[retired_michelle_191285]

After our public backing for Sheff Utd on Monday I have my doubts.

[retired_berrysale]

It's only the press that made it seem like Liverpool were backing Sheffield Utd.

Rick was involved with the deal to bring Mascherano to Liverpool, so he had to attend to give evidence. There was nothing concrete in the report to say we were backing their bid.

The only reason it was said we were helping them is because it was a Sheffield Utd supporting rag.

[retired_anne walter]

Actually it's more because Rick Parry was CEO of the Premier League back when the transfer rules were brought in, so he was called to ask about the practices.

[retired_michelle_191285]

That's quite true.

[retired_taforduke]

Torres is Reds' number one target Jun 20 2007


EXCLUSIVE by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo


ATLETICO MADRID skipper Fernando Torres has become Liverpool’s top target.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has made the 23-year-old striker his number one priority after learning that the Madrid club have finally agreed to part with their prize asset.

But with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all having been linked with the international striker in the past, the Reds are keen to tie up a deal quickly.

Capturing a player of Torres’ stature would appease both Benitez and Reds’ fans who are becoming impatient at the lack of activity in the transfer market since Benitez’s bleak Athens post-mortem.

Torres could cost between £24m and £27m, the release figure believed to be in the player’s contract.


Atletico Madrid have steadfastly refused to sell Torres since he burst onto the scene as one of the most exciting 17-year-old’s in European football.


But a failure to qualify for next season’s UEFA Cup appears to have forced their hand.


Torres has scored 82 goals in 212 league appearances for Atletico, with 14 goals in 42 international appearances.


The Spanish striker was pictured in May, bizarrely appearing to show he already wears Liverpool’s heart on his sleeve.


During an Atletico match against Real Sociedad, Torres’ skipper’s armband came loose, revealing the Kop’s famous ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ slogan on the reverse.


While Torres could be an eagerly awaited new arrival, Marseille and Liverpool are close to agreeing a new loan deal for Djibril Cisse, according to French newspaper L'Equipe.


The French international spent last season at the Stade Velodrome and is happy to remain for a further season after Marseille qualified for the Champions League.


Bolton and Benfica have also been linked with a bid for Cisse, but it appears Marseille are set to reach an agreement with the Reds.


The deal is likely to include the option for Marseille to sign the 25-year-old front man for a pre-determined fee next summer.


Liverpool’s home match against Tottenham, originally scheduled for Saturday October 6, has now been put back to Sunday October 7 because of Spurs’ UEFA Cup involvement.


Meanwhile, internet reports suggesting Liverpool have submitted plans of the new Anfield to Liverpool City Council are inaccurate.


The Reds will unveil their plans to the public at the same time as they submit them, which is likely to be early July.

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool Officials In Madrid For Torres

Goal.com can reveal that Liverpool officials are in Madrid to complete the transfer of Fernando Torres.


The big money signings that the new Liverpool owners have been promising might finally become a reality.

George Gillett had insisted on Monday evening that he was ready for Liverpool's "phase two": the signing of new players after securing key ones to improved contracts, and there have been definite movements.

They have been tracking Fernando Torres for a while, and have now stepped up their efforts.

The Reds are looking to make their mark this summer, and a team has travelled to Madrid, we can confirm.

The objective is to finalise the transfer of the Atleti skipper, and today itself if possible.

Torres, 23, has scored 14 goals in what has been a very moderate season, one in which the club have collectively struggled.

After having his buy-out clause reduced to 40 million euros last summer, he is now ready to make the jump to a bigger club.

An earlier bid (from another club) in the region of 30 million euros fell just short of expectations, and we believe that Liverpool will offer players as a part of the deal, in order to bring down the price. Luis Garcia - who played at Atletico Madrid before Barcelona - is supposedly the player who has been offered.

The midfielder had an absolutely stunning season at the Vicente Calderon in 2002-03, when he scored 9 goals in 30 games in addition to setting up many, and still has admirers at the club.

It is being seen by many as a trip similar to Carlos Quieroz's to Portugal, when Manchester United set the transfer marked on fire. At the very least, the objective is similar, to tell other clubs, and as much their own fans, that they mean business!

Source:
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=332509

Not sure on Goal.com's credibility, probably as bad as tribal football, but the echo is pretty reliable, so looks like we're going for Torres. Just hope it doesnt mean we lose Garcia.

[retired_vandpurd4024]

Why cant we just sign Owen for £9 Mill? He will fit in and score 25+ a season. I would even let afa spend 20 mill on tevez as he is suited to the english leagues.

Even crouch and bellamy will be a gd partnership.

It really annoys me that we have to go spanish every time, when there is no certaincy that they will fit in!

[retired_taforduke]

Get over Owen. If he had played for someone else all them years, you wouldn't want him now, as you'd see without blinkers that he's a shadow of his former self and has major injury doubts to his name.

[NYCchick]

Cue West Ham or Chelsea to put in a 42m bid for Torres now

[retired_anne walter]

While Torres could be an eagerly awaited new arrival, Marseille and Liverpool are close to agreeing a new loan deal for Djibril Cisse, according to French newspaper L'Equipe.


The French international spent last season at the Stade Velodrome and is happy to remain for a further season after Marseille qualified for the Champions League.


Bolton and Benfica have also been linked with a bid for Cisse, but it appears Marseille are set to reach an agreement with the Reds.


The deal is likely to include the option for Marseille to sign the 25-year-old front man for a pre-determined fee next summer.

Why would they buy him next summer when they can sign him for free?

Originally posted by Sephiroth:
Why cant we just sign Owen for £9 Mill? He will fit in and score 25+ a season.

XFD

Even crouch and bellamy will be a gd partnership.

It really annoys me that we have to go spanish every time, when there is no certaincy that they will fit in!

Yes, not worth it when you consider Crouch and Bellamy SET THE WORLD ALIGHT.

[retired_littlegoldielocks]

no chance we'll get him.