Awesome

[Ryan]

From Times Online May 31, 2010

Fernando Torres at centre of Liverpool intrigue

Tony Barrett

Martin Broughton, the Liverpool chairman, is reported to have said that it might be better for Fernando Torres to leave because it could take up to three years to sort the club out.

The comments were allegedly made to Charlotte Jackson, the Sky Sports News presenter, who disclosed details of a conversation she had with Broughton, a Chelsea supporter, at the West London club’s Player of the Year awards dinner at Stamford Bridge this month.

“I saw Martin Broughton at Chelsea’s Player of the Year dinner and he refused to tell me that we weren’t going to sell Torres,†Jackson said. “He said, ‘At the moment, he’s still on board, but it’s going to take three years to turn the club around, and at his age . . .’ â€

Sources at Liverpool insist that Broughton’s position on Torres’s future has been made abundantly clear by a series of on-the-record interviews in which the British Airways chairman was adamant that the 26-year-old forward will not be sold this summer.

But the fact that he is alleged to have suggested in a private conversation that the immediate future at Anfield is so bleak that it may be better for Torres to seek pastures new will increase concern among Liverpool supporters that the club’s prized asset could depart.

Torres has attempted to put all talk about his future on the back burner until after the World Cup, but is privately deeply concerned about the direction Liverpool are heading under the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. Although it remains highly unlikely that Manchester City, who have expressed an interest in signing the Spain forward, could tempt him from Anfield, Chelsea are also monitoring the situation and the chance to join the Barclays Premier League champions would give Torres food for thought.

When Liverpool played Chelsea at Anfield this month, Broughton decided it would be best, given his allegiances, if he did not attend the game, so the fact that he was at a dinner celebrating Chelsea’s season will not be of any great surprise. But the contents of a conversation he is said to have had at the event will cause a stir, particularly the suggestion that it could be three more years before Liverpool are able to get their house in order.

Pepe Reina has already revealed his belief that Liverpool will have to revise their targets for next season in the event of a buyer not being found to oust Hicks and Gillett, and the goalkeeper’s pessimistic view has been supported by Jamie Carragher, who believes that a lack of spending power in the transfer market makes any thoughts of a title challenge being made appear fanciful.

“Clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan can just throw £100 million at new players if they don’t win the title,†Carragher, the Liverpool defender, said. “But Liverpool can’t do that. We have to build. We can’t just raid the transfer market.

“Next season, rather than thinking too much about the title, we have to concentrate on getting back in the top four.â€

Chelsea are expected to step up their efforts to sign Yossi Benayoun this week, confident that an offer in the region of £6 million could be enough to convince Liverpool to sell.

Benayoun has been unsettled for several months and had been keen on a move to Russia, with CSKA and Spartak Moscow believed to be interested in acquiring the Israel midfield player.

But Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, has jumped to the front of the queue for Benayoun and is hopeful of signing him before the World Cup.

Rangers have informed Liverpool that they will have to increase their initial £2 million offer for Danny Wilson if they want to sign the 18-year-old central defender. “We are currently waiting to hear back from Liverpool after we rejeted their original offer,†Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, said.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Lovely.

And if we sell Benayoun, I hope we don't settle for just 6 M. I realise he's getting on a bit but it will be difficult to find an adequate replacement for that money.

 

[Ryan]

Apparently we turned down 4M, but have let Chelsea know that 6M will do.

I'd be encouraged by some deal that involved Joe Cole coming the other way, but it looks like he'll end up at Spurs. Which is surprising really, cos he'll end up having to fight for his place there like he was at the Chavs.

At least if he came to us, he'd be a shoe-in for the left-wing spot.

 

[Mistadobalina]

Torres should leave, but he has a history of loyalty which might keep him here despite the odds. He certainly stayed at Athletico 2 or 3 seasons longer than anyone expected.

If we are only going to have 5 million transfer funds and from sales we can still make 40-odd million on selling Mascher, Benayoun, Riera and Babel. I dont see the point in keeping Mascher if hes going to get all moody and spend the season staring through a rain drizzled window at Insua. Cheer up and get down to 'Meat' the Argie restaurant you miserable git!

A bit of wheeling and dealing could see us with a much better squad. 45 million should be able to get us A quality LB, CM, Winger and CF.

So without champions league distractions we will probably win the Premiership next year at a canter.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Mistadobalina link=topic=40434.msg1110294#msg1110294 date=1275282359]
Torres should leave, but he has a history of loyalty which might keep him here despite the odds. He certainly stayed at Athletico 2 or 3 seasons longer than anyone expected.

If we are only going to have 5 million transfer funds and from sales we can still make 40-odd million on selling Mascher, Benayoun, Riera and Babel. I dont see the point in keeping Mascher if hes going to get all moody and spend the season staring through a rain drizzled window at Insua. Cheer up and get down to 'Meat' the Argie restaurant you miserable git!

A bit of wheeling and dealing could see us with a much better squad. 45 million should be able to get us A quality LB, CM, Winger and CF.

So without champions league distractions we will probably win the Premiership next year at a canter.
[/quote]

45M won't get you 4 "quality" players Mista. Especially since three of those positions are attacking ones.

It'll get you 4 players the equivalent of Riera, Benayoun, Babel etc - Decent, but not great. So really, we're not better off.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Also, everyone knows how dire our finances are and will be offering dogshit for our players. 4 M offer for Yossi? You've got to be joking! I would want eight if we're forced to sell.

