Time to start worrying...

[DJS]

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks insists they will not sell Fernando Torres to Chelsea, while the player says he is staying put at Anfield.

 

The 24-year-old Spain international striker enjoyed a tremendous first season in England after joining the Reds from Atletico Madrid last summer, scoring 33 goals in all competitions to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's goalscoring record for a foreign player in their first campaign.

 

As a result Chelsea have since been linked with a £50million world-record breaking transfer swoop for Torres in the close-season. However, Hicks says Liverpool are not interested in selling Torres to anyone, regardless of the fact they could double their money in the space of 12 months.

 

"It is simply beyond comprehension. There is no circumstance in which Torres will be sold," Hicks' spokesman told The Mirror.

 

"Why would the owners invest so much money in supporting the manager, to then undermine that support? It is ludicrous."

 

Torres has also spoken out to confirm that he has no intentions to quit Liverpool this summer.

 

"I am very happy at Liverpool," said Torres. "I prefer not to think about these stories and to focus on Euro 2008.

 

"After the Euros I will go on holiday and then return to Liverpool.

 

"This is my team, my city and Anfield is my pitch. I can't tell you how good I feel about playing for Liverpool.

 

"It is so important to me that the fans think so highly of me. It is fantastic to see my name on the shirts of our fans.

 

"This was only my first season for Liverpool, and I can say without contradiction I want to play better here for many more yet."

 

I think i would've felt better if Hicks, with his history of lying, said that Torres was off.

 

As for Torres' comments though...

Edited May 27, 2008 by DJS

[Bailo]

Hick's lie count in that statement alone: 2

[sutty]

Hicks position's untenability would go up about 12 notches if he allowed that sale.

[DJS]

Hicks position's untenability would go up about 12 notches if he allowed that sale.

 

Was discussing this with someone this morning and we concluded that if Hicks sanctioned the sale, some nutter actually *would* kill him.

 

For a passing moment, it almost seemed like an acceptable trade-off...

[sutty]

Was discussing this with someone this morning and we concluded that if Hicks sanctioned the sale, some nutter actually *would* kill him.

 

For a passing moment, it almost seemed like an acceptable trade-off...

he he

 

I almost expressed it in terms of the seriousness of death threats

[Guest ziggystardust]

Was discussing this with someone this morning and we concluded that if Hicks sanctioned the sale, some nutter actually *would* kill him.

 

For a passing moment, it almost seemed like an acceptable trade-off...

 

i dont think that selling torres would mean that a liverpool fan changes into becoming a murderer

[Andy @ Allerton]

Torres is going nowhere.

 

Hicks has said as much.

 

Case closed.

[sutty]

i dont think that selling torres would mean that a liverpool fan changes into becoming a murderer

we're all murderers already

 

Some united fans and evertonians told me.

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

Torres is going nowhere.

 

Hicks has said as much.

 

Case closed.

 

Dead right. And the shovel will be in the ground within 60 days.

[Jonesy15]

Is it too Machiavellian to think that Hicks started the rumours anyway just so that he could appear to be the great defender of Liverpool? "Look how much I'm backing Rafa, I won't sell Torres for £50m"

[lfc4eva99]

Is it too Machiavellian to think that Hicks started the rumours anyway just so that he could appear to be the great defender of Liverpool? "Look how much I'm backing Rafa, I won't sell Torres for £50m"

 

No.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I am getting me one of these and I am pushing it.

 

[Paisley]

Was discussing this with someone this morning and we concluded that if Hicks sanctioned the sale, some nutter actually *would* kill him.

 

For a passing moment, it almost seemed like an acceptable trade-off...

 

Can we not keep Torres but shoot Hicks anyway?

[ali]

Hands off!

 

May 27 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

 

RAFA BENITEZ today told Chelsea even a world record offer from Roman Abramovich would not tempt him to part with Fernando Torres.

 

Speculation surfaced yesterday suggesting the managerless Londoners could be ready to make a £50m bid for Torres, who has just enjoyed a record breaking first season in English football.

 

But Benitez is adamant that Torres is not for sale at any price, and instead is planning on building his team around the Spanish striker.

 

He said: “The situation is very simple – we do not want to sell Fernando Torres.

 

“If a player does a good job for his team, like Fernando has for us, then it is sometimes easy for people to speculate that he might be wanted by other clubs.

