Liverpool Consider Chinese Takeover Bid

Liverpool could be bought by a Chinese business tycoon within days, according to a source close to the deal.

Kenny Huang, head of Hong-Kong based investment company QSL Sports Ltd, wants to take full control of the Reds, who have been up for sale since April.

"A deal has to be done before the transfer window closes [on 31 August]," a source close to Huang told BBC Sport.

"Huang has made a firm proposal. The club's board has to sanction the sale and it could be sewn up in days."

Huang has been talking for several weeks to representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland, with the aim of taking full control of the Premier League club.

RBS are Liverpool's main creditors, owed about £237m by American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"Kenny is the only serious bidder interested in the club and he's optimistic," added the source.

Huang is offering to clear Liverpool's debt to RBS and hand new manager Roy Hodgson funds to do business in the transfer window.

The tycoon also plans to build the club a new stadium as soon as possible.

Huang was reported to have turned down the chance to buy Liverpool in 2008 because he felt a valuation of £650m was too high. BBC Sport understands he now values the club at about £350m.

Hicks and Gillett bought the Reds in March 2007 in a deal that valued the club at £218.9m.

But the American duo have endured a difficult time at Anfield, with supporters regularly voicing their dissatisfaction at the level of debt taken on by the club after their buyout.

Last October, several hundred Liverpool fans staged a protest march against the owners ahead of their Premier League match against Manchester United.

The board's popularity with the fans disintegrated further when Hicks' son, Tom Hicks Jr., became embroiled in a row with a supporter who alleged the American had sent him abusive emails.

As a result, Hicks Jr. resigned as a director of the club and parent company Kop Holdings, leading to a restructure of the board.

Gillett and Hicks have also endured a fractious relationship with each other, which early on in their reign threatened to undermine their ownership with the former revealing the partnership had become "unworkable".

In 2008, Hicks blocked Gillett's moves to sell his 50% share to Dubai International Capital group as the pair feuded over future plans for the club.

An outright £500m takeover bid by the DIC group was also rebuffed, with Hicks hinting he would attempt an outright takeover bid himself.

They subsequently patched up their differences but took the decision less than four months ago to put the club up for sale, insisting there had been numerous expressions of interest in a buyout.

British Airways boss Martin Broughton was brought in as Liverpool chairman in April to facilitate the sale of the club and along with Hicks and Gillett is part of a five-man board at Liverpool that also includes chief executive Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre.

Why Mascherano’s Exit Could Reignite Liverpool

Javier Mascherano has been publicly angling for a way out of Liverpool for over a year, spitting in the face of the club that made him the star he is today.

Plucked from the shadows of West Ham’s substitute bench at the beginning of 2007, Mascherano went from battling for a first team spot against the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker and Hayden Mullins to taking the stage in Liverpool’s starting line-up against AC Milan in a Champion’s League final in the space of five months.

This belief in his ability seems to have been eradicated from the player’s memory. With the emergence of interest from Barcelona in acquiring his services last year, Mascherano’s head seem to have been spun and any loyalty from a player in his position you would expect was thrown out the window.

This was evident in his inability to put it behind him when the move didn’t materialize and he endured a disappointing start to the start of last season citing the pursuit of Barcelona hindering his form.

There have been countless number of players down the years that have been subject of summer-long transfer speculation, stayed at their clubs and went on to have fantastic season. One great example would be Cristiano Ronaldo; publicly courted by Real Madrid almost every summer after he hit the big time only to stay with Man Utd and break record after record.

Mascherano’s transfer from Liverpool is inevitable, it could be a sweeping generalization but loyalty from Argentine players in the Premiership is something of a rarity. On the same note it could be cultural; the lure of playing for the likes of Barcelona or Inter Milan may be the pinnacle of football for players from Argentina.

Especially if you consider some of their most famous exports have played for these clubs, such as: Maradonna, Zanetti, Messi, Riquelme, Crespo, Passarella and Simeone.

What Mascherano needs to do now is come out publicly, face the fans and say ‘Yes. I want to leave Liverpool’ no more of this hiding behind agents and the like. The fans will respect him for his decision and hopefully understand his reasoning and for having the balls to do it in public.

This needs to happen as soon as possible if Liverpool is to be ready for the new season; this cannot be dragged out until the tail-end of the transfer window.

