Managing director Purslow says Reds have spent more then they have recouped

Liverpool football clubs managing director Christian Purslow has spoken about the Reds transfer budget which has garnered a lot of attention this summer, with many press reports suggesting manager Rafael Benitez has been frustrated by the lack of spending power provided. However Purslow insists that the figure spent matches the previous seasons and suggests the club have spent £20 million more then the club has generated.

Spent

Although the actual figures remain 'undisclosed', Alberto Aquilani, the Italy midfield player, and Glen Johnson moved to Anfield for a combined sum of about £36 million according to the press. In the past week, Sortis Kyrgiakos has also been signed for a fee of £1.5 million from AEK Athens. Combined total: Approximately £37.5m

Recouped

Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa joined Real Madrid for fees of £30 million and £3.5 million respectively, Sebastian Leto signing for Panathinaikos for £3 million and several other fringe players have departed Anfield. It is also thought that the Reds recouped approximately £7m from Portsmouth from the sale of Peter Crouch the previous season. Combined total: Approximately £43.5m

“We’ve spent pretty much the same as we’ve spent every year over the past four or five years,” said Purslow. “We’ve spent about £20 million more than we’ve generated, which is what we expected. We’ve bought players the manager wanted to buy and sold players the manager wanted to sell and it has cost us almost to the penny what we expected it to cost," said Purslow in the Times.

“In fact, some of our competitors haven’t spent any money and we have. Spending isn’t the panacea everyone thinks it is, but we’ve spent £20 million and that’s real money. There are lots of costs associated with buying players and extending players that all go into transfer funds.”

Many of the press reports have centered on Liverpool's lack of spending power this year, however as reported here last week, the Reds have spent more money in transfers then Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal. The full run down of each clubs summer dealings can be read here.