Liverpool insist they will OUTSPEND both Manchester United and Arsenal this summer - despite their accountants' dire financial warning. A senior Liverpool source told The Sunday Times last night: "We have more spare cash to spend than any club except Chelsea."
The source, who has detailed knowledge of the 2007 takeover at Anfield by the American businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett and insight into how they have run the club since, also says:
- the transfer budget will be a minimum of £20m plus sales this summer and that manager Rafael Benitez "is free to exceed it" if he can "make a convincing case"
- Liverpool are not subject to some of the financial constraints on transfer dealings that limit Manchester United and Arsenal, who are more indebted to outsiders including banks and institutions
- Benitez is "an amazing guy who knows he has a healthy transfer budget to augment one of the world's strongest squads".