Mascherano looks to be commanding a transfer fee in the region of £20-£30m with Inter Milan his most likely suitors and linking up with former manager Rafael Benitez, the very man who said he wouldn’t sell him for £50m.

His departure would leave a hole but not one that couldn’t be filled. Standard Leige’s Steven Defour and Juventus’ Christian Poulsen have been touted as possible replacements both valued at around £10m, would leave a significant amount of change to invest in the squad.

Take Mascherano out and replace him with either of these players and the team isn’t significantly weakened, some might argue that the team would be improved as Defour and Poulsen would both offer more of a goal threat.

After a replacement has been found the club can then look to bring in more players with the remaining funds.

Left-back still needs to be taken care of with a maximum of £6m being spent in that position which will come out of the £12m transfer kitty, leaving £6m left over, add that to the change from the Mascherano transfer and the club could be looking at an additional £16m-26m to spend on new recruits.

Spent wisely, on one or two quality strikers and the club could be in possession of one of the league’s finest squads, plenty of depth in most areas and capable of competing on all front and most crucially of all, dealing with injuries.

Dare it even be said; A squad capable of winning the league this season?

Only time will tell of course but as good a player as Mascherano is sure he might save the odd game but will never be a player to win one and his departure may be the key to Liverpool gaining more game winners and the players they so desperately need.

Emiliano Insua's Move From Liverpool To Fiorentina Falls Through

Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua's move to Serie A side Fiorentina has fallen through, according to latest reports.

Sky Sports claims that the Argentine defender couldn't come to a conclusion with the Viola over personal terms and conditions. Liverpool and Fiorentina had reportedly reached an agreement and the only factor missing from the deal being finalized was the player's agreement.

It was reported last week that Insua and Fiorentina would come to an agreement this week but it now appears that things are not going according to plan.

Insua had flown to Italy from Liverpool's pre-season training camp in Austria in July but he is now believed to have rejoined the Reds in Germany for the match against Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday.

Milan Jovanovic: It's Hard To Break Into The First XI

New Liverpool signing Milan Jovanovic admits it will be difficult to break into Roy Hodgson’s starting XI in his first few months at the Merseyside club.

Jovanovic, 29, who was brought to the club by former manager Rafael Benitez on a free transfer from Standard Liege, is expecting a tough battle with the likes of Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog all competing for a starting role at Anfield.

The Serbia international featured in the Europa League qualifier in Macedonia earlier this week and after impressing in pre-season will be hoping for a starting place for the Premier League opener against Arsenal at Anfield.

"It will be a hard competition for me to get into the starting XI (when Torres and Kuyt are back) but I'll try my best and we'll see what will happen,” Jovanovic told Goal.com after Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.

"I’m learning right now the tactical system of the team. Roy Hodgson is a great manager. He always thinks positive. He emphasizes a lot on discipline, tactics and fighting spirit."

Jovanovic, who reportedly turned down Real Madrid’s advances before his switch to Liverpool, can play as either a left winger or front man and comes to the club with an impressive goalscoring record for Liege, where he bagged 52 goals in just 114 matches.

Roy Hodgson Happy With Progress Despite Sloppy Defending In Germany

Roy Hodgson insisted Liverpool’s flying visit to Moenchengladbach was beneficial despite the day being ruined by some sloppy defending.

The Reds manager was satisfied with the efforts from a squad that was top heavy with young players and, on another day, they might have secured a credible draw.

However, a mix-up between Diego Cavalieri and Daniel Ayala meant Liverpool slipped to a 1-0 defeat but Hodgson was far from flustered after the contest at Borussia Park.

“It’s incredible to have a friendly match in front of 50,000 people,” said Hodgson.

“I thought it was quite an even game and there were not many clear-cut chances.

“Borussia, as was the case against Kaiserslautern, didn’t actually have to score a goal against us because we actually gave them one.

“It was too big a task for Academy players to perform against Borussia’s central defenders because they don’t have the strength or experience to do that yet.”

Hodgson has brought some experience back into his squad after re-signing Fabio Aurelio on Saturday night, to give him cover at left-back.

The Brazilian played the last 30 minutes of the game and is fully focused on relaunching his career at Anfield, having been released by Rafa Benitez at the end of last season.

“My aim is to help the team do better than last season,” he said. “Everything is going really well, so I think we can progress a lot. We have made some good additions and we can be very confident.”

