I know the transfer rumour mill needs to be taken with a pinch of salt but the news that Yossi Benayoun is set to join the club while Joe Cole is on his way out seems baffling.
For starters the numbers just do not add up. The main sticking point with Cole’s contract negotiations were the club’s refusal to rank him along the clubs top earners. For a player who has missed much of the past two seasons with injury I can understand why the club want to claw back some money.
But they would then contradict themselves by spending upwards of £4 million on Israeli midfielder Benayoun, a player who is two years older than Cole. The transfer fee alone would cover the cost of Cole’s wages and Benayoun is a technically inferior player to the England man. Cole, after all, will probably be helping his country justify their World Cup odds in South Africa this summer.
I don’t mean to knock Benayoun, who stood out in a struggling Liverpool side last season. But at 30 his signing would be a step in the wrong direction considering our aging squad.
With a number of senior players such as Deco, Carvalho and Ferraira set to leave the club and with a number of our first teamers like Terry and Lampard over 30, now is the time to bring in younger players and lower the average age of our squad. Not to mention the fact that Cole is classed as a home grown player, so will count to words our quota when the new rules come in.
In my opinion the departure of Cole and signing of Benayoun would weaken the depth of the squad and lighten the bank balance. The football betting suggests the club are on course for more success, but a long-term approach must be taken.
If Roman Abramovich’s aim is to retain the Premier League and win the Champions League next season then I truly hope this rumour proves to be just that.
Blue is the colour
