Mancini: Every club in Europe would want Torres

[Judge Jules]

Whoever it may turn out to be. A bigwig like Broughton isn't going to come out and publicly say what he's said in that regard (new owners within months) if he weren't sure it was going to happen. His rep.is too important to him.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Stulikesdrums link=topic=39903.msg1092261#msg1092261 date=1272023003]
Matt Hughes in the Times

There have been times during this season when, with his pace visibly declining, his form compromised by injuries and his mental strength undermined by off-field turmoil, senior figures at Chelsea have regretted not accepting Manchester City’s bid for John Terry last summer. The £40million that was on the table then for a 29-year-old with a long-standing back problem will not be seen again so Chelsea missed the boat, particularly when one considers that the club’s price for rejecting City’s overtures was to give their captain a new five-year contract worth £160,000-a-week.

To many observers, Chelsea’s understandably knee-jerk reaction to the threat from Eastlands resulted in not one, but two expensive mistakes, which begs the intriguing question of whether or not Liverpool will follow their example as City attempt to sign Fernando Torres this summer.

Liverpool’s initial reaction to Roberto Mancini’s remarkably candid expression of interest yesterday was for Rafael Benitez to insist that Torres is not for sale at any price. The Spaniard had to say that and was correct to do so in no uncertain terms, but it would be remiss of his employers not to at least explore how much City are willing to pay and give some consideration to sanctioning a deal.

Every player has a price after which retaining them goes from being a statement of ambition to mere foolishness and sentimentality, with the main question in this case being whether City are willing to conjure up such a sum. Given their opening bid for Torres will be in the region of £50m it seems that their final offer could be stratospheric, beyond even the £80m Real Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.

It is difficult to overstate just how desperate City are to land a genuine world-class superstar, not only to add quality to an improving team, but to give enhanced status and legitimacy to their entire project, in the expectation that others will follow. In their own minds at least they have come close to signing Kaka, Terry and Samuel Eto’o in the past only to be disappointed, but with Liverpool beset by problems and the player reluctant to miss out on the Champions League Torres’ situation is ripe for exploitation. If City do finish fourth in the Premier League this season then it really could be a goer.

Torres is known to have reservations about joining City – he would prefer to sign for Chelsea, who bizarrely are likely to be priced out of the auction – and will not agitate for a move so Liverpool’s actions will determine the outcome of what promises to be a long-running saga. How much is too much for them to refuse? An opening bid of £50m will be dismissed out of hand, but will the club’s nerve hold if it increases to £75m, or even £100m? Liverpool would be mad not to encourage, and ultimately accept, such an outlandish offer, which could be re-used to overhaul the playing squad or shape the long-term future of the club.

Putting this in context, the Rhone Group offered £100m last month for a 34 per cent stake in the club. Now Torres is a world class striker who will always score goals – when fit – but is his value really more than a third of that of the entire club, with all its other assets, proud history and huge global fan-base? Without selling Torres or attracting additional investment the only other way Liverpool would hope to raise £100m would be to win the Champions League three years in a row, which given they are unlikely to even enter the competition next season, will not happen any time soon.

As for what they could do with the money, the possibilities are beguiling. A shrewd manager with an extensive scouting network at his disposal such as Benitez should be able to recruit half a team for £100m, while alternatively it could be used to cover one-quarter of the costs of the new stadium, or even more if they can be convinced to share with Everton. The fans would not like it, but the long-term gains could potentially outweigh the short-term outrage.

If City are prepared to offer silly money for Torres then Liverpool should bite their hands off.

[/quote]

i vascillate on this. i tend to agree with the article when he's not playing, but when he scores a brace in his next game i wouldn't sell him for any price.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39903.msg1092308#msg1092308 date=1272027016]
[quote author=Terrier link=topic=39903.msg1092295#msg1092295 date=1272025966]
If they offer in excess of 110m he'll be gone - no questions asked and nothing we can do about it.
[/quote]

Perhaps not, but he himself could refuse to go. He has a contract and can insist on the club meeting its side of that. For the moment, I think he would.
[/quote]

i doubt that. i think us trying to flog him would let him off the hook somewhat - it'd give him a chance to leave without looking like the absolute bad guy, which, short of us finding rich new owners very quickly, is probably the best outcome he can hope for.

 

[franklyfrank]

They could throw £200 million at us for Torres and we still wouldn't be able to replace him.

You cant replace a player like Torres no matter how much you get in return.

 

[Le Chacal]

[quote author=franklyfrank link=topic=39903.msg1092365#msg1092365 date=1272030224]
They could throw £200 million at us for Torres and we still wouldn't be able to replace him.

You cant replace a player like Torres no matter how much you get in return.


[/quote]

Would you take £70M for Gerrard?

Personnaly, I would never sell Gerrard but I would take £70M for Torres

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=peterhague link=topic=39903.msg1092364#msg1092364 date=1272030201]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39903.msg1092308#msg1092308 date=1272027016]
[quote author=Terrier link=topic=39903.msg1092295#msg1092295 date=1272025966]
If they offer in excess of 110m he'll be gone - no questions asked and nothing we can do about it.
[/quote]

Perhaps not, but he himself could refuse to go. He has a contract and can insist on the club meeting its side of that. For the moment, I think he would.
[/quote]

i doubt that. i think us trying to flog him would let him off the hook somewhat - it'd give him a chance to leave without looking like the absolute bad guy, which, short of us finding rich new owners very quickly, is probably the best outcome he can hope for.
[/quote]

Thing is, though, I don't believe he's looking to leave. I take him at his word when he says, as he has, that he wants to stay and win things here. If we have another doldrum season he may reconsider, but I'd bet the farm on Torres still being a Liverpool player this time next year and probably beyond that.

