If there were any doubts about just how difficult it will be for Liverpool to challenge for the league title next season, then the ₤16 million paid by Chelsea for right back Jose Bosingwa should help clear them away.

Quite simply, it is an enormous amount to pay especially for a defender. Of course, the size of the transfer fee has no bearing on the eventual success of the player – Paolo Ferreira too was signed for the not inconsiderable amount of ₤13.2 million but has largely failed to impress – but all the reports indicate that Bosingwa is a class act who will be a hugely valuable addition.

Liverpool, on the other hand, are going for the out-of-contract Phillip Deggen as the possible replacement to Steve Finnan at right-back for next season. Again, there’s every possibility that Deggen proves to be a huge success and the fact that his contract was allowed to run down should not be taken as confirmation of his lack of ability.

Across the arc of a team, however, it is much more likely that the ₤15 million players are better than the ₤5 million ones. It is when squads are compared as a whole that the difference in quality becomes telling.

And it is that difference that over the course of a season has a defining effect.