Fernando Torres

[Oliver_Kahn]

^done..

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Good work, Kahn!I could have done it myself but I'm to lazy.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

£27m Torres heading for Anfield as Benítez makes striking move

Liverpool and Atlético Madrid have agreed a deal to take Fernando Torres to Anfield. Liverpool will pay fractionally less than the €40m (£27m) buy-out clause Torres has at the Vicente Calderón, leaving the 23-year-old striker to finalise personal terms before the move goes ahead. Neither side anticipates major difficulties in closing the deal, with Liverpool understanding that any percentage of the transfer fee due to Torres must be paid by Atlético.

Luis García is set to go in the other direction for almost £4m but although his move facilitates negotiations on Torres and would bring down the cash price, the deals are not interdependent. Liverpool paid £6m for García when he joined three summers ago but their manager, Rafa Benítez, is prepared to release him and García is keen on a return to Spain to play for the club where he spent a successful season in 2002-03, scoring nine times in 30 games.
Although Atlético fans protested against the sale of Torres - the captain, standard-bearer and the player they have called The Kid since he made his debut at 16 - the club have decided it is time to cash in on their greatest asset. "No one is irreplaceable," said their major shareholder, Miguel Angel Gil Marín. "We have to build a competitive team and no one player, however good he is, can achieve our objectives on his own. Last time I spoke to Fernando he said he was staying but I can't prevent him having a change of heart and I have to be prepared for that."

Atlético have previously had to withstand an offer from Tottenham and informal approaches from Chelsea for Torres, but agreed to drop Torres's buy-out clause from €90m to €40m this summer to facilitate a move. They are keen on a cash injection and Torres has grown tired of waiting to fulfil his dream of playing in Europe for the club. He has always insisted he does not want to play for another Spanish team and is an admirer of the Premiership.

"If I left Spain I'd like to go to England, because it's interesting and because the way they play in Italy's not so attractive," he said 18 months ago. Liverpool wanted to offer Djibril Cissé as part of the deal but the Frenchman rejected the move. Torres scored 14 league goals last season, taking him to 75 in five top-flight seasons.

Source: The Guardian

Now we have to sell some players...

[Mighty T.A.L.]

According to The Daily Mail Liverpool will pay £20+Luis Garcia (valued at £4M) for Torres so I don't know what Liverpool have to pay yet...The Guardian writes Liverpool have to pay the release clause on £27M.

[Werdna]

Do you have a link? Can't fin anything.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Benitez closes on top target Torres for £24m | the Daily Mail

[Werdna]

Thx!

That's very good news. Hopefully he'll fit in quickly and bag 20+ goals next season!

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Torres is on holiday at the moment and will not be back before July 9 so we have to wait for his signature.Nothing's cleared yet.He can still turn us down and a new club can come in the picture.

[Werdna]

or they can fax him the contract...

[Pat Murphy]

SPORT say the deal is £20m + Luis Garcia and that it can't be signed before July 5th, probably due to as someone mentioned that Torres is on holiday. Looks like this is a done deal.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Atletico play down Torres deal talk

Atletico Madrid have played down claims Fernando Torres has already agreed a move to Liverpool but the club accepted "things can change".

Reports on Friday morning suggested a deal had been struck to take the 23-year-old Spain striker to Anfield - a move which has been mooted for several weeks.

However, the Madrid club insist no agreement has been reached.

A club spokesperson said: "At the moment, there is nothing happening. There are no negotiations taking place, although things can change.

"The player is on holiday at the moment and will report back to training on July 9 for the Intertoto match (at the end of July).

"At the moment, any talk of a move is just speculation and we are still hopeful that Fernando will be with us next season."

Source: FOX Sports

Or not...?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

The case is that Atletico Madrid will not sell Torres without him to hand in a transfer request.They won't upset the fans more than they already are.It's all up to Torres now.Will he stay for the wish of fans or will he join us?

[Pennywise]

I am a bit agree that the price is too high for Fernando Torres, but when you've american capital and how things have changed just the last years when it comes to rich owners, this is what we got.

ManUtd payed £17 mill or something for Owen Hargreaves.....then Liverpool should pay £35 for Torres.

Fernando Torres has not been a giant in La Liga this season and I don't think you guys have heard much about him after WC. He has a hallmark for being 'away' in the big matches. He has played against Real 11 times, and first this year scored his first goal against them.
I watched Torres live last season in El Derbi Madrid, and he was totally marked by the circumstances.

But, but, but....

If "The Reds" have capital to bring him in (and they've) Fernando Torres will be their best striker. Remember that this kid is born in 1984 - but has already played seven seasons for Atletico Madrid (212 matches and 82 goals) He is also a Spain international. Because of his age, he has a giant potential and the merseyside club have perhaps shot the famous 'gold bird'

[Werdna]

But on the other hand his record against Barcelona is quite good I think.

I'm not too bothered if he doesn't play tops in the bit matches cause Liverpool desperately needs someone who can score goals against the weaker opposition!

And regarding the price. I'm not bothered what any club pays for any player as it isn't any of our business really. It's simply what the two clubs agree on and the exact totals are pretty irrelevant in my opinion.

[Dellas]

Torres scored 14 goals last season for Atletico
Liverpool are on the brink of landing Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres in a club record £27m deal.

BBC Sport understands negotiations are almost complete for the 23-year-old Spain striker and boss Rafa Benitez is confident he has got his top target.

Atletico Madrid want Liverpool's Luis Garcia, but that move is independent of the Torres transfer.

Torres is currently on holiday until early July, but Benitez remains hopeful of having a deal in place by then.

Atletico fans held a protest at the possible deal, and a club spokesman has tried to cool suggestions that move is now imminent.

The spokesman said: "The player is on holiday at the moment and will report back to training on 9 July for an Intertoto match.

"At the moment, any talk of a move is just speculation and we are still hopeful that Fernando will be with us next season."

Atletico are reluctant to sell, but Torres is believed to be keen to link up with Benitez.

Benitez wants to land Torres to provide a spearhead for an assault on the title - and also allow new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to demonstrate their own financial commitment to his plans.


Torres has been consistently linked with a move to England, particularly with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Liverpool are now set to win the race.

If he signs, he will join fellow countrymen Garcia, Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso, as well as boss Benitez.

Atletico had earlier played down Liverpool's interest, with president Cerezo saying: "We've had no offer from Liverpool for Torres. He's on his holiday and resting.

"I repeat that there has been nothing about Torres from any team. We're now working to create a good team for the coming year."

However, Gil Marin, Atletico's major shareholder insisted that Torres is not irreplaceable.

"Nobody is indispensable. No player by himself, very good though he is, is able to make a team achieve its aims," Gil Marin said on Punto Radio.

"We have spoken to him and told him we would like him to stay. It is normal that he has doubts. It is normal that the offers and everything surrounding them has made him think."

Torres, 23, scored 14 league goals in 36 starts this season as Atletico finished seventh in La Liga.

The Spain international's Atletico contract runs until 2009.

Torres came up though the youth ranks at Atletico and has been their leading scorer in each of the last five seasons.

source: BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Liverpool close to landing Torres