Let’s say there are two big target expenditures — Barry and ‘Striker’ (for the sake of arguement, we’ll say that it’s Robbie Keane… this week).

Word in the papers is that Martin O’Neill wants 18M for Barry. We could even say LFC might pony up 16M and Steve Finnan (doubtful that gets accepted, but nonetheless…).
Keane is easily 17M, though ‘valued’ (*rolls eyes*) at 20 large.

Alonso was slated to bring in 14-16M. Now, unless there’s somebody lurking in the shadows (remember when Barca was sniffing around?), it looks as if that money isn’t coming in. So, we’ve got an possible outlay of 32-some million pounds for two potential targets, half of which was, but no longer is, to be subsidised by Alsono’s departure.

*shrug* Don’t get me wrong, I love Xabi, but him staying (which at this point is just as likely as him leaving… who really knows?) means it could be a really underwhelming summer.

Who’s left to sell? Pennant? He might fetch anywhere from 3 to 5 mil (likely on the lesser side of that).

Maybe Rafa is sitting on cash, but is shrewdly acting as if he doesn’t have it. While I highly doubt this is the case, I like the idea as he knows bigger clubs get held to ransom fees b/c of their deeper pockets. Maybe he’s acting the pauper in hopes of lowering expectations. HIGHLY unlikely that this is the case, but an interesting alternative reality.

So, we’ll see what happens with Gareth Barry. Especially now that Martin O’Neill seems to have upped the ante by mentioning that Arsenal are sniffing around. Nevermind that Wenger paying 18M for a 27-year old seems completely opposite of his well-practised transfer policy, but…