Joe Cole Eager To Line-Up For Liverpool FC Alongside Fernando Torres

Joe Cole admitted he was pinching himself at the prospect of working with Fernando Torres – as Jamie Carragher urged the Spaniard to deliver the news all Reds want to hear.

Torres returns to work at Melwood following his three-week summer break and though boss Roy Hodgson said last week that the striker will stay, his future continues to be discussed.

But Cole, who made his Liverpool debut in the 1-0 defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach, is only thinking about Torres pulling on a Red shirt and wants to provide with him a raft of goals.

The England international is fully paid up member of the Torres fan club and is confident that, in time, the two will be dovetailing to devastating effect.

“One of the main reasons I came to Liverpool was because I wanted to play with these great players and I’m going to work every day to make Fernando as many chances as I can,” Cole said.

“I’ve been watching the way he plays ever since he came to the club and, the season before last, he was the best striker in the world, without a shadow of a doubt.

“I love playing with strikers who play on the shoulder of the last defender. The best striker I played with at Chelsea was (Hernan) Crespo; his movement was absolutely unbelievable.

“I had a good relationship with him and hopefully I will be able to have that kind of relationship with Fernando. My job is to make chances for the front men and I can’t wait to play alongside him.”

Those sentiments are echoed by Carragher and Liverpool’s vice-captain wants to see Torres follow Steven Gerrard’s lead and publicly reaffirm his commitment.

“Stevie is our best player. For me he’s probably the best player in the history of the club, alongside Kenny (Dalglish), so it’s given everyone a massive lift,” Carragher said.

“Hopefully Fernando will do the same and we can bring one or two more in so that we head into the season with a real feelgood factor.”

Liverpool’s final match before the big kick-off against Arsenal comes on Thursday when they host FC Rabotnicki in the second leg of their Europa League qualifier.

Even though they are leading 2-0 and practically assured of a place in the play-off round, Hodgson is likely to play most of his big guns and Cole is desperate to get another run out.

“We’ve only had 10 days training and it is amazing how much you have to do to get your fitness back – you play for 11 months then have four weeks off and you’re at square one,” said Cole.

“You would think it would be easy just to pick it up. That’s why on Thursday it’s vital we play close to 90 minutes. It’s important to get into the next round but just as important to boost our fitness.”

Jamie Carragher Wants Fernando Torres To Commit To Liverpool

Jamie Carragher hopes that Fernando Torres will join Steven Gerrard and commit his future to Liverpool.

Even though he was receiving heavy interest from Real Madrid, Gerrard decided to stay with the Reds to help the club bounce back from their highly disappointing performance last season.

Chelsea and Manchester City highly interested in a huge move for Torres, who won the World Cup with Spain this summer, and will try to take advantage of the fact that the Spaniard is unhappy that Liverpool will not compete in the Champions League this year.

Carragher is hopeful that Torres will stay with the club, believing the club would be handed a massive boost if the former Atletico Madrid hitman were to follow Gerrard’s lead and stay with the Reds.

"Well, he's our best player," Carragher told www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“For me he's probably the best player in the history of the club, alongside Kenny (Dalglish), so it's obviously going to give everyone a massive lift.

"Hopefully Fernando will do the same and we can bring one or two more in so that we head into the season with a real feel-good factor."

The England international is also happy with the way that former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has quickly settled into the Liverpool squad.

"He's not taken too long to settle in and he knows quite a lot of the lads from England.

"He's a good lad too and he's staying right in the centre of Liverpool, so a lot of the fans have seen him around.

"He loves playing here and being at Liverpool. You like people to get involved with the city and he's doing that from an early stage."

Jack Wolfskin Signs With LFC

German outdoor clothing outfitter Jack Wolfskin continues its successful campaign to increase brand recognition in the UK with its commitment to sponsor Liverpool FC in the coming season.

A contract period of three years has been agreed and the deal includes a range of rights that will enhance Jack Wolfskin's exposure.

"The decision to partner with a popular and historical club such as Liverpool was in keeping with our goals of increasing brand recognition in the UK by using the popularity of football and to attract new target groups to the outdoor clothing market. This strategy builds on the huge success that Jack Wolfskin has had on the domestic market," is how Manfred Hell, Managing Director of Jack Wolfskin GmbH & Co. KGaA, explains the expansion of the brand's sponsorship portfolio.

