Soccer:The news most Liverpool fans have been waiting for this January may well be swiftly followed by that which all dreaded, for after agreeing a €26.5 million fee with Ajax for Luis Suarez the club is now fighting to keep their box office draw Fernando Torres.
Liverpool rejected a €40 million bid for the striker from Chelsea last night, but, according to reports, the Spaniard asked the Merseysiders to enter into negotiations upon hearing of the interest.
Torres has lost trust in the club, if not fallen out of love it, and after years of broken promises it appears his gaze may have shifted south to a Champions League campaign and the promise of another next season.
The irony is that his decision came just ahead of the club’s new owners, Fenway Sports Group, sanctioning a marquee signing in World Cup semi-finalist Suarez.
The Uruguayan was seen as the sort of signing that would convince Torres the club were serious about rebuilding and contending for major silverware, if not this season, then next.
The 24-year-old has yet to pass a medical and agree personal terms but those two issues are unlikely to be stumbling blocks, unless the uncertainty over Torres prompts a rethink from the Uruguayan.
“The player is not for sale,” said a club spokesman in relation to Torres this morning. “Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando which has been turned down.”
Torres has not handed in a transfer request and has never intimated he wants to leave Anfield, despite a huge amount of speculation when he returned in August as a World Cup winner.
After a difficult start to the season, Liverpool’s worst since 1953/54, when he cut a frustrated figure on the pitch he is starting to look like his old predatory self. Kenny Dalglish’s arrival almost three weeks ago to replace Roy Hodgson lifted the whole squad but Torres seemed to benefit the most.
Having scored just once in seven matches prior to the Scot’s appointment he has hit three in his last four games - and that would have been four in four had he not had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in Wednesday’s win over Fulham.
However, it seems the short-term has not fully convinced Torres that history will not be repeated and, indeed, there may be a feeling within owners' circle that the right offer might be too good to turn down and a fesh start is required.
There is some confusion over a buyout clause in contract. Some commentators believe there is one worth €57 million already in place, while others claim it won’t be active until the summer and there remain some who insist there is none at all.
Whether there is or not, it appears Chelsea will have to up their bid to get Liverpool to listen and talk of a €45 million cash deal plus young striker Daniel Sturridge has emerged this evening.
Chelsea boss Carlo Anccelotti refused to be drawn on the matter today.
"I don't want to speak about this, you will have to ask the club," said the Italian. "He is not my player and I have to have respect for Liverpool. I don't like to speak about this."
Asked if the Torres bid had therefore caught him by surprise, he said: "I'm not surprised, because I know very well what the club is doing now. I am happy because the club is doing a fantastic job in this transfer market. The club is trying to do everything to improve the squad."
The Suarez signing represents a key moment in FSG's short reign, but what happens next is far more likely to define their first three months, and beyond, at the helm.
