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Former Premier League player Danny Murphy, has told his former club Liverpool and Arsenal that they have to spend about £400 million if they want to reach Chelsea’s level.

“I fear that by the start of next season both Liverpool and Arsenal will find it even harder to stay in the race for the title than they have this term,” Murphy wrote in the Evening Standard.

“Arsenal may be slightly closer but I see both clubs needing to spend £300-400million to reach the level where I expect Chelsea and the Manchester clubs to be following their summer recruitment drives — and I just don’t see that happening at either Anfield or the Emirates.

“Antoine Griezmann is a good example. If he leaves Atletico Madrid this summer, you simply could not imagine him moving to Arsenal. If he moves to England, it would be to play for

“Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea. That is a problem for Liverpool and Arsenal — and Tottenham for that matter — as they try to bridge the gap.”