"For many years, sponsoring the German league has been one of the most important elements of Jack Wolfskin's brand promotion in Germany, which is why we are all the more delighted to be active with England's most successful club as part of this expansion abroad. This unique combination of tradition and success and the inimitable legend of Anfield Road would set any football fan's heart racing."

Ian Ayre, Liverpool Football Club's Commercial Director added, "We welcome Jack Wolfskin to our family of partners. They are seeking to expand their business in the UK, and our goal is to help them increase awareness of their products that are designed for high altitude and outdoor activities."

Match report: Borussia Monchengladbach 1 - 0 Liverpool

Joe Cole's debut for Liverpool ended in defeat as the Reds went down 1-0 to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Roy Hodgson fielded a strong side including England's World Cup captain Steven Gerrard as well as Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson while Fabio Aurelio was named on the bench after re-signing for the club on Saturday.

Monchengladbach had arranged the match as part of their 110th anniversary celebrations at Borussia Park and the hosts made an early breakthrough through Karim Matmour in the eighth minute.

The Algerian took advantage of some poor play by Daniel Ayala inside the area and the defender was duly punished as Matmour produced a powerful finish.

Matmour was proving a real irritant for the Anfield club and came close to doubling his side's lead with Liverpool having to wait until the 56th minute for their first real chance when Cole's low drive was parried, with the former Chelsea player withdrawn nine minutes later.

The hosts continued to threaten and, although David Amoo headed narrowly wide, Monchengladbach fully deserved their victory.

Reds Warned Over Torres

David Villa has admitted his surprise that Fernando Torres has not joined Chelsea and believes this season is Liverpool's 'last chance' to keep the striker.

Liverpool finished seventh in the Premier League last term and failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, leading many to suggest that Torres could soon be on his way out of the club.

Villa concedes that, having spoken to Torres at the World Cup, he expected his Spanish compatriot to link up with Chelsea.

Manchester City have also been linked with a move for Torres but nothing has yet materialized and it looks increasingly likely that he will stay at Anfield.

Villa now feels that Torres may leave next summer unless the Reds can turn their fortunes around over the coming campaign.

"I am actually a little surprised. It looks like Nando is staying," Villa, who joined Barcelona from Valencia before the World Cup, is quoted as saying by the Daily Star Sunday.

"After I spoke with him at the World Cup I thought he would sign for Chelsea.

"I think it must only be that Chelsea did not meet Liverpool's valuation. Because, if they had, I am sure he would have made the move."

He added: "This is Liverpool's last chance to keep him. They have to prove they are capable of challenging on all fronts this season, otherwise he will be gone.

"If Liverpool fail to win anything I am sure he will be at Chelsea next summer."

Cole Needs To 'Feel Loved'

Joe Cole admits he needs to 'feel loved' if he is to perform to his best on a regular basis.

The England international admits that it was that desire to feel appreciated which led to his exit from Chelsea this summer.

He grew tired of being hauled off at every opportunity by a succession of coaches, with a lack of playing time giving him little chance to impress.

Once it became apparent that he was not going to get the playing time he craved, he decided to let his contract run down and leave on a free transfer.

Having made that call, he has since linked up with Liverpool and is excited by the challenges which lie ahead at Anfield.

Cole believes Reds boss Roy Hodgson will be the man to get him firing on all cylinders once more and is confident he will be a hit on Merseyside.

"The fans at Chelsea loved me and I can't thank them enough for that but I need to feel loved when I am on the pitch," he said in the News of the World.

"The manager has to want me there. I don't so much need an arm around the shoulder as for managers to remember that in the positions I play you are going to lose the ball sometimes.

"You only need to do one thing right; one clever pass, one little bit of skill that can change a game but to do that you need to feel relaxed and calm."

Meanwhile, Cole is also delighted to have played a part in helping to persuade talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard to stay on at Anfield.

He had been linked with a summer switch to Real Madrid, but Liverpool's transfer activity has convinced him that they have ambitious plans for the future.

"I hope that I did play a part in making Stevie stay," added Cole.

"Stevie knows what I can do. We have played together for England for 10 years right the way through.

"I am looking forward to playing alongside him and our relationship is going to be important.

"I will play anywhere, though I hope it is central with him - with one of us going forward and the other pivoting.

"I can't talk about tactics but the manager knows what I can do on the left and the right. But it will be nice to be close to him.

