It has been a bitterly disappointing season for Liverpool, with the results and ownership problems, but possibly their hardest task this summer is to hold onto free-scoring Spaniard Fernando Torres.
The Anfield outfit finished in seventh place, which is their lowest finish since 1999 and the first time they have failed to qualify for the Champions League since 2003 (of course in 2005 they also finished outside Champions League places, but qualified by virtue of their victory in the competition that year).
This last season has seen the Reds’ fans have to contend with their utterly dreadful American owners, who are leeching the life out of the club and they have also had to endure constant stories about Rafael Benitez’s future at the club. Now the proverbial vultures are circling over the Merseyside club and their focus seems fixed on the players, particularly Torres.
The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Liverpool of late and whilst I do not doubt his commitment to the club, surely there is not a whole lot to keep him at Anfield right now? The Europa League on Channel Five?
Torres has been fantastic for Liverpool scoring 56 goals in 79 Premier League games and such a transfer would have been unthinkable this time last season when he helped the club into second place, but with the financial woes of the club, a poor season, Benitez’s seemingly imminent departure and no Champions League football next season leaves many believing that the owners may cash in on their most prized asset.
There are many clubs who would be falling over themselves to gain his signature too. Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea have all reportedly been linked with the player over the last few weeks. After playing for Atletico Madrid Torres would never move to the Bernabeu and Barcelona’s focus seems to be on Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, so a return to La Liga may be unlikely.
That leaves Manchester City and Chelsea, with Chelsea being the most confident of landing the player as they can offer Champions League football and their owner Roman Abramovich has promised to bankroll the his league and FA Cup double winners this summer.
The Blues’ owner is desperate to see his side win UEFA’s most illustrious competition, it is reported that he believes Torres could be the man to help with their Champions League assault and could be landed in a deal worth over £40 million. The Spanish forward has also received much praise from the Stamford Bridge staff who have intimated the player would be welcome in west London.
Chelsea hitman Didier Drogba said: “Every time there is a new player coming here it’s making the club bigger and giving us a lot of strength.
“If there is a chance for him [Torres] to come he will be welcome — because any help is welcome.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti also showed his admiration for the player, but refused to be drawn into any transfer talk.
“It’s not only Drogba – I would like to play with Torres,” said Ancelotti, who added: “he is a very good player. But this is not an issue for now. He is a Liverpool player and is a good striker but we have two fantastic strikers and this is not for this moment.”
It is obvious that Tom Hicks and George Gillett do not have the best interests of the club at heart and will probably make the right financial call, which of course would be a sale because of the mounting debts at the club. They are looking to sell the club, but this issue looks set to rumble on and on making it unlikely that a new owner can come in time to keep the likes of Torres and club skipper Steven Gerrard (also being linked with moves away) from leaving the club.
The Anfield faithful would understandably be furious if such a move happened, but from the player’s point of view he wants to win things and that is becoming increasingly unlikely at a club like Liverpool at the moment. Tottenham have the option to bolster their ranks after earning fourth spot this season and Manchester City have allegedly promised Roberto Mancini anything up to £150 million to strengthen the Citizens’ squad, so earning back a place is the top four for Liverpool could potentially be a much larger mountain to climb than it has been this year.
As a Chelsea fan I would of course love to see a player of Torres’ stature at the club and I’m sure he would be great in Ancelotti’s side, who have scored 141 goals in all competitions this last term.
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