who came knocking on Everton's door, he suddenly became worth that much. So don't believe what you hear from the papers, or from Rafa himself.

Two seasons ago, he suddenly had something like £17million to sign Mascherano and another £24m+ addons to sign Torres, despite claiming the lack of funds. Last season, for all the "lack of money issues", he claimed he had, we still signed a £20million striker. Whether he turned out to be a flop or not is beside the point, really. The fact is, we had money to sign him, even when the papers and manager said we don't.

And the reason why the manager said we don't is because he didn't want to pay over-the-odds for Barry. And that is really one man who is over-rated.

So with the sale of Alonso, Arbeloa, Dossena, Leto, Hobbs, Anderson and Pennant, Rafa would have raised £40million plus however much he said he didn't have. Having only spend £9million this season to sign G. Johnson (because the rest came from the Crouch money), I will expect some, or at least one, high-profile signings. So Chelsea and Man United fans, don't start celebrating yet!