Liverpool Transfer Rumors: Raul Meireles Leaving Makes Little Sense

Hold on, I thought Rafa Benitez had been sacked?

There has been very little to complain about since Kenny Dalglish took the reigns at Anfield. However, the idea of selling last season's PFA fans' Player of the Year—Raul Meireles—does little but remind me of the team's former Spanish boss.

The reasoning it appears to sell Meireles is because he is the easiest of the surplus midfielders to offload.

I'm sorry but, what?

There is a reason why he is the easiest of the so called surplus midfielders to sell, it's because he's better than the rest of them!

This move just wreaks of the Benitez era, when logic existed for decisions but it was always the wrong logic that was used. Liverpool need to lose a midfielder because of the numbers, however instead of losing a midfielder that will hurt the team's depth—Meireles—they should be looking to offload a midfielder who offers them less.

The arrival of Jordan Henderson and the potential return of Alberto Aquilani has caused this logjam in the center, while Stewart Downing's expected arrival to the left wing has pushed Meireles down the ladder at that position too.

Meireles, however, remains a very good footballer and is only 28 years old. He has plenty left to give and was impressive during his first season in English football. The idea of selling the one player that was a positive from the Roy Hodgson era is completely baffling.

Some people may say that last year he wasn't actually that good because his goal scoring spurt came and went without six games or so. However, anyone that watches football—and doesn't use arguments like Cristiano Ronaldo is a better passer than Xavi or Iniesta because he had more assists last season—will know that Meireles is a very good footballer and definitely deserves his place in the Liverpool squad.

The same cannot be said for the oft-injured and lethargic Alberto Aquilani who never looked like being up to the speed of the English game or the failed addition of Joe Cole. Cole and Aquilani may be more difficult to rid from the team because they are not as good as Meireles but for that very reason Meireles should be kept.

There is a reason why Juventus supposedly cannot afford Aquilani yet are reportedly one of the front runners for Meireles. It's not a financial concern, it's simply that Meireles is worth having and Aquilani is not. Why keep a lesser player simply for the sake of saving a few million? Just let Aquilani walk for free if you have to because the team is bound to get a few million for Joe Cole so that—along with his wages—will balance out the books to an extent.

I thought this team was looking to return to the Champions League, not lounge at mid-table. This is the move a smaller club would make. Liverpool's biggest problem is depth and Meireles has a legitimate claim that he should be starting on the right wing ahead of Dirk Kuyt. Irregardless of whether he starts or not, Liverpool need to build a squad not just a first team.

When you think that Manchester United's Player of the Year couldn't get into the Champions League final side and Paul Scholes had to earn his last appearance for the club from the bench, you see that they have a squad rather than a team.

Meireles is actually the perfect squad player. He is extensively more versatile than Aquilani and Jay Spearing, while also being a more well rounded footballer than both. His work rate has never been in question and his ability on the ball is stellar. It's not like he won the fans' Player of the Year award on his reputation.

A squad is what this club needs, selling off one of the squad's better players because it is less work than selling off the dead wood makes no sense at all.

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