Rafa Coy Over Torres Talk

Rafa Benitez is remaining coy over the prospect of Fernando Torres arriving at Anfield, even if the Liverpool boss insists the club is working hard to secure new signings.

Whilst The Reds have brought in a number of talented youngsters over the summer - with two more joining on Friday - a big name arrival remains conspicuous by its absence.

Atletico Madrid striker Torres is likely to be the first at a club record £27million, as the two clubs are understood to have held extensive talks regarding a transfer for the Spanish international.

The Primera Liga club has denied that Torres' exit is a done deal, but Atleti fans have been holding public protests at his likely departure and, according to reports, Liverpool must only agree personal terms to snare the highly-rated forward.

Whilst Benitez was reluctant to pre-empt any deal for Torres, the two-time UEFA Champions League finalist did admit the club were working hard to bring in some exciting names before the start of next season.

"All I can say is that Fernando Torres is one of the players we have looked at," said Benitez.

"Yes, [new signings are] the idea. We are working on this all the time.

"As I've already said, the spine of the team is in place and now we just need to add to that.

"Of course, you must always be excited at the start of a new season. You must also have confidence in your team and hopefully we will soon bring in the new players that we want to make the squad better."

Benitez has frequently called on the club's new owners to deliver some high-profile signings, but a parallel policy has been to bring a number of young talents to Merseyside.

Swedish midfielder Alex Kacaniklic has joined from Helsingborgs, as previously confirmed by skysports.com, and The Reds also recruited striker Marvin Purie from Borussia Dortmund on Friday.

They join teenagers Mikel San Jose, Nikolay Mihailov, Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon in joining the academy ranks on Merseyside.

Atletico Hint At Torres Exit

Atletico Madrid have hinted that Liverpool target Fernando Torres could leave this summer by saying his future is in his own hands.

Previous reports suggested that a £25million player-plus-cash transfer involving Luis Garcia was in the pipeline with the only obstacle being Torres' claim he is owed 10 per cent of the transfer fee - £2.5million.

However, despite the 23-year-old Spanish international being away on holiday until July 10, Atletico Madrid's chief transfer negotiator, Miguel Angel Gil Martin, has hinted that Torres could be on his way, which sparked outrage amongst the club's fans who launched a massive protest.

He said: "Nobody is indispensable. We are trying to create a competitive team and no player by himself, very good though he is, is able to make a team achieve its aims.

"Atletico are building a team that does not revolve around Fernando Torres but around the team as a whole. I would be delighted if Fernando was to continue here, but the future is going to be decided by Fernando himself.

Liverpool Snapped Bilbao Youngster

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has captured a second top European teenager inside two days, signing Mikel San Jose from Athletic Bilbao.

Just a day after Levski Sofia announced that Bulgarian international goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov would be joining Liverpool on a three-year deal, Bilbao confirmed that young defender San Jose was also bound for Anfield.

While Benitez and Liverpool are still locked in talks over their plans to sign Atletico Madrid's striker Fernando Torres, it is also clear the Spaniard remains committed to bolstering younger players at the club.

San Jose, 18, will move for a fee of around £270,000. Bilbao were aiming to use the youngster in their second team next season, but a club statement said: "For us it is bad news, but Mikel has decided on the choice of Liverpool and it was impossible for us to fight against a European giant."

San Jose added: "It was a surprise for me but I have decided to accept the chance at Liverpool.

"I am very excited but now I know that I have to work more each day to get in the first team."

The arrival of Mihaylov will put pressure on England squad man Scott Carson, who has been told that he will be Jose Reina's number two next season and will not be allowed out on loan again.

Mihaylov is the son of Bulgarian soccer federation chairman, Borislav Mihaylov - the former Reading keeper - and celebrates his 19th birthday on Thursday.

He has been a regular in Bulgaria's Under-21 side and has made one full international appearance. He already has Champions League experience, playing for Levski Sofia against Werder Bremen last season.

Although Benitez's only other top-line signing so far this season is Bayer Leverkusen striker Andriy Voronin on a free transfer, two young Hungarians also started training with the club on Thursday.

Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon are hoping to make a big impression at Anfield, and hope for first-team action within two seasons.

The teenagers were signed from MTK Budapest and 18-year-old Nemeth said: "We hope that in a year or two we can make our debut in the first team.

"I'm very happy with this, I think this is great news for our whole country. It's a big honour."

