Liverpool Manager: Fernando Torres will Stay at Anfield

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has said that Fernando Torres would stay at Anfield, dismissing media reports suggesting that the Spaniard’s future at Liverpool is now hanging in the balance.

Fernando Torres, who is now on vacation after winning the World Cup with Spain, has attracted interests from a number of European clubs including Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona. Chelsea was reportedly ready to splash around £60 to £70 million, but the striker’s recent injury that he picked up during the World Cup final has perhaps subsided Chelsea’s interest.

Torres has not talked to the media yet about his future, but if Hodgson is believed, then Torres is not leaving this summer. Liverpool manager has now revealed that Torres assured him of staying at Anfield.

Roy Hodgson told the media, “He's told us he's looking forward to getting back to work and playing for us next season. He is on holiday and having a well deserved rest. I don't think he has had a holiday for three or four years, so he is spending time with his family and, as far as I know, keeping a low profile.”

It is definitely good news for the Reds fans. Earlier, captain Steven Gerrard, who at some point looked very close to joining Real Madrid, has publicly committed his future to Liverpool and recently joined the pre-season training, though Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has not yet given up on his pursuit of securing Gerrard’s service.

Liverpool is currently going through a tough time both on and off the field. First of all, they are under huge debt. Secondly, they failed to clinch a Champions League spot last season, another blow to their financial condition. Thirdly, a number of players have already left and new manager Hodgson is busy in convincing the star players like Gerrard and Torres to stay.

Though the news of Gerrard and Torres staying is a huge boost for the debt-laden side, Hodgson is yet to deal with some other problems. He does not have a quality left back now, and would require a new holding midfielder too, if Inter Milan-bound Javier Mascherano finally moves away from the Merseyside club.

Will Fernando Torres Stay at Liverpool?

Roy Hodgson, the newly appointed Liverpool manger, is now hopeful that Fernando Torres would stay at Anfield. Recently, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, has joined Liverpool’s pre-season training. Now, if it has an indication of Gerrard’s staying, then Hodgson believes Torres would also follow his captain’s footstep.

Fernando Torres has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona, but his recent injury picked up during the final match of the World Cup has reportedly deterred Chelsea’s interest.

However, Fernando Torres has not yet pledged his future to Anfield and is yet to reveal anything on his club future. Now, the question is whether Torres would stay at Liverpool.

Well, it vastly relies on the future of Steven Gerrard and Hodgson’s plans. Torres is now 26 and would like to win titles. He may already have a very successful career, but he has not won many titles at club level. Most importantly, Torres would like to play in Champions League consistently. So, his decision would be greatly influenced by the future of Gerrard and the quality of Hodgson’s new signings.

Real Madrid manager is reportedly planning to give a last shot to secure the service of Gerrard. Now, if Gerrard leaves, though it seems less likely at the moment, Torres could also see his future away from Liverpool. Hodgson has recently signed Joe Cole to indicate that he would try for Premier League title next season.

Overall, it seems the future of Fernando Torres is still shrouded in uncertainty.

Liverpool Chairman Martin Broughton: Gerrard and Torres are Not for Sale

Martin Broughton, the newly appointed chairman of Liverpool club, has recently said that the club is not going to sell its star players like Captain Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in its attempt to offload its rising debt. Liverpool’s debt has reportedly been increased to 350 million pounds ($541.3m) and its on-field performance has gone the opposite direction.

There is an intense speculation that the club would sell the players like Gerrard and Torres in order to decrease the debt. However, Broughton has dismissed those talks by claiming that the club and manager Rafael Benitez are not interested to sell them.

Martin Broughton has recently been appointed as the new chairman of the club by the owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who are now all set to sell the club very soon and asked Broughton to supervise the selling process. Broughton is now looking for a new owner for Liverpool.

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Fernando Torres to be Handed a New Contract with Increased Salary at Liverpool

This is the second season for Spanish striker Fernando Torres in English Premier League. He starred at Anfield in his debut season and the momentum still continues with Torres scoring for the Reds pretty regularly. Torres already has contract with Liverpool until 2013, but News of the World reported that he might be offered a new deal with a much-improved paycheck and under the new contract he would stay at Liverpool until 2014.

Fernando Torres, Spain’s Euro 2008 winning striker, is currently earning in the range of £70,000 which could well be improved by 20 % to £90,000 in the new contract. Liverpool is actually trying to ensure that Torres would not leave the club in the near future.

I am guessing another thing here, though I could be wrong. Giving an improved deal to Torres, Liverpool officials are perhaps trying to ensure that the Spaniard stays at the club, even if manager Rafael Benitez, who is now in conflict with Liverpool authority over his contract extension, leaves the club at the end of this season. Both Torres and Benitez hail from Madrid, Spain and Liverpool might fear that Benitez would tempt Torres to leave the club if Liverpool does not extend Benitez’s contract.

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