Does Rafa have any more cash to splash?

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Aquilani only signed a new four-year deal with Roma worth £70,000 a week in May, following interest from Arsenal a few months earlier, but he has been enticed away by a five-year deal that will increase his weekly wage to £85,000.
His eye for goal suggests he will link up with Gerrard just behind Fernando Torres, in a departure from last season’s favoured system of using Alonso and Javier Mascherano as midfield anchor men

Benitez is clearly optimistic Liverpool’s support will warm to Aquilani’s close control and weaving runs. ‘Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in Serie A
and the Champions League,’ said the Liverpool manager.
‘He has long been recognised as a top-class talent in Italy, captaining his country at Under 19 and Under 21 levels before establishing himself in the senior national side.’ (Daily Mail)

So that’s that then. The Italian may well indeed be a player with more in common with Stevie G but will have to show a lot more of a cutting edge to even be mentioned in the same breath as Gerrard, but I have a good feeling about Aquilani and will be hoping he bucks the general trend of Italian’s in the Premier League.

So it could be that we have a slightly altered formation for the coming season with a pair of advanced midfielders behind Torres, which would go some way for making up for not have a two pronged attack. With Mascherano behind the pair we are at least guaranteed the solidity of the Argentine to thwart the opposition so it could turn out to be a crucial season for Javier.

Also, that seems like one hell of a pay check Alberto is getting, I know that the tax law change will hit footballers hard but I hope the big wage doesn’t lead others already at the club to question their own salary.

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