Simon, 17, added: "We want to play regular football in the reserves. We will do our best to step forward as soon as it's possible."

The pending arrival of a clutch of new youth talent at Anfield coincides with the announcement of a restructuring of the academy.

Former Ajax player Piet Hamberg was on Wednesday unveiled as the club's new academy technical manager with Under-18 coach John Owens promoted to academy manager.

The pair will work alongside Malcolm Elias, who joined Liverpool from Southampton last summer, and is in charge of recruitment.

The appointments follow the retirement of Steve Heighway after 18 years in charge of the academy.

Chief executive Rick Parry said: "Steve Heighway's departure gave us a chance to assess things and it was felt the role in charge of the academy had become too big for one person so it made sense to separate the two sides of the role.

"We wanted to bring someone in to concentrate solely on the technical side of things, on being out on the pitch coaching, while also having someone in charge of the managing of the academy.

"Steve's great strength was coaching and yet a lot of time in the role would be spent in the office. John Owens has been with us a long time and understands the system and Liverpool, while Piet will be able to concentrate on doing what he does best, which is coaching the young players."

Tevez Urged To Join Mascherano

Javier Mascherano has urged his former team-mate Carlos Tevez to join him at Liverpool.

Tevez looks certain to leave West Ham before the season starts and has been strongly linked with a move to Internazionale this summer.

The duo, who are currently playing in the Copa America tournament, signed for West Ham at the start of last season and it was Tevez' goal against Manchester United that kept the Hammers in the Premier League for the coming season.

Liverpool midfielder Mascherano believes the best move for his former team-mate would be to remain in England and make the move to Anfield.

Mascherano told the Daily Star: "It would be nice to play with Carlos again.

"Right now we are together in the Copa America and it's great.

"We'll see what is going to happen before the start of next season."

Mascherano went on to praise Tevez, and although he feels he would be a strong addition to the squad, admits the decision lies with boss Rafa Benitez.

He added: "Carlos is a great player and he could be very useful to Liverpool in my opinion.

"But the truth is that I would never dare to ask Rafa Benitez or any other coach to bring a player to a club.

"If he asked me, I would tell him my opinion, but that's the only context in which I would tell him what I think.”

LiverpooL Will Have To Let Go Crouch For Torres

Atletico Madrid have reportedly told Liverpool they will only do business over Fernando Torres if Peter Crouch comes as part of the deal.

The Daily Star claims the two clubs are £8million apart in their valuation for Spain international Torres, and while the Reds are believed to have offered Luis Garcia in part-exchange Atletico would favour the arrival of Crouch.

Officials from Anfield are apparently set to travel to Madrid this week in the hope of completing a deal for the highly-rated 23-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester United.

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre is said to be a big fan of England star Crouch and believes the 6ft 7in frontman would be a big hit in La Liga.

However, Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez wants a pool of four top-class strikers as he bids to challenge on all fronts next season, and would prefer to lose Garcia over Crouch.

No Loan Deal For Cisse

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says Djibril Cisse will only be allowed to leave Anfield if an interested club are prepared to finance a permanent deal.

Liverpool signed Cisse from Auxerre for a record club transfer fee of £14m in July 2004, but the 25-year-old forward spent last season on loan at Marseille.

"If another club wants him, they must buy him. We don't want another loan," Benitez told Liverpool's website.

French international Cisse has two years left on his Liverpool contract.

Cisse has broken his leg twice in the last three years, first in 2004 and then in a friendly for France against China last year just before the World Cup in Germany.

LiverpooL Set To Seal Torres Move

Liverpool are set to see off interest from Manchester United to seal the signing of Fernando Torres for a club-record £25m this week.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has made the Atletico Madrid striker his number one transfer target this summer and looks set to get his man despite late interest in the 23-year-old from United.

It is thought the Spanish international would prefer a move to Anfield, where he would team up with fellow countrymen Benitez, Xabi Alonso and Pepe Reina, to spearhead the Reds' strike force next season.

There are reports Benitez will offer Atletico Luis Garcia or Djibril Cisse as part of the deal in order to reduce the amount Liverpool will have to fork out, although it is thought the Reds are willing to pay as much as £25m for Torres - a figure that easily eclipses the £14m spent on Cisse in the summer of 2004.

United's interest in Torres is long-standing and reports have suggested Sir Alex Ferguson now wants the forward after his bid to land Italian international Fabio Quagliarella from Sampdoria stumbled over the weekend.

