leaving aside the whole financial angle and whether we would get to spend any or all of any transfer fee, if Stevie does go, who would we get to replace him? At the start of last season we were still an appealing destination for players, world famous club + champions league + one of the best managers in the world. This year it's world famous club + europa league +... well, it looks like a safe pair of hands/ship steadier. We've struggled in the past to attract players on account of not being in London, larger wages are on offer elsewhere in the north west, we are rapidly running out of selling points here. The attraction of playing alongside world stars is being diminished if Stevie goes, Masch seemingly going, Torres... I know people like to play up how attractive playing for Liverpool is, but even if we can afford the transfer fees, I reckon we could really struggle to attract them if they have offers from elsewhere.