Poster boy: Liverpool's Fernando Torres
Liverpool have given Fernando Torres assurances they
will be active in the transfer market this summer to try to
convince him his future lies at Anfield.
As Liverpool go to Manchester United on Sunday, both manager
Rafa Benitez and managing director Christian Purslow have talked
with their star striker.
Torres is considered vital to Liverpool's interests as
a 'global brand' and they told him the team will be strengthened,
despite uncertainty surrounding the ownership of Tom Hicks and
George Gillett. Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona have all
been linked with the hero of Spain's Euro 2008-winning
campaign.
But Liverpool are adamant Torres will not be sold even for
£60million because of the damage it would do to their reputation as
a world force.
He is seen as their poster boy in the same way as Lionel Messi,
Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are for Barcelona, Real Madrid
and Manchester United.
Disappointment: Alberto Aquilani has failed to
justify his £20m fee
To placate Torres, Liverpool are looking to sell squad
players like Albert Riera, Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani this
summer to raise £30m, which will then be invested in top-line
talent.
A pre-contract agreement has already been reached with Serbian
star Milan Jovanovic and Javier Mascherano is expected to sign a
new £90,000-a-week deal.
Benitez said: 'We can talk with Torres and go forward. He is
happy and we don't want to sell him.'