Carson To Fight For Place In LiverpooL Squad

Rafael Benitez has confirmed that England under-21 goalkeeper Scott Carson will return to Liverpool next season.

Benitez loaned Carson out to Charlton Athletic for the duration of last season in order for him to experience regular first-team Premiership football.

And despite being relegated with Alan Pardew's men, the England under-21 regular was voted the club's player of the season after a string of fine performances.

Carson's stock has also risen after playing regularly for the under-21s but Benitez insists that he will not sanction the shot-stopper leaving on another season-long loan this year.

"I was speaking to Scott recently and I told him he will be part of our first-team squad next season," the Spanish tactician told Liverpool's official website.

"He must fight with Pepe Reina now for a starting place. We knew when we fought off Chelsea to sign him he was a talented goalkeeper.

"He got some good experience last season and now he is coming back to us."

Carson recently set a new record for caps won with the England under-21s when he was part of the team that were knocked out by hosts Holland in the semi-finals of the European Championships.

The 21-year-old saved one penalty in the marathon 32-kick shootout, eventually won by the Dutch 13-12.

Will LiverpooL Match The Asking Price For Torres?

Liverpool's hopes of landing Fernando Torres have hit a setback with Atletico Madrid refusing to budge from their £27million asking price.

The Spain striker, 23, has emerged as a prime target for Kop boss Rafa Benitez this summer.

However, Torres' club have insisted the star player will only leave if the buy-out clause in his contract is triggered.

The Reds are prepared to offer Luis Garcia — a former Atletico player — as a makeweight in the deal but the sides are still some distance apart in their valuation.

Benitez knows if he gives them the asking price it would blow a huge hole in his summer transfer budget.

And Liverpool sources have suggested they will not go the full way — even though they are desperate to sign a world-class goalscorer.

Yet Atletico are unlikely to climb down as they do not want to part with their prized asset despite the fact Torres has indicated he fancies a move to Anfield.

Speaking last month, president Enrique Cerezo said: "We always have the same problem.

"Every year, either at the start of the season, midway through or at the end.

"It is the same. Torres is an Atletico Madrid player and I think he is going to remain with the team for many years. He is very well at Atletico Madrid, the fans want him and we want him.

"Neither is he for sale nor do I think he is going to leave."

If the Reds fail to land Torres it would be another blow in what has been a frustrating summer for the Kop.

The millions of pounds promised by new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have yet to be turned into big-name signings.

Liverpool's interest in Charlton's England striker Darren Bent has also faded as they do not believe he is worthy of the £17m price tag.

Benitez hopes to off-load French striker Djibril Cisse to Bolton for around £6m.

This will free up funds to spend on West Ham & Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun, 27.

LiverpooL's Bid For Mancini Rejected By Roma

Roma have reportedly rejected an offer from Liverpool for Brazilian winger Amantino Mancini.

Rafael Benitez is looking to strengthen his squad for a Premiership title push next season and Mancini’s name has allegedly been included in the Coach’s summer wish list.

According to the latest reports in Italy, Liverpool made a £13m offer for the South American, but it does not seem likely that he will leave the Stadio Olimpico.

Mancini is considered as a key player by the Giallorossi outfit and Luciano Spalletti seems determined to hold on to the star, who has drawn interest from a number of clubs.

Liverpool could table an improved bid in the near future, but the capital city outfit are expected to offer the former Venezia man a contract extension, as his current deal expires in 2009.

Benitez Splashing Out In Spain

Rafa Benitez is reportedly planning a £45m raid on Spain for Fernando Torres and Diego Forlan.

Liverpool fans will soon know how serious new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are about bringing success to Anfield as Benitez challenges them to spend big on strikers.

Torres will cost anywhere between £24m and £27m depending on what newspaper you believe, but it does seem that Atletico Madrid are finally ready to sell the Spaniard.

According to The Sun, Benitez is convinced that Torres wants to join Liverpool and will snub offers from Italy as well as Manchester United and Chelsea.


Persuading Forlan to leave Spain might be more difficult, with the Uruguayan settled there. His previous spell in England would hardly make him want to rush back.

Villarreal would want upwards of £15m for Forlan, and battling Liverpool for his signature are Aston Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland

Cisse Set For Another Loan Season At Marseille

Marseille and Liverpool are close to agreeing a new loan deal for Djibril Cisse, according to L'Equipe.

