Rafa Benitez will have a £64million war chest to battle Manchester United.
And top of the Liverpool boss' summer agenda is to finally tie up an £8m deal to bring Gareth Barry to Anfield when the season ends.
He will then off-load up to 11 squad players to cover the Barry deal and to generate more funds to compete in the transfer market.
With Xabi Alonso earmarked for an £18m switch to Manchester City, it leaves the way open for Benitez to keep his promise to Barry.
The Aston Villa and England star will tell his current manager Martin O'Neill to honour his pledge to sell him to Liverpool before the end of this month.
Barry has told friends he is determined to move to Merseyside after Villa's failure to qualify for the Champions League.
When a deal collapsed last season, Benitez assured Barry that he would be back for him - and he is keeping his promise. And Benitez wants Barry signed quickly to avoid the wrangles of last summer.
Barry has just a year left on his current deal and also feels Villa owe him the chance to move on after he committed to a final season in the Midlands.
Villa boss O'Neill has already conceded he is powerless to stop Barry leaving this time - although the fee could yet prove a sticking point in talks.
Having already been promised his annual £20m from the club's owners, Benitez thinks he could get another £44m in player sales.
As well as the £18m he expects from Alonso's exit, Rafa has sold Jack Hobbs to Leicester for around £1m, while others certain to go are Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena plus on-loan duo Andriy Voronin and Sebastian Leto.
Benitez also believes he will get more cash by slashing the wage bill, with big earner Jermaine Pennant set to quit Merseyside for Valencia on a Bosman.
Keeper Charles Itandje is also being forced out of the club for disciplinary reasons, while Swiss defender Philipp Degen has been a disastrous signing.
Albert Riera is also vulnerable as Benitez is considering a £12m swoop for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.
Meanwhile, Sami Hyypia will wait to see if the title race goes to the wire before deciding whether to accept a Liverpool testimonial. The 6ft 4in Finnish defender has agreed a summer move to Bayer Leverkusen after 10 years at Anfield.
If Manchester United have wrapped up the league by the time Spurs visit on May 24, Hyypia will likely to be honorary skipper for the day. If the race goes all the way, he may have a send-off next season.
And top of the Liverpool boss' summer agenda is to finally tie up an £8m deal to bring Gareth Barry to Anfield when the season ends.
He will then off-load up to 11 squad players to cover the Barry deal and to generate more funds to compete in the transfer market.
With Xabi Alonso earmarked for an £18m switch to Manchester City, it leaves the way open for Benitez to keep his promise to Barry.
The Aston Villa and England star will tell his current manager Martin O'Neill to honour his pledge to sell him to Liverpool before the end of this month.
Barry has told friends he is determined to move to Merseyside after Villa's failure to qualify for the Champions League.
When a deal collapsed last season, Benitez assured Barry that he would be back for him - and he is keeping his promise. And Benitez wants Barry signed quickly to avoid the wrangles of last summer.
Barry has just a year left on his current deal and also feels Villa owe him the chance to move on after he committed to a final season in the Midlands.
Villa boss O'Neill has already conceded he is powerless to stop Barry leaving this time - although the fee could yet prove a sticking point in talks.
Having already been promised his annual £20m from the club's owners, Benitez thinks he could get another £44m in player sales.
As well as the £18m he expects from Alonso's exit, Rafa has sold Jack Hobbs to Leicester for around £1m, while others certain to go are Ryan Babel, Andrea Dossena plus on-loan duo Andriy Voronin and Sebastian Leto.
Benitez also believes he will get more cash by slashing the wage bill, with big earner Jermaine Pennant set to quit Merseyside for Valencia on a Bosman.
Keeper Charles Itandje is also being forced out of the club for disciplinary reasons, while Swiss defender Philipp Degen has been a disastrous signing.
Albert Riera is also vulnerable as Benitez is considering a £12m swoop for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing.
Meanwhile, Sami Hyypia will wait to see if the title race goes to the wire before deciding whether to accept a Liverpool testimonial. The 6ft 4in Finnish defender has agreed a summer move to Bayer Leverkusen after 10 years at Anfield.
If Manchester United have wrapped up the league by the time Spurs visit on May 24, Hyypia will likely to be honorary skipper for the day. If the race goes all the way, he may have a send-off next season.
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