Liverpool Transfer Rumours: Reds to Sign Sylvian Marveux, Flattering to Deceive?

According to Rory Smith, a very dependable journalist from Merseyside, Liverpool FC has already completed the medicals of Sylvian Marveux from Rennes, and the announcement is supposed to be made as soon as July 1st.

Although, if the story is true, Liverpool FC may think that they have a smart deal done in snapping up a long term target as a free transfer deal as the French star is out of contract at Rennes, the player's recent history has little to elate the fans.

Sylvain Marveux has been Rennes' longest serving player from their current crop of players and had attracted interests from clubs even of the stature of Chelsea when his plaudits hyped him and referred to him as "the next (Florent) Malouda."

Marveux, however, has lost the interest long time, mostly because of his erratic bouts with injury, and even as of now, he is coming off a long injury spell. If he is bought to the club, he would be the equivalent of signing Alberto Aquilani for free.

What follows in Rory Smith's other comments are even more deflating for the Liverpool fans who thought finally the club could splash the cash and sign a marquee player before the window closes in August.

Rory says, Liverpool may sign the likes of Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Connor Wickham and maybe another centre back, goalkeeper and a right winger other than Marveux with Jordan Henderson being the most expensive of the lot.

Now, although that is some statement, especially if you go by recent rumors, Liverpool are after a host of players who could be considered as marquee signings, like say Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and even Lucas Rodrigues (Sao Paolo player).

Some reports also say that Villa want £20 million for their Player of the Season 2010-11, Downing. Given the imminent sale of Ashley Young and unrest surrounding the club regarding the signing of their next manager, it is not unnatural to think that Villa will try and retain a fan favorite or at least emphasize on a inflated fees for him.

Frankly speaking, even Adam's story has been dragging on for sometime now, and now with reported interest from Spurs and United for the player, it is easy to see his value inflating.

So, if Liverpool have planned their budget at about £70 million, it could easily be a highly deceptive market for the Reds if the story reported from Merseyside has any truth to it, if not in terms of the money alloted, in the choice of players in the market.

I am ready to stick out my neck and claim that no Liverpool supporter (without any bias for the King Kenny) would be elated if they are told that their BIG summer signing would be none other than Jordan Henderson!

My logic behind the £70 million budget is gross spending and not net. It is based on the fact that Liverpool have reportedly spent £20 million on Henderson, so that leaves a total of £50 million and with the remaining number of targets even if the average spending is considered £9 million!

Even if the goalkeeper target may come much cheaper, I think Downing and Adam will drain out enough to keep the average spending near about the stated figure. As for Wickham, he would probably replace David N'gog on the bench after the club pays 10 times the money required to buy the French player, I am not sure it is as huge an improvement.

While most of the fans would agree that even if this be the squad the club has at the end of the transfer season, it would be a huge improvement from what we already have. With the other top four contenders going after players like Alexis Sanchez, Gervinho, Sneijder, Modric etc. to strengthen their already stronger squads than Liverpool, things don't look as bright.

Yes, fans may say that King Kenny knows the business the best and that with our form in the second half of the season, we may well challenge for far bigger honors.

Although, I have nothing against the first point, we have to look no further than Everton to see that just a strong second half of the season doesn't promise too much. The Toffees have arguably had a better run than most teams (even some top four teams) in the second half of the season in two successive seasons, yet they have no drastic improvement in the final result.

OK, they may not have had quality additions last summer to build on to their crop of players many may point, but neither did most top clubs in the league (bar Man City).

With the exception of Javier Hernandez and Rafel van der Vaart, neither of whom were marquee signings in terms of the price paid to hire them, signings didn't impact the first half of the season anyways.

In my opinion, Liverpool spent way too much on Jordan Henderson and if they don't ship out at least two midfielders (including Aquilani), I don't see how Jordan will feature in Liverpool's starting lineup without being used as a winger, which again is nothing short of a gamble.

After being hailed as the most important summer window in Liverpool's recent history, I think the spending (in terms of value additions and not just volumes of money spent) does little to highlight the club has had more than two genuinely good first team players.

Even when Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia were bought, the case was no different, so it wouldn't be as big a summer after all.

However, I would like to conclude on the note that I would be personally more than happy both to find Liverpool had other ideas than what Rory makes of it or if Liverpool do well even with that referred set of players.

Maybe the point the Liverpool management is trying to make is that let's get to the top four this season and obtain Champions League status this season with these signings, and then we'll spend on marquees when we can attract more players with an added Champions League attraction.

But the point I am making is precisely this, with all those signings are Liverpool adding £70 million worth talent to the squad?

Couldn't Liverpool have done much better with that allotted gross spending even if that meant hiring players (like Lucas Rodrigues) from unexplored avenues like South America or even just one marquee signing like Cazorla/Mata even if that meant they bought no centre back (which they frankly don't need) or one not of Premier League experience and thus highly priced?

Your guess is as good as mine.