The France international striker spent last season at the Stade Velodrome and is happy to remain for a further season after l'OM qualified for the UEFA Champions League.

Bolton and Benfica have also been linked with a bid for Cisse, but it appears Marseille are set to reach an accord with The Reds.

The deal is likely to include the option for Marseille to sign the 25-year-old front man for a pre-determined fee next summer.

Barcelona's Ludovic Giuly is another priority for l'OM, who are on the lookout for a replacement for Franck Ribery.

Monaco also want the Barca attacker but Marseille sport director Jose Anigo hopes to steal a march on their rivals.

"We are in talks. We are trying but it is not that easy," Anigo said.

Meanwhile, Anigo has revealed he is close to capturing Karim Ziani, having agreed a deal with the winger.

But further talks with Sochaux chairman Jean-Claude Plessis are still required before the move can be finalised.

Anigo added in L'Equipe: "We have an agreement with the player and his agent. Now we are waiting for talks with the Sochaux chairman."

However, former Milan and Paris Saint Germain midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo will not replace Ziani at Sochaux, according to Plessis.

"We dreamt during a moment, but eventually the reality caught up with us," he told Direct 8.

Fernando Torres Heading To Anfield

Liverpool are reportedly hoping to seal a deal for top target Fernando Torres after Atletico Madrid finally decided to sell their prize asset.

The Spanish striker will cost around £25million because of a clause in his contract but The Liverpool Echo believes that price will not put off Rafa Benitez.

Torres has previously been a target for Manchester United and Chelsea, but he is thought to favour a move to Liverpool and during a recent match his captain's armband slipped to reveal the words 'You'll never walk alone' printed on the reverse.

Atletico have finally agreed to sell Torres after failing to reach the UEFA Cup following a disappointing season in which their star striker still managed to score 14 goals.

Some reports suggest that Liverpool have despatched officials to Madrid in order to open talks with Atletico Madrid, who might be tempted by an offer of former player Luis Garcia in part exchange.

Capturing a player of Torres' stature would appease both Benitez and Reds' fans who are becoming impatient at the lack of activity in the transfer market since Benitez's bleak Athens post-mortem.

Torres has scored 82 goals in 212 league appearances for Atletico, with 14 goals in 42 international appearances.

Craig Bellamy Wanted In Italy

Reports in the British Press suggest that Juventus and Roma are keen on signing Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy.

The Bianconeri are looking to strengthen their attacking department in view of David Trezeguet’s likely departure and Coach Claudio Ranieri has eyed the 27-year-old, as the Merseysiders seem willing to listen to offers.



The Guardian reports that Bellamy’s future at Liverpool is uncertain and Ranieri has already made enquiries about his availability, even if the player stated that he wanted to remain at the club.

The striker is valued at £12m by the Reds and Juventus are allegedly willing to offer up to £10m for his services, although Roma could also join the race to sign the Welsh international.

Coach Rafa Benitez hopes to include winger Amantino Mancini in the operation which could take Bellamy to Serie A.


The Spanish tactician was unimpressed with Bellamy’s performances after his move last summer, as confirmed by the fact that he was excluded from the Champions League Final in Athens.

His behaviour off the pitch was also controversial and he was involved in a tussle with teammate John Arne Riise before the Champions League match with Barcelona, when he threatened him with a golf club.

West Ham, Aston Villa and Blackburn have all been linked with the forward, who scored nine goals in 42 appearances this year, but appear to have been put off by Liverpool's asking price.

LiverpooL In The Risk Of Losing Benitez

Rafael Benitez could quit as Liverpool manager after becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of spending power at Anfield.

The Spaniard warned the club's new owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, he needed a £100m transfer kitty to overhaul his squad and turn them into Premier League title contenders.

And he set his sights on making two major signings over £10m immediately after losing to AC Milan in the Champions League final.

But the American tycoons are reported to be at loggerheads over the transfer budget.

The first signs of conflict came after Liverpool pulled out of the £17m race to sign Charlton and England striker Darren Bent.

Then the Reds made a £1m bid for West Ham winger Yossi Benayoun, which the Hammers described as an "insult".

Now a Reds source has told daily financial newspaper CityAM that Benitez has real concerns about the future ambitions of the club.

"If Gillett and Hicks cannot give Rafa a budget in which a sensible assault on the title, then Rafa will not hang around for long," he said.

"It simply doesn't look like Liverpool are competing in the transfer market and Rafa would definitely position than he is right now."

