Rafa says "focusing on British based players"

[donrafael]

Rafa has just said on a radio COPE interview tonight in Spain that he is focusing his search for talent on British based players and not abroad in Europe in the summer player signings market.

...for me this is a sure sign of tight budgets and the massive impact on tight budgets the very week pound and dollar has in relation to the euro this summer.

Now a British based player doesn't look so expensive, comparing talent apples for talent apples, with a European/Spanish (euro) "equivalent"...

So I suspect Barry, Bentley, San Cruz are more likely now after hearing that...

I fear this also means, Bye, bye or adios to dreams of David Villa...Silva...etc.

I.R.W.T.

[lil cisse]

british 'based' meaning prem players or british based asin british player e.g. bentley. If its the latter santa cruz definately doesnt fall into the category

I'd be happy with bentley signing aslong as we also get a few players that we need e.g. joe cole for the left wing

[HUYTON RED]

He's looking at players to make an assault on the league

BTW Don would take Santa Cruz he's been good for Blackburn this season and can score goals

And Barry and Bentley are top-level English players, European experience and all that will come. (one of the reasons Barry will join us)

[donrafael]

british 'based' meaning prem players or british based asin british player e.g. bentley. If its the latter santa cruz definately doesnt fall into the category

I'd be happy with bentley signing aslong as we also get a few players that we need e.g. joe cole for the left wing

From what I understood deals involving British club based players (not necessarily British by passport) I.e. GBP transactions... could possibly also simplify part-player funded GBP deals with current LFC-players going the other way...

The plot thickens... but Rafa at least has given us a massive clue tonight...

Having said that, always expect the unexpected with the man... and might be doing it to deflect attention (I doubt it though...as it was a very direct reply to his perceived or apparent non-interest and activity with Spanish based players agents).

[solodee]

british 'based' meaning prem players or british based asin british player e.g. bentley. If its the latter santa cruz definately doesnt fall into the category

I'd be happy with bentley signing aslong as we also get a few players that we need e.g. joe cole for the left wing

I think the options are limitless as there are great talents currently playing in the premiership. I guess our options will revolve around the following players: Gareth Barry (Villa), David Bentley (Blackburn), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), Ashley Young (Villa), Antonio Valencia (Wigan) & Mauro Zarate (Birmingham).

Already the managers of Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers are already throwing tantrums about the unavoidable pillage of their players by Rafa Benitez & Liverpool FC. I mean, how many players will be able to resist the urge to play for Liverpool FC?

[Billy1]

Don I think the clue is in British based players, he is not necessarily saying British players,I think RAFA will do us proud with his signings and if he can pick up a couple of players of the calibre of Torres then we will certainly be in for a good season.

[EddieC]

Rafa has just said on a radio COPE interview tonight in Spain that he is focusing his search for talent on British based players and not abroad in Europe in the summer player signings market.

...for me this is a sure sign of tight budgets and the massive impact on tight budgets the very week pound and dollar has in relation to the euro this summer.

Now a British based player doesn't look so expensive, comparing talent apples for talent apples, with a European/Spanish (euro) "equivalent"...

So I suspect Barry, Bentley, San Cruz are more likely now after hearing that...

I fear this also means, Bye, bye or adios to dreams of David Villa...Silva...etc.

I.R.W.T.

You're right in what you're saying about the exchange rate, but with the inflated price for English or proven premiership players I still think they'll end up more expensive than buying in Europe, so I'm not sure budget is the reason behind this.

IMO there could be a couple of reasons behind this. A) Rafa thinks that the best way to have a real crack at the league next season is to buy proven premiership talent that shouldn't need bedding in time, or B) Rafa is privvy to some upcoming changes in the rules that are gonna require us to have more homegrown players in the squad.

It's also worth noting that 'focusing' doesn't neccessarily mean all our signings will come from this league, just the majority. If say for example Mancini does become available for £4m I can't see Rafa missing out purely because he plays in the 'wrong league'.

[crouchinho]

Young, Bentley, Barry, Agbonlahor, Valencia all look out plus maybe a few more.

Expect us to win the league next season with this comment. He is clearly targetting the PL now with buying only British players. I say good move in a way.

[donrafael]

Young, Bentley, Barry, Agbonlahor, Valencia all look out plus maybe a few more.

Expect us to win the league next season with this comment. He is clearly targetting the PL now with buying only British players. I say good move in a way.

British based (premier experience) does not = British.

Santa Cruz, Valencia come to mind...

Real Madrid and David Villa rumours gain momentum here...

Big one tonight...

