Latest Torres rumours + Final Adam offer

It's quite odd that Liverpool FC have landed in this situation with FernandoTorres. 

Earlier he has stated his love for the club, saying things like 'I would not like to play for another English or Spanish club. This feeling is very important to me.'

In August Torres publicly committed himself to Liverpool Football Club. He said: 'My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead.

However, a report said Chelsea wanted to make Torres their best paid player ever, if he made the move to London. And the Sky Sports betting had slashed the odds on Torres going to Chelsea before Monday to 1/5.

Liverpool then confirmed that Torres Friday evening submitted a transfer request. But the request was rejected.

'Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool. Fernando is under a long-term contract and the Club expects him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement, the Club statement said.

According to Liverpool FC |fan page| - News and Speculations, there is a minimum fee release clause written into Torres' contract. But there is a clause to the clause stating that we dont have to accept bids from home rivals. The club have sent representatives to Spain to negotiate a transfer for Torres with Barca. BUT, if Chelsea where to offer 65m, then the club are prepared to accept.

Tony Evans, The Times’ Football Editor, has told talkSPORT that he believes Fernando Torres will move to Chelsea in this transfer window.

Later a rumour started doing the rounds on the net, saying Torres is set to withdraw his transfer request and commit to LFC. Apparently Steven Gerrard and  Kenny Dalglish last night was talking to him, and he is now 60-40 in favour of staying and signing new deal.



When it comes to the other main transfer taret for Liverpool in this window - Charlie Adam, Blackpool have been branded 'cheapskates' for turning down Liverpool's latest offer for him down, by the player's father, Click Liverpool reports.

The father claims that the improved bid tabled by the Reds this week, believed to be in the region of £6million, is more than an acceptable offer for the Scotland international.

Adam handed in a transfer request to the Seasiders in a bid to help force his move to Anfield through but their chairman Karl Oyston and manager Ian Holloway are standing firm, prompting his father to launch a stinging attack on the Barclays Premier League newcomers.

- I don’t even think this is about money. It’s because Charlie took them to a tribunal over the bonus they owed him. This is their pay-back. They are saying ‘you won’t make anything out of this, we have got you under contract’, he's saying.

- Liverpool’s offer is 13 times what Blackpool paid for Charles. And they are turning it down? They have been more than compensated for him already.

- Mr Oyston has got to realise it is somebody’s life and future that he is dealing with here. I think it is petty. This should be a time for common sense to prevail.

Today it became clear that also Gerard Houllier will launch a bid for Adam in the summer, according to The Daily Mail.

The latest on the Adam saga is that Liverpool are ready to make one final offer for the Scotsman.

Another player that looked destined to leave, is Milan Jovanovic.

But now he is set to stay at Liverpool after turning down a transfer to Wolfsburg, the Metro reports.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are reportedly keeping tabs on Leeds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The Danish stopper has been attracting plenty of plaudits for his performances in the Championship this season and, according to the Daily Mail, he has caught the eye of Liverpool.

Former Manchester City 'keeper, Schmeichel, began to fulfil his potential with Notts County last season and did enough to earn himself a transfer to Leeds in the summer. And now he could be set to move back to the Barclays Premier League if Liverpool step up their reported interest, GiveMeFootball reports.

However, the idea of Liverpool splashing out £6 million on a no.2 goalie appears to be remote - even for one with the potential of 24-year-old Schmeichel.

Another name that might be on for the summer is Roma striker Mirko Vucinic.
Liverpool are reportedly frontrunners to sign him in the summer.

According to talkSPORT, the Reds are 'strong favourites' for the 27-year-old, although Roma remain unwilling to sell during the January transfer window - but they have received bids for his services.

When asked about the reported interest of Liverpool, Vucinic's agent Alessandro Lucci said:

- The club have stated he is not for sale. Although we have received some bids the club will not be considering any offers. At the end of the season we will make a decision on his future.

Valued at €25 million by transfermarkt.co.uk, Vucinic is one the most highly-regarded forwards in Europe and it would be a major coup if Liverpool could land him in the summer.

Liverpool in talks over defender?

Left back from Marseille? New Gerrard midfield partner and Torres strike partner? Nigerian international striker on the radar. Roma striker is not untouchable... and Russian international for summer transfer?

It has now been confirmed that, as I reported yesterday, the first transfer under Dalglish's helm has been the former Arsenal and Blackburn winger Jason Banton, it has been officially confirmed.

King Kenny has today gone out to cool the talk of transfer targets, claiming he has not discussed potential transfer targets for the current window with the club's owners. 

Despite these claims the transfer rumours keeps coming more than ever...

Liverpool have, according to Sportingo, made contact with Marseille over the availability of Taye Taiwo.

Liverpool are keen to sign a new left back and their attention has switched to the Nigeria international after an assessment of the squad by caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish.

