Rafa Benitez is now unlikely to move for Holland striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in the transfer window, with the striker's recent injury record counting against him.
But the Liverpool manager risks missing out on January transfer targets by over-pricing players he wants out. Benitez is desperate to bring in more creative players but will first have to sell the likes of Andriy Voronin, Andrea Dossena or Ryan Babel.
But he risks derailing his plans by asking £12million for Holland striker Babel and £5m for Voronin, whom he signed on a free two years ago.
Benitez knows he will have to drop his price the longer the window is open because he has to sell to finance moves for Atletico Madrid winger Maxi Rodriguez plus a centre-forward.
Real Madrid striker Van would consider offers from Blackburn, Birmingham and Bolton in a bid to revive his career but has played only 141 minutes of football in the past year after a recurrence of his knee ligament injury.
He is desperate for a return to the Premier League because he wants to force his way into Holland's World Cup squad - and has no chance if he stays at Madrid, where he is now fifth choice