June 21, 2007
LIVERPOOL are ready to smash their transfer record with a £25million swoop for Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.
Talks over the 23 year old have already taken place between the clubs.
And Kop boss Rafa Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry are confident the player fancies the move.
Torres was pictured back in April wearing his Atletico captain’s armband with the words ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on the inside.
He denied it had anything to do with the Anfielders and claimed it was a private thing between friends.
But now a switch to the home of the world-famous anthem could become a reality, with the only key sticking point likely to be the Spain striker’s fee.
Atletico want £27m to trigger the buy-out clause in their star’s contract.
Liverpool are reluctant to go that high, despite Torres having two years left on his current deal, though they could offer £7m-rated Luis Garcia in part-exchange.
Garcia, 28, had a year with Atletico in 2003.
The transfer bid is a key test of the Merseysiders’ new American owners.
Kop fans have questioned how much George Gillett and Tom Hicks are willing to plough into the club they bought in February.
Yet if they could pull off this big-money capture, it would be a major sign of their intent and prove the doubters wrong.
Any successful deal is sure to shatter Liverpool’s previous record pay-out — £14m to Auxerre for Djibril Cisse in 2004.
Liverpool believe Torres can become the regular goalscorer they have been seeking ever since Michael Owen left that same year.
Torres almost joined Chelsea at the end of last season but eventually opted to remain in Spain.
Yet he is likely to be keener on a transfer with Atletico not in Europe for the next campaign.
Torres has hit 82 goals in 212 Atletico appearances and 14 in 42 matches for Spain — including three at last summer’s World Cup.
Liverpool now seem to have lost interest in Charlton’s Darren Bent, leaving the way clear for Spurs.
Their interest in Torres also looks likely to hasten the departure of Craig Bellamy, linked this week with a move to Roma or Juventus.
LIVERPOOL are ready to smash their transfer record with a £25million swoop for Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.
Talks over the 23 year old have already taken place between the clubs.
And Kop boss Rafa Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry are confident the player fancies the move.
Torres was pictured back in April wearing his Atletico captain’s armband with the words ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on the inside.
He denied it had anything to do with the Anfielders and claimed it was a private thing between friends.
But now a switch to the home of the world-famous anthem could become a reality, with the only key sticking point likely to be the Spain striker’s fee.
Atletico want £27m to trigger the buy-out clause in their star’s contract.
Liverpool are reluctant to go that high, despite Torres having two years left on his current deal, though they could offer £7m-rated Luis Garcia in part-exchange.
Garcia, 28, had a year with Atletico in 2003.
The transfer bid is a key test of the Merseysiders’ new American owners.
Kop fans have questioned how much George Gillett and Tom Hicks are willing to plough into the club they bought in February.
Yet if they could pull off this big-money capture, it would be a major sign of their intent and prove the doubters wrong.
Any successful deal is sure to shatter Liverpool’s previous record pay-out — £14m to Auxerre for Djibril Cisse in 2004.
Liverpool believe Torres can become the regular goalscorer they have been seeking ever since Michael Owen left that same year.
Torres almost joined Chelsea at the end of last season but eventually opted to remain in Spain.
Yet he is likely to be keener on a transfer with Atletico not in Europe for the next campaign.
Torres has hit 82 goals in 212 Atletico appearances and 14 in 42 matches for Spain — including three at last summer’s World Cup.
Liverpool now seem to have lost interest in Charlton’s Darren Bent, leaving the way clear for Spurs.
Their interest in Torres also looks likely to hasten the departure of Craig Bellamy, linked this week with a move to Roma or Juventus.