The ex-England star Gary Linneker has been giving his ideas on the highs and lows in football over the last 12 months, and he thinks that Rafael Benitez made a grave error when he signed the Italian international Alberto Aquilani. In fact he called it “possibly the worst £20m ever spent on a player,”

This may be a bit unfair as Aquilani hasn’t really given him a chance to prove himself, but Linneker thinks that the Liverpool manager doesn’t think that his top signing will fit into English football.

Linneker first spoke of the £15m that Tottenham spent on Jermain Defoe, who he thinks is the best buy of the year, then he goes on to say:

“Alberto Aquilani cost more than Defoe – but you wouldn’t have realised it from his appearances this season. At a reported £20m, he’s got to be the worst buy. He was meant to replace Alonso but spent the first three months injured and hasn’t been pushed into the team by Rafa Benitez now that he is fit. It suggests the Liverpool boss is not confident about his ability to fit into the English game.”

Does anyone agree with Linneker?