"At Liverpool this year is about consolidating and moving on. There are players here who will get into any team in the world.

"I had conversations with Stevie and 'Carra' and everything they said about Liverpool impressed me. We are a part of a club that can do something special. If you win a trophy here, one of the big ones, it will be immense."

Is Syrian Bid For Liverpool Serious?

Former Syrian international footballer Yahya Kirdi has once again emerged as a bidder for Liverpool. He was reported to be engaged in talks to acquire the club in April in discussions that were brokered by Andy Lynch, a Celtic footballer in the 1970s. These discussions came to nothing, but now he is reported to be George Gillett's preferred bidder and engaged in serious talks.

The big question mark is whether he can afford to buy the club which will cost at least £400m even before one adds in the cost of the new stadium in Stanley Park. Once again he claims to be fronting up a consortium of Arab investors and is thought to have links in the United Arab Emirates where there are certainly some seriously rich people. However, some of these Arab consortiums turn out to be little more than desert mirages.

What it may do is energize the Rhone Group which is thought to be considering resurrecting its bid. The New York-based investment group came close at one stage to buying a 40 per cent stake in Liverpool. Liverpool fans may think they have had enough of Americans, but these are quality investors.

The parent company, Kop Football Holdings, made record losses of £55m last year of which £40m were accounted for by interest payments. Total debts were £473m. The team's failure to qualify for the Champions League is estimated to have cost it £40m.

Carra: Stevie News A Huge Lift

Jamie Carragher has revealed that Steven Gerrard's decision to reaffirm his commitment to Liverpool has given everyone at the club a massive lift.

The Reds vice-captain believes there is a real feel-good factor reverberating around Anfield at the moment and feels things are falling into place just in time to ensure they head into the new season in buoyant mood.

"Well, he's our best player. For me he's probably the best player in the history of the club, alongside Kenny, so it's obviously going to give everyone a massive lift," Carragher told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Hopefully Fernando will do the same and we can bring one or two more in so that we head into the season with a real feel good factor."

Carragher was speaking after the Reds' pre-season defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach, a clash that saw Joe Cole make his Liverpool debut.

The defender reckons the former Chelsea man has already settled into life on Merseyside and is confident the fans will take a shine to the club's new No.10.

"He's not taken too long to settle in and he knows quite a lot of the lads from England," he said.

"He's a good lad too and he's staying right in the centre of Liverpool, so a lot of the fans have seen him around.

"He loves playing here and being at Liverpool. You like people to get involved with the city and he's doing that from an early stage."

The match at Borussia Park also saw Carra make his first appearance under Roy Hodgson.

He admits the ex-Fulham boss has helped to breathe new life into Melwood and is now targeting a starting berth in the forthcoming clashes with FK Rabotnicki and Arsenal.

"It was good to get the new kit on and play under the new manager," he said. "Everything feels fresh and it's nice to be involved. Hopefully I'll be involved in the next European game now before Arsenal.

"We've only been training 10 days, but it's always nice to get back out there on the pitch."

Reds Confirm Aurelio Return

Liverpool has confirmed they have re-signed Fabio Aurelio on a two-year deal.

As exclusively revealed by skysports.com earlier on Saturday, Liverpool have decided to bring Aurelio back to Anfield just two months after he left the club.

The Brazilian full-back left Liverpool at the end of May following the expiration of his contract.

It was believed Aurelio rejected the offer of a pay-as-you-play deal to stay at Anfield after an injury-ravaged campaign last season.

However, with new Reds boss Roy Hodgson yet to secure a replacement for Aurelio he has decided to bring the 30-year-old back to the club after being impressed by his fitness.

"I asked the club to find out whether Fabio had found a new club," Hodgson told the club's official website.

"When we ascertained that he hadn't, we invited him back to Melwood so both myself and my staff, and the medical team could properly assess the player.

"We were both very impressed and I am delighted we were able to re-sign Fabio."

Aurelio has spoken of his delight at rejoining the club and he hopes he can play his part under the new regime at Anfield

"I feel very pleased and proud," said Aurelio. "It feels like I am signing for the first time - everything has changed so it is like a new beginning for me with new confidence and a new boss.

"Hopefully I can do well this season.

"My aim is to help the team do better than last season. Everything is going really well, so I think we can progress a lot.

