As Manchester United fork out over £50m on three players, with seemingly more to come, Liverpool supporters are still waiting for one big name - and it seems it's going to be a long wait.

With George Gillett and Tom Hicks testing the patience of Rafa Benitez, we need to know where the promised funding is. I take you back to an article I wrote in February highlighting my reservations about the American tycoons.

I hate to say it, but I told you so.

At a time when Benitez should be snapping up the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres, Carlos Tevez or David Villa, we are now being linked to the likes of Manchester reject Diego Forlan, and other 'lesser' targets. Sure Forlan is flying in La Liga, but the Premiership is a different ball game altogether, and we all remember his last tenure in England. The question is whether the Americans have promised the world in meetings but not come up with the goods.

The CEO of DIC, who were previously linked with a buy-out,  is a season-ticket-holding Liverpool supporter. Can you imagine what his passion associated with corporate funding could have done to Liverpool’s progress? A world of difference from the current owners, who had to learn about Liverpool’s history through books. You can’t learn passion, and that seems to be the missing element, and Rafa’s 'passion' is being mistaken for 'falling out with the board'.

If securing established stars like Florent Malouda seems to be such an uphill battle, while Manchester United spend the same amount on teenagers, then the likes of Eto’o, Villa and Torres seem unrealistic dreams for the Liverpool faithful. At the moment, it seems Rafa is walking alone.

Benitez is a master tactician (Athens aside) and most probably will use the knowledge of the last three years to finally attempt to land the Premiership title. The lack of new signings may well prompt the remaining players to play out of their skins and in the process catapult Liverpool to success - 'Survive or Die' their motto, no doubt. What must also be remembered is that a player like Dirk Kuyt is likely to improve after his first season at Anfield.

We could see the return of the long-range passing that made Xabi Alonso famous with the Kop now that he has secured his peak years with Liverpool via a new contract. Steven Gerrard will only get better as he closes in on his peak years, and Jamie Carragher,seems to mature with age as well. Still, I'm pretty sure they would all relish the chance of playing with Torres, Eto'o or  Villa.

But there’s still time, and the Kop faithful will be willing to forgive all the deception and false promises from the new owners in exchange for some superstar signings of note. Gillett said last week that something is in the pipeline, and that he is sure that Reds supporters will be happy with developments. He is setting up an excitement frenzy amongst supporters.

But he had better not be pulling their leg, as the Kop have a humorous way of showing their disapproval, and his name may well be the key phrase in some new songs at Anfield next season. Until supporters see new star players holding up the famous red shirt standing next to a smiling Rafa, Liverpool’s bright future may be under some cloud cover for now.

Gerrard, Carragher , Pepe Reina and Alonso would not have cemented their future if Liverpool were gripped in crisis. But I’m sure they would not be impressed by their new bosses' lacklustre approach to strengthening the squad. Gerrard will no doubt feel his wonderful achievements and medals collection will be incomplete without the Premiership medal hanging in his trophy cabinet.

No.19 seems to be in the balance right now.