8) Javier Mascherano – £18.6m from West Ham (owned by Kia Joorabchian) in 2008 – 8/10
A brilliant signing, and still one of the best defensive midfielders in world football. At one point – Mascherano formed part of the trio Liverpool fans regarded as the best midfield on the planet alongside Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. The Argentine forced a move to Barcelona in 2010, and our former boss Roy Hodgson recently named him as the world’s best player in the 2014 Ballon d’Or voting! He’s not quite that good – but we’d absolutely love him back at Anfield.
