Subtracting sales from the total spent, we invested €45.6m for the 07/08 season, €23.3m for the 08/09 season, and €33.8m for the 09/10 season.
That's an average of €34m invested per season, so a budget of €30m is realistic. Our revenue has certainly increased since then so it is certainly possible we will spend more, but do we really need to?
Sales: Molinaro (€4m), DC (€4m), Tiago (€7m), Poulsen (€5m), Almiron (€2m), Paolucci (€1m), Trez (€2m), Cannavaro (0), Zebina (0) = €25m (Possibly an extra 12m if we include Criscito and Palladino, but 1 will probably return in exchange for the other)
We just cut our wage budget significantly by getting rid of Cannavaro (€2.2m/yr), Zebina (€2.5m/yr), Tiago (€2.6m/yr), Poulsen (€3.3m/yr), and Trez (€4.5m/yr). Their replacements will not alll receive similar contracts. Hopefully we use the difference on a good coach.
With €30m invested, that brings our budget to €55m, which is enough to strengthen, imo.
€15m for a new CB (Mexes, Kjaer, Tasci, Bonucci all fall within this figure, imo), Caceres for €9m, Criscito for Palladino + €.5m (since Criscito was CO for €5.5m and Palladino for €5m), Candreva for €7m and bring back Ariaudo and Ekdal.
That leaves us with €23.5m to spend. Probably some1 in midfield assuming the Kuranyi rumours are true.
It should go towards a Camo replacement as we can longer rely on him due to constant injuries over the past few seasons. Players like Hazard and Krasic are attainable with €23.5m.
Forwards: ADP, IQ, Amauri, Kuranyi
AM: Diego, Giovinco, Candreva, Camo, Camo replacement
CM/DM: Marchisio, Melo, Momo, Ekdal
FB: Criscito, Grosso, Grygera, Caceres
CB: New CB, Chiellini, Legro, Ariaudo
+ Brazzo who can fill in anywhere.
With the above players, we can play a 4231, 4312 or even a 442. All this done with a modest budget and significant wage cuts.