If we had spent wisely we would have been competing for the title IMO, instead we sit in joint 8th. We bought Downing for 20M, we could have got Mata. We bought Carroll for 35M, we could have got Falcao. We bought Adam for 7M, we could have got Cabaye.
This summer is key, but IMO we can still force our way back to the top if we spend well. Depends how much the owners trust kenny, and how much they back him. This is what I would do.
Out:
Downing - 12M
Aquilani - 5m
Adam - 8m
The rest eg Cole/Kuyt etc - 5M
Total - 30M
Add that 30M of sales in with 30M provided by the owners and its 60M, witt that we could sign alot of quality.
Klass Jan Huntelaar - 17M (Buyout)
Younes Belhanda - 10M
Javi Martinez - 30M
Total - 57M
Would mean we would be shaping up like this next term:
Reina
Johnson - Skrtel - Agger - Enrique
Lucas - Martinez
Belhanda - Gerrard - Suarez
Huntelaar
Subs : Doni, Kelly, Coates, Henderson, Shelvey, Bellamy, Carroll.
If we could not attract Huntelaar and Martinez I would say go for Giroud, and Nigel De Jong ( only one year left on his City deal and out of favour)