Torres

[Magic_H]

deffo signing.

 

just seen him on the quacker bus with rafa going through the albert dock.

[Paco]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/liverpool/article1996591.ece

 

Angry demonstrations on the streets of the Spanish capital have told Liverpool something about the task they face to entice Fernando Torres from Atlético Madrid, but Rafael Benítez appears to be moving closer to a club-record £25 million deal that would go some way towards defusing tensions between the manager and Liverpool’s American owners.

 

Benítez is unhappy at Liverpool’s lack of progress in the transfer market this summer and his outspoken comments have been a source of unease and irritation to George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, the co-chairmen who took majority control of the club in February. With the Americans intent on trimming their wage bill, the new regime is not what BenÍtez had in mind, but the growing likelihood of a deal for Torres, the Spain forward, should ease some of his concerns.

 

Atlético have yet to receive a formal offer for Torres, but Liverpool – after a series of proposals through intermediaries – are expected to make an official bid in the coming days.

 

Sources indicate that, while a deal is not imminent, Benítez is increasingly confident of getting his man, with Liverpool planning to bridge a gap between the clubs’ valuations by offering Luis García as a makeweight in the deal.

 

García, Torres’s Spain teammate, is a popular figure at Anfield but he has only 12 months left on his contract and, at 29, will consider a move back to his home country if it offers him long-term security and a more regular first-team place than he has enjoyed under BenÍtez’s rotation system.

 

With at least one new winger on BenÍtez’s list of requirements, García’s prospects for next season are unclear and, in an interview with a Spanish television station, he said that one day he would “like to return to Atlético Madrid”, where he had a successful loan spell as a youngster.

 

Even the arrival in Madrid of another established Spain player – as well as Diego Forlán, the Villarreal and former Manchester United forward, who figures a few names down BenÍtez’s list of alternative targets – would not quell the air of revolt among Atlético supporters at the thought of losing Torres, their talismanic captain. At least 200 gathered in Madrid for an organised demonstration on Tuesday evening, chanting the forward’s name and criticising the club’s management.

 

Last night, though, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, an influential figure at Atlético, appeared to urge the supporters to contemplate life after Torres. “No player is essential,” Gil MarÍn said. “We are trying to build a team to compete and it is not about any one player.

 

“Good though he [Torres] is, we want a squad that achieves its ambitions. I would love Fernando to stay, but it is Fernando himself who will decide his future. We have told him he is in our plans. It is normal that he has doubts and that there are offers that cause him to stop and think.”

 

Torres is determined to move to Anfield and the 23-year-old, who was the subject of a firm inquiry from Manchester United last July, would be a considerable coup for Liverpool at a time when they are concerned with selling players to generate funds and reduce a wage bill that has been increased by pay rises for the likes of José Manuel Reina and Xabi Alonso.

 

The board is desperate to offload players such as Djibril Cissé and Craig Bellamy, but asking prices of £8 million and £12 million respectively have frightened off potential buyers.

 

Jerzy Dudek, Boudewijn Zenden and Robbie Fowler have left, along with Mark González and Florent Sinama Pongolle, but Cissé, Bellamy and Gabriel Paletta are for sale, while bids for Scott Carson, Sami Hyypia and possibly Peter Crouch would be considered.

 

Carson, the England Under-21 goalkeeper, is eager for first-team football, but Liverpool are understood to be negotiating a deal to sign Nikolay Mihailov, who plays for Levski Sofia and Bulgaria Under-21. Mihailov has signed a three-year contract.

 

BenÍtez filled one vacancy yesterday when Piet Hamberg was confirmed as the club’s new youth academy technical director in succession to Steve Heighway. Hamberg, a former Ajax player, has had success in a similar role with Grasshopper Zurich.

 

Probably the best sponsorship deal in the league . . .

 

–– Liverpool have extended their sponsorship deal with Carlsberg, the longest such partnership in the Premier League, but with their new agreement lasting three years, the club have left the way clear to find a new commercial partner to sponsor their new stadium when they relocate in 2010.

–– The new contract with the brewer, Liverpool’s sponsor since 1992, is believed to be worth a basic £7 million a year, with bonuses based on the club’s success during that period. However, the deal is dwarfed by the one that Manchester United established last summer with AIG, the insurance company, which is worth a guaranteed £14.1 million a year.

[Thants]

Thats must be 5 pages old Paco. Do keep up.

[Paco]

Thats must be 5 pages old Paco. Do keep up.

it's still the most interesting football thing today

[Guest Jay W]

You would hope he'd do what any of us would do, jib the holiday off and get over here as quickly as possible.

 

Would you shite jib a nice relaxing holiday off after a hard season. I f'kin wouldn't.

