Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is a big fan of Champions League semifinalists Borussia Dortmund. Rodgers reckons Dortmund are proof you can be a European powerhouse without breaking the bank.

He insisted: "You can do that. Just look Borussia Dortmund, a team that won the Champions League and then struggled financially.

"They went out and rebuilt and it took them four to five years to push on. Then they won the league and their European work suffered.

"This year you can see they have put their focus on Europe and they have lost their title. That's a team that has been growing over five years.

"So there is no doubt you need investment to raise the bar and the quality. But there are other ways to try and get an advantage and we can really push on next year.

"Unless you have the City or Chelsea money you need a different way and I think this is the best way because you are not just looking after the team but also the club."