Santi Cazorla or Jordan Henderson? Toughie!

If transfer fee’s where the judge of a player then Matthew Jarvis would be twice the player Pablo Hernandez is, then Jordan Rhodes is as good as Papiss Cisse, then Jordan Henderson is marginally better then Santi Cazorla! These are just three humorous examples of how ridiculously valued British footballers are.

£16million well spent

It’s not just the lower regions of the Barclays Premier League that have fallen into the trap of overpaying for young British ‘talent’, the very best have from Manchester United to Arsenal and from Chelsea to Liverpool!

I’ve nothing against Jordan Rhodes, but for a player with little experience in the second tier, that’s right the second tier, he’s yet to play a Premier League match, how he can cost £8million? It’s not his fault granted, and the fact he is British is the reason he costs that much. Hull City signed a forward called Nick Proschwitz who was the top goalscorer in Germany’s second tier last year for £2.6million, £6.4million cheaper then Rhodes.

Can Rhodes really be worth £8million?

Why is this? You can only presume that bringing a home-grown British player through your academy is a rarity in today’s football world, so to release them, the clubs are going to want a hell of a fee! The likes of Jarvis and Rhodes didn’t even come through their club’s academy yet still fetched for stupid prices; however the same theory still applies, you want to see a British player in your shirt more than any other, so if they’re successful then to let them go will cost a hell of a lot.

It’s quite the mystery isn’t it why clubs tend to buy foreign players! It’s quite the mystery why 64% of the Barclays Premier League’s players are foreign (Only two leagues in world football have a higher foreigner percentage in the form of Canada and Cyprus)!

I’ll leave this piece with a favourite comparison of mine, Shaun Wright Phillips cost £3million less then Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira combined. I wonder who got the better deal. 

Liverpool still need to add if they are to challenge.

Liverpool's recent revival under Kenny Dalglish has been impressive, however if the club are going to challenge for the top four and silverware, they still need to add to their squad.

The left-back area for Liverpool has been a problem for the club, with the Paul Konchesky, the club's last signature in the left full-back spot, suffering a horrendous first season, finishing the season on loan at Nottingham Forest. The return of Emiliano Insua from his loan spell with Galatasaray offers an alternative, however it is highly likely that Dalglish will want to bring a full back of his own. The club lost out on Gael Clichy with the Frenchman opting for Manchester City, and next in the pecking order is reportedly Jose Enrique at Newcastle United, who has frequently been linked with a move to the Merseyside club. The Spanish full back will slot in well at Liverpool. After taking a year to adjust to English football, Enrique had successive fine seasons with Newcastle, and if Dalglish secures the services of Enrique, it could bring an end to the clubs problematic area. Enrique probably won't be the only defender on Liverpool's radar, and despite Martin Skrtel impressing last year, the club will want to bring in another centre back with Daniel Agger and Sotris Kyrgiakos both linked with moves away from the club.

Enrique's fine form has attracted interest from Liverpool

Liverpool are also in desperate need to sign a winger, with Maxi Rodriguez likely to leave the club to return to Argentina. Since Rafa Benitez the club has had many wingers come and go, Jermaine Pennant and Harry Kewell to name but two who haven't matched the hype surrounding their move. Dirk Kuyt over the last three seasons has often been deployed as a winger, moving from his favoured centre forward position to help the team. However despite the Dutchman's best efforts he isn't a winger. The club have moved their need for a winger to the top of their wanted list this summer, with Stewart Downing the most likely addition. Juan Mata, Jeffren, Aaron Lennon and Marc Albrighton have all been linked with the club, however a move for the former Middlesborough star is being lined up. After a bid of £15million rejected, it is expected that Liverpool will increase their bid, with Villa likely to accept an offer in the region of £20million.

Despite Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam being good additions, for me I don't feel the duo are better then the centre midfields they already have at the club. Henderson is a huge talent, however his tender age suggests his best years at the club will be in the future. The return of Steven Gerrard is a huge bonus, and despite now being in his 30's is still the best centre midfielder at the club. The much criticised Lucas Leiva had a fantastic season and was arguably the teams player of the year last year. And when you throw in Raul Meireles and the returning Alberto Aquilani, who when you can get on the pitch is a fantastic player, the club aren't short of centre midfielders, and with the double addition of Henderson and Adam, that means Liverpool have six centre midfielders all vying for a maximum three spots in the side.

Much will be expected from their £35million man Andy Carroll this season who struggled for fitness and form despite the clubs strong form towards the end of the season. One possible reason behind this was due to their lack of a winger at the club to supply crosses for the target man, added to the fact Steven Gerrard missed the final three months of the season, Liverpool didn't have a strong set piece taker to supply Carroll, who flourished under Joey Barton's ability behind a dead ball in the first half of the season. However with Gerrard set for a return and an addition on the wing immanent, Carroll should be able to regain his form that made him England's most expensive player.

Towards the end of the season Liverpool had a nice balance to them, and the question is can Dalglish's Liverpool replicate that form when the pressure is more intensified. For me there is no way Liverpool will compete with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea for the title, however I do feel they are only a couple additions away from a much need return to the Champions League.

King Kenny is likely to continue his spending spree