Liverpool v A.Villa reserves national final...

You didn't think I meant Really Mad v bARSEloaner did you... amateurs in comparison! LOL

[crouchinho]

British based (premier experience) does not = British.

I meant British league players Donny.

[The Fallen Soldier]

Could this mean my dream has come true and they are actually looking at signing McKeedy!!!! A name many of you have probably not even heard of, but one of the best left wingers in the country.

[kelv78]

I think buying players who have the experience of the premiership will be more benefit to us they will setlle in better.

[Boot]

Firstly.  Rafa uses the media to send people of the scent

Secondly.  British players cost twice as much as a foreign player of the same ability

Thirdly.  If this is true, maybe he knows that he has 1 year left and that he has to win the prem league, therefore cannot afford to give players a season to adapt?

Who knows!!! he loves to leave us guessing.

[Darth Joe]

Rafa might be doing this as a precaution towards Platini's (or was it Blatter's?) suggestion that a team must have more domestic players than import players earlier on. Whichever way it goes, there's many options from either side (foreign and British based) and I'm sure both provide its own quality so I don't see this as a risk. If we were to miss on David Villa and Silva but instead opt for the likes of Bentley, Barry and Agbonlahor I don't presume it'll be a loss. Our present team has its nice weighted share of quality foreigners who've adapted themselves well enough to the EPL. Nice news tho!

[bartman49]

Blatter wants to push through a 6 + 5, 6 home based Englishmen and 5 Foreigners including the Welsh and Scots being counted as foreign so maybe this is in Rafa's thoughts as well. Buying English is fine but who are going to let their top players go we are limited in who we can get we hare all watching the Barry & Bentley situations with interest but we are not certain of getting any of them as we are not privy to their thoughts but lets hope they do the sensible thing and sign on the dotted line, the chance may never come again for them or us....

[donrafael]

I meant British league players Donny.

You'll be calling me Osmand brother soon... (Donny Osmand)... showing my age!!

[The Invisible Man]

I think buying players who have the experience of the premiership will be more benefit to us they will setlle in better.

Possibly. But plenty of players have struggled moving to bigger Premiership clubs, I.e. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Darren Bent, et al. But at least they understand the league and the language.

[The Invisible Man]

...for me this is a sure sign of tight budgets and the massive impact on tight budgets the very week pound and dollar has in relation to the euro this summer.

Now a British based player doesn't look so expensive, comparing talent apples for talent apples, with a European/Spanish (euro) "equivalent"...

So I suspect Barry, Bentley, San Cruz are more likely now after hearing that...

I fear this also means, Bye, bye or adios to dreams of David Villa...Silva...etc.

I.R.W.T.

Eh? English players are massively overpriced. So your argument makes no sense.

[donrafael]

Eh? English players are massively overpriced. So your argument makes no sense.

No when the local currency (GBP) or owners current (USD) in comparison to the Euro has gone through the floor... makes for a less difficult decision to not go local (just a thought)... but essentially I tend to agree English players are massively over-priced...

I was also thinking of foreign players playing in the Premier (e.g. Santa Cruz, Valencia)...same theory applies as the deal would go through two British (GBP transaction) clubs.

[donrafael]

Possibly. But plenty of players have struggled moving to bigger Premiership clubs, I.e. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Darren Bent, et al. But at least they understand the league and the language.

Torres hasn't too bad on league and language... !

[LFC9]

The only english player I want to see is Joe Cole .And we will never get him so I feel Rafa has no choice to go across the sea ,Because as soon as a big english team is interested in a player in the same league his price doubles

[donrafael]

The only english player I want to see is Joe Cole .And we will never get him so I feel Rafa has no choice to go across the sea ,Because as soon as a big english team is interested in a player in the same league his price doubles

Very sad, but very true...because talent apples for talent apples... there is a lot better value out there... only thing now... at this moment... the weaker pound has made the talent-apples comparison with players abroad less harsh...

[andylfcynwa]

Why is it that when LFC go after or even mention interest in british based players their respective managers throw their toys out of their prams ? yet when the mancs or the chavs do the same they dont react half as bad ,am I paranoid or is there more to it.

[Chico Banderas]

Why is it that when LFC go after or even mention interest in british based players their respective managers throw their toys out of their prams ? yet when the mancs or the chavs do the same they dont react half as bad ,am I paranoid or is there more to it.

I agree.. After listening to O'Neil and the big fuss he's making I still cant see what we did so wrong... He's just pissed off at the prospect of loosing one of his best players and that's it..

[stiffler]

What about Aidan McGeady of Celtic as a possible signing?