Roy encourages bid for Torres?

[Horus]

A Kaká-sized bid could still prise Fernando Torres from Liverpool | Football | guardian.co.uk

 

Liverpool's manager Roy Hodgson is pleased Fernando Torres has pledged his future to the club after admitting he would not be able to turn down a massive bid for the Spain striker.

 

Both Chelsea and Manchester City are rumoured to be considering a bid for Torres that would break the British transfer record, but he returned to pre-season training this week and insisted his commitment had not wavered.

 

Liverpool clearly did not want to sell the 26-year-old but it was felt had they received a bid in excess of £50m they would have had to consider it seriously.

 

Hodgson knows a player of Torres' quality will always attract attention but he is thinking only of what the player can offer him in the coming campaign.

 

"The important thing for Fernando and for us is that we have a good season – he as a player, us as a club and me as a manager," said the 62-year-old.

 

"Who knows what next season will bring? We could have a fantastic season and the players will not want to go anywhere, or we could have a worse one and there will be more speculation.

 

"It could be he does so fantastically well and an offer comes in like the offer came in for Kaká or Cristiano Ronaldo [£56million and £80million respectively – both from Real Madrid] which is impossible to turn down.

 

"But we will take that problem when and if it arises but the important thing is it hasn't arisen this summer because he is going to be playing for us.

 

"He is committed to playing for us and he is going to honour his contract and it is good for me he has made it clear he likes the club and the fans.

 

"It is nice now the speculation can finally end once and for all after Fernando made it clear how absolutely committed he is."

 

Amid all the rumours, Hodgson three weeks into his new job flew out to see Torres while he was on holiday.

 

The player said he had been impressed by his new manager but Hodgson admits there were times when he feared he would lose Torres or Steven Gerrard, who was linked to Real before he committed his future to the club.

 

"I hate bland statements saying 'Don't worry, everything will be rosy' when you know the world of football and what we are up against," he added.

 

"I know the battles that have to be fought sometimes to get things right and I was anxious not to make any false promises.

 

"But it is a much nicer feeling today with all these players still with us, with the possibility to bring in one or two new faces."

 

However, Hodgson accepts his skills of persuasion may not be enough to keep Javier Mascherano at the club after he asked to leave, eyeing a reunion with former Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez at Internazionale.

 

"I think what Fernando was most impressed with was I spent about 15 hours on a plane to spend 15 minutes with him," added Hodgson.

 

"I think it will be slightly more difficult to persuade Javier to stay if a big offer comes in from a club he wants to go to.

 

"But the good thing is we haven't had that yet and as a result I can continue to work with him and just wait for the day, if it comes, when an offer comes in.

 

"If it was the offer that meets our valuation and he wants to go then I don't know if my powers of persuasion will be much good in that situation.

 

"But maybe they will never be needed because we might not get the offer, and he might stay with us anyway."

[Wor Horse]

No he's not. Not at all.

[El Rojo]

No, he doesn't. Read it again.

[longballs]

What was the point of him saying "It could be he does so fantastically well and an offer comes in like the offer came in for Kaká or Cristiano Ronaldo [£56million and £80million respectively – both from Real Madrid] which is impossible to turn down."

 

It just serves to create a story.

[Horus]

What was the point of him saying "It could be he does so fantastically well and an offer comes in like the offer came in for Kaká or Cristiano Ronaldo [£56million and £80million respectively – both from Real Madrid] which is impossible to turn down."

 

It just serves to create a story.

 

exactly.

[ZonkoVille77]

He is just saying what is true - it doesn't mean he's encouraging it at all.

[aws]

Come and get him plea.

[danperkins]

A Kaká-sized bid could still prise Fernando Torres from Liverpool | Football | guardian.co.uk

 

Liverpool's manager Roy Hodgson is pleased Fernando Torres has pledged his future to the club after admitting he would not be able to turn down a massive bid for the Spain striker.

 

Both Chelsea and Manchester City are rumoured to be considering a bid for Torres that would break the British transfer record, but he returned to pre-season training this week and insisted his commitment had not wavered.

 

Liverpool clearly did not want to sell the 26-year-old but it was felt had they received a bid in excess of £50m they would have had to consider it seriously.