We won't be able to improve the squad simply off of sale money. We'll either swap in like for like or we'll improve one or two positions at the sacrifice of squad depth. Neither situation excites me greatly.

 

[Ryan]

Well having 6M for Benayoun 2 years ago would have got us Aaron Ramsey, so I guess we've got to look at it in that way.

What age is Yossi, 30? He's not going to get any better, so let's hope Rafa puts that 6M to some good use.

In reality though, whomever he buys for that kinda bargain-bucket money is unlikely to be much better. At least they'll be younger.

 

[Tal]

If that comment can be proved to be true then Broughton should be dismissed. There is already a huge conflict of interest issue so he had to stay absolutely neutral in every way, at all times. Briefing a TV presenter about our star player when at the annual player awards of a rival team that want to buy him is beyond acceptable. Well, in normal circumstances anyway, but almost everything about us is a disaster right now so it's hardly surprising.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Tal link=topic=40434.msg1110302#msg1110302 date=1275286271]
If that comment can be proved to be true then Broughton should be dismissed. There is already a huge conflict of interest issue so he had to stay absolutely neutral in every way, at all times. Briefing a TV presenter about our star player when at the annual player awards of a rival team that want to buy him is beyond acceptable. Well, in normal circumstances anyway, but almost everything about us is a disaster right now so it's hardly surprising.
[/quote]

Yeah, it's pretty sickening. I'm beginning to feel like we're the butt of some cosmic joke.

 

[localny]

looks like a clever plot to get the wheels spinning on the sale of our prized asset....(their words)

anyway, just when I thought i couldn't despise these tossers anymore..

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=localny link=topic=40434.msg1110304#msg1110304 date=1275288315]

anyway, just when I thought i couldn't despise these tossers anymore..
[/quote]

How is this Gillet & Hicks fault?

 

[Rafiagra]

We need to keep hold of Torres. However, I have a feeling that either Gerrard or Mascherano will leave. If either does, then we must be looking to get £40m for either of them.

I'd love to think that Rafa could spend the money well but he must focus on getting some attacking quality. We could at least get Turan and I'd also go for SWP and Stephen Ireland assuming they were reasonable prices. Plus hopefully we could get some of Real's cast offs assuming Jose has a bit of a firesale

 

[Oncy]

I've given up caring or getting vexed anymore. What will be will be.

 

[Jack D Rips]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=40434.msg1110305#msg1110305 date=1275289263]
[quote author=localny link=topic=40434.msg1110304#msg1110304 date=1275288315]

anyway, just when I thought i couldn't despise these tossers anymore..
[/quote]

How is this Gillet & Hicks fault?
[/quote]

Possibly if we had been able to spend £80M on players, in the last two years, rather than interest on the loans that those two fuckers have put on the club, we wouldnt be in a situation where its going to take three years to tun the club around.

 

[Judge Jules]

Quite. If the report's to be believed, Broughton's view is that they're responsible, and he knows more about it than any of us do.

 

[Hansern]

I'd take this with the largest pinch of salt there is to be honest.

This Jackson woman also said she thinks Fernado should sign for Spurs, so she's a bright one that lass.

 

[Judge Jules]

What's worst is that she's actually a Red (witness the reference to "we weren't going to sell Torres&quot😉.

 

[mark1975]

It's not he healthiest of positions to be in though is it? A stand-in Chairman of sorts in charge of sorting out the finances of a big Premiership club, a guy who just happens to support the team at the top of the league, a team that also fancies a few of our best players.

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=40434.msg1110384#msg1110384 date=1275299665]
It's not he healthiest of positions to be in though is it? A stand-in Chairman of sorts in charge of sorting out the finances of a big Premiership club, a guy who just happens to support the team at the top of the league, a team that also fancies a few of our best players.
[/quote]

Well if he saves our club by sorting out our finances he would be thought well of here, and if he at the same time captured Torres down at the Chavs he would be thought well of there... Imagine to be in his shoes... A lifetime of free dinners up for grabs!!!!

 

[jexykrodic]

Oldest trick in the book. Journo misquotes (or makes up an alleged quote) club official hoping that it'll unsettle them enough to issue a 'statement' to clarify the position. Instant story from nothing...

Can anyone really see an experienced operator like Broughton briefing some Sky dolly about such a sensitive issue?

This tendency to believe anything and everything negative should be left to the invertebrates among us.

 

[Hansern]

As I thought, complete and utter bollocks.

She's just said that todays stories are a load of shite and that the conversation in no way did take place.

 

[spider-Neil]

she gets a pass for being hot as heck

 

[RolandG]

Firstly, wasn't Broughton brought on Board to assist with the sale of the club? If that is the case, he wouldn't have any say in the prospective sale of Torres or any other player for that matter. Secondly, the clubs can agree any figute they want, in the end its up to Torres and I don't believe for a minute that he'll go this season.

You have got to wonder what the chairman's agenda is? Is this a way for Hicks and Gillett to force Rafa out?

 

[zlatan18]

[quote author=RolandG link=topic=40434.msg1110606#msg1110606 date=1275380723]
Firstly, wasn't Broughton brought on Board to assist with the sale of the club? If that is the case, he wouldn't have any say in the prospective sale of Torres or any other player for that matter. Secondly, the clubs can agree any figute they want, in the end its up to Torres and I don't believe for a minute that he'll go this season.

You have got to wonder what the chairman's agenda is? Is this a way for Hicks and Gillett to force Rafa out?
[/quote]

If it is, then i guess its worked..