It's a good signing for Liverpool, but they need two or three more quality players to be anywhere near competitive with the big boys. A left back, a midfielder and a striker are required and that's providing they keep hold or Torres and Gerrard. They're getting left behind especially with Spurs and City in the market and Chelsea and United have bigger and better squads anyway.

How much of Benayoun have you actually watched? Benayoun, as good as he was on his day, would go weeks producing absolutely nothing. Benayoun only ever performed on the right for us, when he played on the left he was anonymous and his lack of pace allowed his cutting in very easy to defend. Benayoun was lightweight, an average decision maker and sometimes a selfish player, he would always take one touch too many, he would always try and beat the extra man, he wasn't anywhere near 'underrated'. But, he isn't a poor player, excellent on his day from the right, passes well, moves well, shoots well and isn't scared to try and pick the lock.

But, with regards to Joe Cole, he is potentially a brilliant signing. He'll count on the home grown quota, he is versatile, at a decent age and he can be absolutely lethal on his day. He can be very good at passing, gets himself into scoring positions well and his skill is very good. Look at things like his pass to Drogba vs. Valencia for an example of what he's capable of, he is a very good player when fit and in form, but that seems to be the challenge with him: getting him fit, keeping him fit and allowing himself to play into some kind of form.

I'd say Cole is a better player than Benayoun and potentially a far better player than him, neither player is poor, neither player is world class, but Cole's 'top level' is a lot higher than Benayoun's.

90k a week for a crock? shrewd

Joe Cole will have taken a fair old chunk of that £5M as a signing on fee, given that all of this has been economic based on his part.

If they find a central role for him, great signing. Play him out wide, pointless.

As i said at the time im glad Cole has gone, hes to injury prone and not good enough of a top club. Im not saying Benayoun is at all but he´ll be on alot less money and will work hard for the team.

There's strong rumours linking Titus Bramble to Sunderland, which is really worrying. Lots of people see Bramble as a buffoon and a walking mistake, but for us he's been outstanding over the last few years. If he went I'd be absolutely gutted and it would leave Wigan in big trouble despite having the likes of Gohouri, Caldwell and Alcaraz who can cover the centre back position. Also Wigan are closing in on the signing of Hamilton midfielder James McArthur in a £750,000 deal.

Liverpool have signed Danny Wilson from Rangers and Sold Albert Riera to Olympiakos.

Benayoun is absolutely awfull. He was worse than Luis Garcia for us. A good goal every 10 games but on the whole his overall play was truely awfull. Really surprised Chelsea took him off our hands.

Liverpools outs

Benayoun - 5m
Insua - 5m
Riera - 5m

Liverpool ins

Danny Wilson - 2m
Jonjo Shelvey - 1.7m
Milan Jovanovic - Free
Joe Cole - Free

Bramble is a confidence player. When he's on his game he's fantastic. Easily one of the best central defenders we've had at Ipswich. On the other hand, if he makes a mistake his head sometimes drops and he struggles.

£5m for Riera??!! That's daylight robbery! £5m for Insua is a pretty damn good bit of business too!

Agreed. Purslow is doing a great jon getting rid of the dead wood.

I actually rate Insua and expect him to go onto become a top player.

The rumours are that Figueroa will fill the left-back slot at Liverpool, leaving Wigan up sh*t creek.

If that's true it could leave the scousers up there with them.

Moving to Liverpool would ruin him. He's a good player for Wigan but isn't the kind of player that a team challenging for the champions needs. Liverpool would have been off keeping Insua.

He had some decent games, but I think lacks the pace to become a top class full back.