Liverpool Make Benayoun Bid

Israel captain verbally agreed a new five-year deal at West Ham but has delayed signing it since hearing of the Reds' interest.

Liverpool have confirmed their interest in West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun, with chief executive Rick Parry today stating the club had made an official approach.

Israel captain Benayoun has put off signing a new five-year deal at West Ham - which he verbally agreed three weeks ago - after hearing of Liverpool's interest.

There has been speculation that Liverpool offered as little as £1m for him, though other reports put the figure closer to £3m.

"I can confirm we have made an approach for Yossi Benayoun," said Parry.

"But the figures quoted are completely wrong. Other than that we don't want to say any more."

West Ham are believed to have rejected the bid and plan talks this week to convince Benayoun to stay in east London, where his new contract will be worth £50,000 a week.

Can Liverpool Bridge The Gap?

George Gillett Jr, one of Liverpool's American owners, has said he will not spend money on players like “a drunken sailor", much to Rafael Benitez's chagrin.

Benitez, the manager, has been openly disgruntled over the club's transfer policy, but has grudgingly accepted that the Americans’ promise of support in the transfer market does not equate to the blank chequebook that he envisaged after his initial conversations.

Yet, with Manchester United having already spent a projected £55 million this summer, and Roman Abramovich's seemingly bottomless pit of available cash at Chelsea, Liverpool seem further from catching their Premiership rivals than ever before.

Two Champions League finals in three years provides evidence that progress has been made, but can this summer's transfer activity really see Liverpool challenge for the title they last won in 1990?

Is the club now more suited to knockout competitions or do Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, his co-owner, have realistic ambitions of claiming the big prize over a season?

Is Diego Forlan, now plying his trade at Villarreal after 2½ largely unsuccessful years at Old Trafford, a realistic alternative to the more expensive Barcelona striker, Samuel Eto'o?

Reds Could Switch Winger Targets

Lyon's £17 million asking price for Florent Malouda could see Liverpool turn their attentions back to Benfica wideman Simao Sabrosa.



Rafa Benitez is understood to be keen to add French international Malouda to his squad during the close-season, but the latest comments from the Ligue One champions could put the Reds off making a move.

Lyon's chairman, Jean-Michel Aulas, has called on those clubs interested in Malouda to firm up their interest after slapping a price tag on his head.

Aulas revealed: "I'm waiting on a call from an English club so we can sort out a meeting. The transfer could move forward if there is an offer that comes close to the price I've fixed.

"On players' values, I seldom get it wrong: today Malouda is [worth] £17m."

With Chelsea and Arsenal also believed to be interested, Liverpool are being tipped to step aside and instead concentrate on trying to sign long-time target Simao, who is available for £12million.

Liverpool Boss Benitez To Have £55M For Transfers

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could have up to £55 million to spend this summer - despite the club's American owners warning over the size of his transfer budget.

With Liverpool making £29 million from their run to the Champions League final, plus the Sky TV and Premiership prize money to come, Benitez can expect £40 million plus to spend this summer.

With maybe £15 million from the sale of fringe players, including a possible fee from Marseille for Djibril Cisse, Benitez can bolster his cash kitty considerably.

Punters Pick Henry For Liverpool Move

There has been plenty of speculation about where Thierry Henry will start next season and, if money talks, then he could be heading for Liverpool.

The Arsenal forward has been backed down to 7-4 from 7-2 with Ladbrokes to be plying his trade at Anfield after a string of wagers.

Nick Weinberg, a Ladbrokes spokesman, said yesterday: “Punters have been speculating on Henry’s future all week. He was initially backed to leave Arsenal but then we began to field requests, in increasing numbers, from customers looking to back Liverpool as his destination.”

Liverpool have lacked a prolific striker since Michael Owen’s departure in three years ago but, even so, they finished with the same number of points as Arsenal in the league last season and reached the final of the European Cup for the second time in three years.

Were Henry to join, then Liverpool’s title odds - they are generally 11-2 - would plummet. The 4-1 that Coral offer against Henry being top goalscorer next season would also vanish.

AC Milan and Barcelona have also been linked with Henry, whose impact last season was limited by a string of minor injuries. The 29-year-old is said to have been disappointed with the departure of vice-chairman David Dein in April and would have been frustrated with Arsenal’s inconsistency in their first season at their new 60,000-seater home in Ashburton Grove.