"We have made some good additions to the team and we can be very confident."

Manchester City Back In For £50 Million Fernando Torres

Manchester City will make a stunning 50 million pounds move for Liverpool's Fernando Torres but want an answer from him fast.

And if they cannot persuade the Spanish superstar to join Roberto Mancini's Eastlands revolution they will try to snare Diego Forlan with a 20 million pounds swoop. Megabucks City knows they face an uphill task trying to take Torres to a club that is not playing Champions League football next season.

So they will move on quickly if their bid for Torres fails, confident they can do a deal with Atletico Madrid for Forlan at around 20 million pounds.

City wants two new front men, with Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli the other target, to give them a formidable strikeforce and the chance of a title chase.

Torres is their No.1 choice and they know Liverpool will take their money.

But although the Anfield star is looking to move despite boss Roy Hodgson's claims he will have to be convinced to join City.

Chelsea are waiting to make an offer for Torres but want to avoid an auction.

Both clubs are also wary Manchester United could also come in and beat them to the Spaniard.

Because of those fears City has sounded out the Forlan camp and the ex-United hero is willing to come back to England.

While Tottenham could not afford his wages, personal terms are no problem to City.

Liverpool also sees Forlan as a potential replacement for Torres.

Citys move covers them against the possibility of losing Carlos Tevez who is a 40 million pounds target for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

Liverpool To Make Shock Parker Swoop

Liverpool are set to make an £8million bid for Scott Parker.

Anfield boss Roy Hodgson has pinpointed the West Ham midfielder as the man to replace Javier Mascherano, who is set to join Inter Milan in a £20m deal.

The Hammers hierarchy has insisted that Parker is the one player they will not sell this summer.

“Not at any price,” said chairman David Sullivan.

That has not stopped Tottenham declaring their interest.

And just as Liverpool allowed Spurs and Arsenal to make the running in the ­pursuit of Joe Cole, before stealing their thunder, they are poised to strike again with Parker. The key issue is whether West Ham will relax their tough stance.

The Upton Park club has been boosted by the news that Robert Green wants to stay and they are likely to start talks soon with Matthew Upson about a new contract.

Upson’s current deal expires at the end of this season and he would qualify for a free transfer but West Ham wants to avoid that scenario.

Meanwhile, Hodgson’s attempts to land Christian Poulsen have been given a boost after the Juventus midfielder’s agent said it was an “honour” to be linked with Liverpool.

Joern Bonnesen, his agent, said: “There has not been any contact and there is not much more that can be said until there has been, but we know there’s an interest from them.”

Hodgson Ready To Launch £5m Figueroa Bid

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is preparing a £5million bid for Wigan’s Honduras star Maynor Figueroa.

Hodgson will make a renewed effort to raid the Latics for Figueroa after his snub from Luke Young.

Figueora appeared in all three of Honduras’ games at the World Cup and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez faces a fight to keep him.

Stoke have also registered their interest for the 27-year-old left-back, who shot to Premier League stardom with his stunning 60-yard goal against the Potters last season.

Hodgson said: “I don’t think I’ve ever said the squad is in need of a major overhaul.

“We need to add one or two players to the team.

“It is important we keep the nucleus from last season and a nucleus of players who are maybe just behind the first team.”

David Ngog And Dani Pacheco Have Part To Play In Liverpool FC’s Future

Among the many hot topics currently being discussed by Liverpool supporters, the subject of strikers has assumed great significance this week.

Fernando Torres, of course, has been the subject of most conjecture; every bulletin that has appeared about his future have invoked either gasps of anxiety or sighs of relief and it is encouraging that Roy Hodgson said he has told Liverpool he is ready to return to work.

Clearly there have been issues to sort out with Torres this summer and club officials have worked overtime to persuade him to give it another season at Anfield rather than accepting the advances of either Manchester City or Chelsea.

The warning signs with Torres have been there for many months and it was back in January, remember, when he became the first person in the dressing room to break the silence and urge co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to financially back Rafa Benitez.

Torres is not concerned about personal gain and if he ever leaves Anfield, it would not be to obtain a more lucrative deal; he wants to play for a team that wins trophies – ditto Steven Gerrard – and it frustrates the Spaniard intensely that it has proved beyond Liverpool these last three years.