 

Hodgson knows a player of Torres' quality will always attract attention but he is thinking only of what the player can offer him in the coming campaign.

 

"The important thing for Fernando and for us is that we have a good season – he as a player, us as a club and me as a manager," said the 62-year-old.

 

"Who knows what next season will bring? We could have a fantastic season and the players will not want to go anywhere, or we could have a worse one and there will be more speculation.

 

"It could be he does so fantastically well and an offer comes in like the offer came in for Kaká or Cristiano Ronaldo [£56million and £80million respectively – both from Real Madrid] which is impossible to turn down.

 

"But we will take that problem when and if it arises but the important thing is it hasn't arisen this summer because he is going to be playing for us.

 

"He is committed to playing for us and he is going to honour his contract and it is good for me he has made it clear he likes the club and the fans.

 

"It is nice now the speculation can finally end once and for all after Fernando made it clear how absolutely committed he is."

 

Amid all the rumours, Hodgson three weeks into his new job flew out to see Torres while he was on holiday.

 

The player said he had been impressed by his new manager but Hodgson admits there were times when he feared he would lose Torres or Steven Gerrard, who was linked to Real before he committed his future to the club.

 

"I hate bland statements saying 'Don't worry, everything will be rosy' when you know the world of football and what we are up against," he added.

 

"I know the battles that have to be fought sometimes to get things right and I was anxious not to make any false promises.

 

"But it is a much nicer feeling today with all these players still with us, with the possibility to bring in one or two new faces."

 

However, Hodgson accepts his skills of persuasion may not be enough to keep Javier Mascherano at the club after he asked to leave, eyeing a reunion with former Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez at Internazionale.

 

"I think what Fernando was most impressed with was I spent about 15 hours on a plane to spend 15 minutes with him," added Hodgson.

 

"I think it will be slightly more difficult to persuade Javier to stay if a big offer comes in from a club he wants to go to.

 

"But the good thing is we haven't had that yet and as a result I can continue to work with him and just wait for the day, if it comes, when an offer comes in.

 

"If it was the offer that meets our valuation and he wants to go then I don't know if my powers of persuasion will be much good in that situation.

 

"But maybe they will never be needed because we might not get the offer, and he might stay with us anyway."

Noticed your recurring posts about Hodgson, You have a serious Anti Roy Agenda, give him a chance FFS we haven't even played 1 league game. Edited August 4, 2010 by danperkins

[t1971]

Would have thought the manager would give a "not for sale at any price" style quote. Obviously its not up to him but you would think he would try to deter any bidders.

[Xherdan]

I hope you find my neg encouraging.

[Torvald Utne]

Well he is saying we will accept a bid of £56m.

[Silly season]

Think you misunderstood

[Red Nick]

The Sooner Hodgson fucks off the better, what a twat

[HJohal]

It is a PR howler - we have spent months trying to get Torres to commit his future to Liverpool which he finally did this week and what does Roy do ... he encourages more speculation.

 

Expect more newspaper headlines especially if the takeover is dealyed - Roy must understand that this is not Fulham where he can speak openly about any topic the meida may like he is now representing Liverpool F.C and is sending a message of intent every time he opens his mouth in front of the media ..

[Horus]

I hope you find my neg encouraging.

 

I did mate, I found it hilarious. "Encourage this." If I'm ever negged by a hard man again, I want it to be you.

[KirkdaleRick]

Roy's tenure at Anfield will be a short one.

[RedinSweden]

He clicked on Willing to listen to offers instead of giving the old hands of warning. Easily done.

[Fowlers God]

There were loads of people saying exactly the same thing on here a few weeks ago. Alot have people were already spending Nando's money- Hypocrites.

[RedinSweden]

It is fairly honest. We would accept a bid of 80 million and that would probably be accepted by most Liverpool fans if the money was spent on players. It is a hell of a lot of cash. i am not saying i want it to happen, but it is daft to think that we would resist a bid like that. Does anyone know what the reply was in answer to?

[KopOut]

Roy's tenure at Anfield will be a short one.

 

The new owners will have 'The Return Of The King' screening at the press conference as they unveil the return of The King.