West Ham Are Favourites To Sign Bellamy

West Ham United have emerged as the favourites to sign Liverpool's Welsh international striker Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy's first-team opportunities are likely to be limited following the Reds’ capture of high-profile strikers Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

And the 27-year-old former Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Celtic and Blackburn star could be seen by the Hammers as a replacement for Argentine forward Carlos Tevez, who appears to be leaving Upton Park for Manchester United according o today's reports from South America.

Bellamy joined Liverpool from Blackburn for a £6 million fee a year ago, and scored nine goals in 42 appearances for the Merseyside club.

But the arrival of Torres at Anfield for some £20 million means Rafael Benitez now has five international strikers in his squad - by common consent, one more than he needs.

And when he was asked about Bellamy's Anfield future, at the press conference to unveil Torres, Benitez said: "We have some clubs asking about Bellamy and it's a possibility.

"He knows my idea. He is our player at the moment and we will see what happens in the future.

"It is clear we have new players here and then it could be more difficult for some of the players.

"The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with us."

It was a clear hint that Bellamy might need to look elsewhere, and according to BBC Sport, West Ham could step in to end the uncertainty.

Benitez Targets Quaresma Next

Hot on the heels of Fernando Torres' arrival at Anfield, Rafa Benitez is looking to strengthen his squad further. Facing stiff competition from Atletico Madrid, the coach has turned his attention towards Porto winger Quaresma.

Rafa Benitez is seeking to avoid a second consecutive third-placed finish in the Premiership and in doing so is building a squad from the front.

Fernando Torres is now settled in as the new star striker at Anfield, and now Benitez will look for wingers and attacking midfielders. Apparently, Quaresma is his number-one target.

The Portuguese winger has been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid, but Liverpool are an outside bet to gain his signature. They've already allegedly had a £13.5m bid rejected, but are confident that an improved offer could change Porto's minds.

Atletico, too, have apparently considered an offer in that region, but also included additional payout clauses based on results and performances.

Quaresma spent a fiery season with Barcelona before sparking a feud with coach Frank Rijkaard over being asked to play on the left flank instead of in his more usual right-wing role.

Since departing the Nou Camp in 2004, he's impressed at the Estadio do Dragao, and often swapped positions to play on the left.

Benitez Hints At Exit For Bellamy

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has placed a major doubt over striker Craig Bellamy's future at the club.

Benitez has added Fernando Torres to his squad and now has five strikers with Bellamy, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and fellow new signing Andriy Voronin.

Asked, at the unveiling of Torres, if he was happy the player was at the club and part of his plans, Benitez said: "Are you talking about Torres?"

Told Bellamy was the subject, he said: "I'm really happy with Torres here."

He added: "We have some clubs asking about Bellamy and it's a possibility.

"He knows my idea. He is our player at the moment and we will see what happens in the future.

"It is clear we have new players here and then it could be more difficult for some of the players.

"The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with us."

Striker Djibril Cisse is already close to the exit door as he is set to be sold to Marseille.

Benitez played down a move for Manchester United left-back Gabriel Heinze and instead insisted he was trying to sign new wingers.

The Reds boss believes he needs to add to the signing of Torres to help his side challenge for the Premiership title.

"It is clear we need to improve to be contenders. You will ask if we can fight for the title with Torres. I think we need something more," he said.

"It is clear we will improve with Fernando but if we can find other players good enough I think we will have better balance.

"When you talk about the Premier League you talk about nine months and you need a big squad.

"We have some names. We are especially looking for wingers."

Torres Completes £26.5M LiverpooL Move

Liverpool have unveiled new signing Fernando Torres to English reporters at an Anfield press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

The 23-year-old former Atletico Madrid striker joins on a six-year deal, the Reds have confirmed, and he will take the number nine shirt worn by Robbie Fowler last season before he was released.

Liverpool also announced that Torres' transfer fee was substantially less than had been reported in the press over the last few weeks.

The Merseysiders claim they have paid Atletico a total fee of €30 million (£20.2 million), not the £26.5 million that had been speculated.

But the fee still makes Torres Liverpool's all-time record signing, beating the previous record set by Djibril Cisse's £14.1-million move from Auxerre in 2004.

The Spanish international has apparently also taken a pay-cut in order to join Liverpool, effectively rubbishing reports that he would earn close to £100,000 a week.

"I'm pleased to be joining a team with a winning mentality, a fantastic history and a great present-day team," Torres told the press conference through a translator.

"It was important the confidence shown in me by the club and by the manager.

"I know demands and expectations are high here and I know it will take hard work to succeed but I am willing to do that."

When asked how quickly he thinks he will acclimatise to the rigours of the Premiership, Torres explained that Liverpool's current crop of players would help him in that regard.

"Any settling-in process will be made much easier by the fact that there are several other Spanish players here," he said.

"They can give me the benefit of their experience in adapting to the Premiership."

He becomes the 17th player bought by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez from La Liga clubs after fellow big-money signings such as Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Morientes also joined the Reds over the last three years.