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Hodgson eager to spend big in January

Roy Hodgson intends to spend in January © PA Photos

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Roy Hodgson says he intends to shop at the highest levels of the transfer market in January and has floated the idea of using funds freed up by NESV's takeover by spending £20 million on a single player.

Liverpool's ambitions in the transfer market were reined in as debt repayments began to bite under former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but the arrival of NESV at Anfield has ensured a brighter financial picture ahead of the opening of the transfer market.

With Liverpool currently languishing in the relegation zone, Hodgson has made no attempt to disguise the fact that he will attempt to strengthen his squad in January, and he appears ready to match the kind of money that predecessor Rafa Benitez spent on the likes of Alberto Aquilani, Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres.

"If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price," Hodgson told the club's official website. "The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend £20 million, we are getting a £20 million player.

"We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we can shop at a high level.

"I'm like all managers in that I'm wary of the January transfer window. I think it can be dangerous as clubs try to correct mistakes. But, having said that, we are going to be very interested in trying to improve our squad in January. There is no question about that. I am sure we will sign players."

Though Torres remains an integral member of the Liverpool squad, other big-money signings have fallen by the wayside in recent seasons. Aquilani is on loan at Juventus, Keane quickly returned to Tottenham and £11.5 million Ryan Babel often occupies a place on the bench.

The debates over Benitez's transfer activity and the strength of the squad bequeathed to Hodgson are contentious ones amongst Liverpool supporters, but the current manager certainly feels that value for money has not always been pursued in recent years at Anfield.

"I think you can pay an awful lot of money for poor players and you can pay not very much money for very good ones - it is all to do with how good your scouting and your eye is," he said.

"There are a lot of things here that the club has got to get right. We have got a lot more expensive failures on our list than good players that we have brought in for next to nothing.

"Free transfers don't necessarily mean that you have got a bargain. My experience of them has been very mixed. You need to be sure that the player you get can do the job you want from him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.