[crouchaholic]

bit early in the day for festivities isn't it.

 

I assure you, Paco, he's only had a few ales.

[Paco]

I assure you, Paco, he's only had a few ales.

 

[crouchaholic]

:yes:

[Red Nick]

32c by the pool and no Sangria yet.

 

There's some serious funny shit going on this site today

 

Anyway back to the pool

[Paco]

32c by the pool and no Sangria yet.

 

There's some serious funny shit going on this site today

 

Anyway back to the pool

 

http://www.dictionary.com

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

Posted by AnotherSpanishFan on RAWK.

 

"July 5th is the date"

 

"When Liverpool will make the presentation or announcement, not too sure which they meant. Torres is on holiday in Polynesia and they're just going to wait on him to come back to sign. This according to Cadena Ser"

 

Is it only me or is anyone else concerned that date is so far away that something could happen to fuck it up? i.e Rick :biggrin:

[RedSand]

Well 5 Jul 07 is a Thursday....

 

So its official then..........

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

More info:

 

"Presenter:

 

-It seems, like this year at last he will end up out of Atletico de Madrid and in the Premier.

 

Antonio Ruiz, what is Atletico's take on Torres's exit, good afternoon....

 

Antonio Ruiz -good afternoon, well as of right now Cadena Ser has learned that after weeks of ongoing negotiations Atletico de Madrid and Liverpool could've reached a pre-agreement for the transfer of Fernando Torres for €30m plus Luis Garcia, although they're still trying to work out the details on the Garcia inclusion but it seems that is on course to happen, and of course it still remains that Torres after his vacations in Polynesia next week will not object to this operation, with the okay of his agents but they're still waiting on Torres to arrive in Madrid to personally negotiate all the intricate details of his contract.

 

At this time, i insist, Liverpool who are the highest bidders with the offer of €30m plus Luis Garcia could obtain the services of Fernando Torres...

 

Presenter- Juan Antonio Alacala has been working with Liverpool's people all day and Alcala what's being said over there?

 

Alcala- Good afternoon Gallego, from Liverpool they practically consider this transfer a done deal and even put a price on the operation as Antonio Ruiz said. €35m is what's been talked about in England if it was just the Fernando Torres transfer, €30m if Luis Garcia is included. There was a meeting back on June 21st with Rafa Benitez and the new owners where Rafa highlighted as a priority the signing of Fernando Torres. That day the two Americans, Hicks and Gillett, the Americans who are full of cash, made a first offer of around €30m-€32m, because we need to make clear that Liverpool has never tried to pay the full release clause, €40m.

 

Sources of Liverpool, very well informed and consulted by Cadena Ser, say that it's "very likely" that on July 5th, Thursday, next week when Liverpool get back to work for the pre-season, the addition of Fernando Torres will be announced. As of right now, there are contacts, that is for sure.

The player is very far, enjoying the beach and they would still need in a second phase the agreement, which wouldn't be too complicated, between Liverpool and Fernando Torres."

[RedinSweden]

I just came a little in my pants.

[Kurt]

I dont believe anything...until he has signed!

[MLB]

I heard that this deal was only completed after Rafa and Parry had a big fight last night. I guess someone was around watching because some film of it has leaked. Good to see Montse has Rafa's back at the end...

 

[Jonte]

#9 torres

[RedinSweden]

[bossy]

A proper no. 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope!

[RedSand]

 

Magic :thumbsup:

[James Dean]

What happened to Tuesday?

[Captain]

A proper no. 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope!

 

Me too, mate. For me, he is first choice of the strikers who are available. Just get the fucking deal done!

[Owen]

I heard that this deal was only completed after Rafa and Parry had a big fight last night. I guess someone was around watching because some film of it has leaked. Good to see Montse has Rafa's back at the end...

 

 

Urgh, not the meat-hook in the eye!

[KopOut]

What a strike force... Crouch and Towers... that`ll be like a tower of power!

 

Jerzy Dudek, Boudewijn Zenden and Robbie Fowler have left, along with Mark González and Florent Sinama Pongolle, but Cissé, Bellamy and Gabriel Paletta are for sale, while bids for Scott Carson, Sami Hyypia and possibly Peter Crouch would be considered."

 

 

if Torres comes, it might not be only Garcia who has to leave. Wages have to be paid, and it looks like we'll be putting all our eggs in one basket. If Garcia is part of the deal, and we end up selling Bellamy & Crouch as well, we may be a bit thin on the ground.

 

This guy is either the 2nd coming, or a big rip off merchant. He'll need to score goals for 3 strikers to be a success.

['Kaka]

Really don't want to see Luis leave. They can have Djibs, Paletta, and one or two others, but not Garcia. IMO.