You would not find a Liverpool fan anywhere who wants to see Torres, whose 116 appearances have yielded 72 goals, seek pastures new but the club has to prepare for every eventuality in the knowledge that players will always come and go for a variety of reasons.

With this in mind, the previous regime brought in two youngsters who were seen as the future and both David Ngog and Daniel Pacheco have done much in recent weeks on foreign fields to enhance their reputations, as well as increasing their prospects under Hodgson.

In many ways, it is best to start with Ngog.

Scorer of both goals in Skopje on Thursday night as Liverpool eased past FC Rabotnicki, the Frenchman built on the encouraging start he has made to pre-season with his best performance of the summer.

Nonchalant in taking his first, clinical in rifling home his second, Ngog gave the impression he has spent time working on his game, as the movement he showed to reach Martin Kelly's pinpoint cross – feinting to go forward before peeling off his marker – was exemplary.

Similar to Lucas, Ngog has been a player who certain sections of supporters have only wanted to concentrate on finding negatives; as Lucas suffered because he was thrust into the position vacated by Xabi Alonso, so Ngog was derided because there was no Torres.

Now it is obvious the 21-year-old has much to learn – Daniel Agger made that point after the win in Macedonia – but he is not a player who will end up falling into a bracket reserved for failed strikers Sean Dundee, Erik Meijer and, dare we say, Robbie Keane.

He scored eight times last season and had he been English, there would have been a clamour for Ngog to go to the World Cup; the more he plays, the better he will become and his frame is definitely starting to fill out.

With France overhauling the squad that performed so disastrously in South Africa – Thierry Henry is retired, Nicolas Anelka has been exiled and Sidney Govou best days are behind him – it would not be a huge surprise if Ngog becomes a fixture with Les Bleus in the next 12 months.

What role he has to play under Hodgson remains to be seen but the Parisian has done his chances no harm in recent weeks and his new manager has absolutely no intention of letting Ngog depart to West Bromwich Albion.

Similar sentiments apply to Pacheco.

He has set the Under-19 European Championships alight and has been scoring for fun in a Spanish team that has oozed quality, bamboozling their opponents with that rhythmic passing game.

Real Sociedad want to take Pacheco back to La Liga but it would be a huge shame if the 19-year-old left because he felt frustrated; there might not be much of Pacheco but he is big on heart, has great talent and, just as importantly, is classed as homegrown this year.

Losing Torres would be a shattering blow but, in some ways, it is just as vital to hang on to Ngog and Pacheco; young goalscorers are few and far between and if they can continue their development on Merseyside, Liverpool will be all the better for it.

Lucas Ready To Fill The Void

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is ready to fill the void of want-away team-mate Javier Mascherano.

Argentina captain Mascherano has been repeatedly linked with Inter Milan, who are managed by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez, and he has told club officials that he wants to leave Anfield.

Liverpool are reported to be following Belgium star Steven Defour as a possible replacement, but, having captained his club in the pre-season absence of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Lucas is ready to step up.

"We know the situation regarding Javier and of course we all hope he stays because he's such a good player and important to the team," said Lucas in the Daily Mirror.

"We'll have to wait and see, but if he goes then I'm ready to play and to impress and do whatever job the manager needs from me.

"I'm not the same player as Javier, we have different styles, but I know I am able play the role Javier does because last season I played a few games when he was at right-back.

"I've no problem with doing that job, I know I can do it if that's what the manager wants. I think I did well last season, but I think in this one I can do even better wherever I play."

Aurelio Set For Reds Return

Skysports.com understands Liverpool are lining up a shock move to bring Fabio Aurelio back to the club.

Aurelio left Anfield earlier this summer after failing to agree a new contract on a pay-as-you- play deal.

Aurelio made 71 Premier League appearances for Liverpool during his four seasons at the club, but his progress was hampered by injuries, restricting him to just eight league starts last term.

The Brazilian departed on a free transfer and was linked with a move back to his native Brazil, but he has yet to find a club.

Liverpool has failed to bring in a replacement for Aurelio despite being linked with a host of names, including Maynor Figueroa and Paul Konchesky.

However, it appears Aurelio could be in line for a sensational return to Anfield as Roy Hodgson is ready to offer him a deal to solve his problems at left-back.

Hodgson is believed to be an admirer of the South American and Aurelio has linked up with the rest of the Liverpool squad in Germany for their pre-season friendly with Borussia Monchengladbach.