 

[LarryHagman]

If Ronaldo was 80mil, then Torres should be roughly the same, probably slightly less, say 70mil.

Tevez went for 25mil, Adebayor for 25mil (or so).

If you asked me would I swap Torres for Tevez, Adebayor and 20mil then I would bite your hand off.

Debate.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=39903.msg1092370#msg1092370 date=1272030719]
[quote author=franklyfrank link=topic=39903.msg1092365#msg1092365 date=1272030224]
They could throw £200 million at us for Torres and we still wouldn't be able to replace him.

You cant replace a player like Torres no matter how much you get in return.


[/quote]

Would you take £70M for Gerrard?

Personnaly, I would never sell Gerrard but I would take £70M for Torres
[/quote]

That's because you're an idiot.

No one would pay £70m (or anything like it) for Gerrard now. The bidding for Torres would begin at about that amount.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=franklyfrank link=topic=39903.msg1092365#msg1092365 date=1272030224]
They could throw £200 million at us for Torres and we still wouldn't be able to replace him.

You cant replace a player like Torres no matter how much you get in return.


[/quote]

techincally if you have two players of the level of darren bent (for example) and they are available all season they could 'possibly' secure more points than a torres who is in and out of the side. in an ideal world you'd have one torres and one darren bent with the latter picking up the slack when the former is injuried.

as for the new owners, as judge says they'll have money or wouldn't be able to afford hick's ridiculous price and will also want the profile of the club to remain as (the reason why'd they want the club in the first place along with making a profit).
as the ownership currently stands however a large enough offer and torres WILL be sold, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=39903.msg1092373#msg1092373 date=1272030849]

If Ronaldo was 80mil, then Torres should be roughly the same, probably slightly less, say 70mil.

Tevez went for 25mil, Adebayor for 25mil (or so).

If you asked me would I swap Torres for Tevez, Adebayor and 20mil then I would bite your hand off.

Debate.

[/quote]

Hmmm.

Sounds tempting when you put it like that, but I'm still unsure. Torres is sooooo purty.

 

[Le Chacal]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39903.msg1092374#msg1092374 date=1272030883]
[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=39903.msg1092370#msg1092370 date=1272030719]
[quote author=franklyfrank link=topic=39903.msg1092365#msg1092365 date=1272030224]
They could throw £200 million at us for Torres and we still wouldn't be able to replace him.

You cant replace a player like Torres no matter how much you get in return.


[/quote]

Would you take £70M for Gerrard?

Personnaly, I would never sell Gerrard but I would take £70M for Torres
[/quote]

That's because you're an idiot.

No one would pay £70m (or anything like it) for Gerrard now. The bidding for Torres would begin at about that amount.

[/quote]
Chillax Bunny.
Have a good weekend.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=39903.msg1092373#msg1092373 date=1272030849]

If Ronaldo was 80mil, then Torres should be roughly the same, probably slightly less, say 70mil.

Tevez went for 25mil, Adebayor for 25mil (or so).

If you asked me would I swap Torres for Tevez, Adebayor and 20mil then I would bite your hand off.

Debate.

[/quote]

a straight swap of tevez, ade and bellemy for torres.

 

[doctor_mac]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39903.msg1092382#msg1092382 date=1272031126]
[quote author=LarryHagman link=topic=39903.msg1092373#msg1092373 date=1272030849]

If Ronaldo was 80mil, then Torres should be roughly the same, probably slightly less, say 70mil.

Tevez went for 25mil, Adebayor for 25mil (or so).

If you asked me would I swap Torres for Tevez, Adebayor and 20mil then I would bite your hand off.

Debate.

[/quote]

a straight swap of tevez, ade and bellemy for torres.
[/quote]

Tevez, Ad, Johnson and Ireland.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39903.msg1092372#msg1092372 date=1272030829]
[quote author=peterhague link=topic=39903.msg1092364#msg1092364 date=1272030201]
[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=39903.msg1092308#msg1092308 date=1272027016]
[quote author=Terrier link=topic=39903.msg1092295#msg1092295 date=1272025966]
If they offer in excess of 110m he'll be gone - no questions asked and nothing we can do about it.
[/quote]

Perhaps not, but he himself could refuse to go. He has a contract and can insist on the club meeting its side of that. For the moment, I think he would.
[/quote]

i doubt that. i think us trying to flog him would let him off the hook somewhat - it'd give him a chance to leave without looking like the absolute bad guy, which, short of us finding rich new owners very quickly, is probably the best outcome he can hope for.
[/quote]

Thing is, though, I don't believe he's looking to leave. I take him at his word when he says, as he has, that he wants to stay and win things here. If we have another doldrum season he may reconsider, but I'd bet the farm on Torres still being a Liverpool player this time next year and probably beyond that.
[/quote]

fair enough, that's your opinion, but i just don't see it. i take him at his word as well btw, specifically his apparent condition of us signing '4 or 5' top players (with no money) which he must know is extremely unlikely.

 

[Hansern]

It's a moot point anyway, cause it doesn't matter.

Torres won't be joining City. Not now, not ever.