 

“I am not aware of any offer being made by Chelsea but even if there was my answer would be the same – he is not for sale.

 

“We are trying to add to the spine of our team and that means keeping players like Fernando, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.”

 

Torres himself is well settled on Merseyside following his debut season at Anfield, in which he scored 33 goals in all competitions.

 

On numerous occasions the 24-year-old has spoken glowingly of his love affair with the Liverpool fans and with the city itself.

 

Currently in Spain ahead of Euro 2008, Torres has already moved to distance himself from the speculation surrounding him by insisting he has no plans to quit the club he joined for £20m last summer.

 

He said: “I am enjoying my time at Liverpool, although I would prefer to forget the transfer talk for now and concentrate on Euro 2008, which is my primary concern at the moment.

 

“I will go away on holiday once the tournament has finished and will then return to Liverpool.”

 

Furthermore, co-owner Tom Hicks has also spoken out against the rumours, describing them as “ludicrous”.

 

A spokesman for the Texan said: “It is simply beyond comprehension. There is no circumstance in which Torres will be sold.

 

“Why would the owners invest so much money in supporting the manager, to then undermine that support? It is ludicrous.”

 

Meanwhile, Mascherano has been included in the Argentina squad for upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the United States.

 

Argentina face Mexico in San Diego on June 4, four days after they play the United States in New York – all in preparation for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Brazil in mid-June.

[DJS]

i dont think that selling torres would mean that a liverpool fan changes into becoming a murderer

 

Naturally not.

 

Some nutter, who spends his days masquerading as a regular, down to earth Liverpool fan, on the other hand...

 

Not nice, sure. Would you be able to rule it out 100% though?

[DJS]

Is it too Machiavellian to think that Hicks started the rumours anyway just so that he could appear to be the great defender of Liverpool? "Look how much I'm backing Rafa, I won't sell Torres for £50m"

 

not at all. It's too close to the truth, more like.

[Tobes Rafa]

i dont think that selling torres would mean that a liverpool fan changes into becoming a murderer

Messi, on the other hand................

[Woodsyla]

Naturally not.

 

Some nutter, who spends his days masquerading as a regular, down to earth Liverpool fan, on the other hand...

 

Not nice, sure. Would you be able to rule it out 100% though?

If Hicks sold Torres to Chelsea I would want to kill him. I am, however, not the sort of person that sends death threat or carries out these actions. The motive would be there though. It is therefore not a huge leap to assume that someone less well balanced than me would take things a step further.

[Billy Dane]

Has Martin O'Neil come out and lambasted Chelsea for trying to engineer a move for Torres through the media yet?

[Hassony]

Has Martin O'Neil come out and lambasted Chelsea for trying to engineer a move for Torres through the media yet?

 

no, because its got nothing to do with him

[Gilps]

“We are trying to add to the spine of our team and that means keeping players like Fernando, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.”

 

Not like Rafa to midd Pepe off when listing his spine. Clearly he's off

[HL5]

Not like Rafa to midd Pepe off when listing his spine. Clearly he's off

 

Anatomically speaking, Rafa's correct. Pepe can be a good distance from the spine, more likely closer to the brain.

[Kuyt-fever]

Hicks position's untenability would go up about 12 notches if he allowed that sale.

 

 

Far more than that , the RAWK boys would go ape-s*** and that lad who burns effigies simply would not stand for it.

 

Not that I want to sell to Chelsea but an offer of 80m + J.Cole and the suicide of Peter Kenyon would be an offer probably too good to turn down.

[DJS]

If Hicks sold Torres to Chelsea I would want to kill him. I am, however, not the sort of person that sends death threat or carries out these actions. The motive would be there though. It is therefore not a huge leap to assume that someone less well balanced than me would take things a step further.

 

Precisely.

[Hassony]

Far more than that , the RAWK boys would go ape-s*** and that lad who burns effigies simply would not stand for it.

 

Not that I want to sell to Chelsea but an offer of 80m + J.Cole and the suicide of Peter Kenyon would be an offer probably too good to turn down.

 

 

Would love that to be part of the negotiation

 

PK : How do you feel about this deal rafa £80m + J Cole?

RB : I'll have to think about it if you add in your suicide as well

PK : eeerrr.....

Roman : Consider it a deal