The Scot made the surprising decision to play out-of-form Glen Johnson in that position in the 2-1 defeat to Blackpool highlighting the lack of options in that position. Fabio Aurelio was mysteriously omitted while Paul Konchesky is tipped to follow former manager Roy Hodgson through the exit door after a failing to rise to the level expected at Anfield.

Taiwo has emerged as the Reds number one target after impressing for L’Om over a number of seasons. Quick and powerfully built, the 25-year-old is solid tackler but also provides an added dimension in attack.

His strong running and powerful shot are an asset to the Ligue 1 club for whom he also gets on the scoresheet from direct free-kicks.

Another new name appears on the radar as Liverpool today are linked with Inter's Victor Obinna. According to TalkSport he has caught the eye of Liverpool whilst starring for Premier League strugglers West Ham.

The Nigerian international has been one of the few players to gain credit during West Ham's failure to impress this season and has indicated his desire to stay in London.

The 23-year-old only made a handful of starts at Inter following his move from Chievo and it is understood that the European champions would happily recoup £8 million on the forward.

Obinna may have his head turned by the interest of Liverpool though, especially with the Hammers facing the prospect of relegation.

Liverpool are today being linked with both West Hams Scott Parker and Luis Suarez.

Parker has been in sensational form again for the Hammers this season and has consistently been linked with a move away from Upton Park.

Parker has stated that he has no desire to leave West Ham, but it comes as no surprise that he is wanted by a number of clubs - including Tottenham - and The Guardian now reports Liverpool are interested in his signature.

However, Liverpool are expected to have to spend big to bring the former Chelsea midfielder to Anfield, after Spurs were told that they would have to pay £15 million for his services.

But, according to The Mirror, Kenny Dalglish will ask to be backed in the transfer market during a meeting with owners New England Sports Ventures this week and hopes to bring in a midfielder to partner Anfield hero Steven Gerrard.

The new Liverpool boss is thought to have identified Parker as the man to play alongside Gerrard, but whether the Anfield club will launch a bid remains to be seen.

The acquisition of a new striker to play with Torres is also a priority for Liverpool, and they have been linked with moves for Ajax captain Luis Suarez and Roma hotshot Mirko Vucinic.

And, despite Dalglish said to have drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates, he has stated that he will allow Liverpool director of football strategy Damien Comolli to look after transfer dealings.

When it comes tu Vucinic, according to Goal.com, he is not untouchable, as Roma would sell him to Liverpool if budgetary constraints forced a need for immediate cash flow.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports the Italians have never generated much favour for selling the 27-year-old Montenegrin ace, but firm interest from Liverpool, and a need for cash could change their position.

For now Vucinic is seen as stable in the capital, but with Roma's future unknown and linked to a sale from club creditors Unicredit, player exits may be needed in future.

Two heavily linked players - Aston Villa's Ashley Young and Wigan Athletic's Charles N'Zogbia, are the two names on Kenny Dalglish's shortlist, Sportingo says. 

The list had included Valencia's Juan Mata and Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips but those moves have been scuppered due to the signing of a contract extension and a proposed move to Fulham, respectively, they claim.

Finaly GiveMeFootball reports that Liverpool striker target Pavel Pogrebnyak could make a summer move to the Barclays Premier League.

The Russian international has been linked with a number of clubs in recent months, with former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson thought to be one of the interested parties.

New Reds chief Kenny Dalglish is expected to continue the Anfield outfit's interest in the player, although Liverpool are now unlikely to secure a switch this month.

- He will stay here until the end of the season. In summer we will make a decision, player agent Oleg Artemov told the Daily Mail.

- A number of Premier League sides are interested in him. We've received a lot of offers.

Swedish striker back on the radar

Speculations keeps coming on Roy Hodgsons manager future. According to FootballTransferTavern|he has got three games to save his job and turn Liverpools season around.

It seems Frank Rijkaard is the man ready to replace Hodgson.

During the summer transfer window Swedish striker Ola Toivonen was linked with a transfer to Liverpool. Now it seems the PSV player is back in the frame.

The PSV Eindhoven player scored twice as the Dutch club ran out 2-1 winners against Sampdoria in the Europa League.

His recent performances will have no doubt caught the eye of Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson as he looks to bring another striker to Anfield to take the goalscoring burden away from Fernando Torres.
- We have discussed his name, that's true, Hodgson earlier has told Sky Sports. - Like all teams, we are looking at a lot of players.
- I do know the player and think he is a good player, but can't give you any further indication.

- That doesn't mean we are going to rush in and buy him tomorrow. But he is a player who has come up, we have watched him and we know about him.

Now Liverpool are understood to be considering stepping up their interest in the £10 million-rated Sweden international in January in a bid to reinforce the striking ranks at Anfield, GiveMeFootball reports.

Liverpool have not yet made a move for reported Liverpool target Keisuke Honda, according to the player's agent.

Reports in Russia suggested that the two clubs had already begun negotiations over a possible transfer, with the Reds prepared to pay up to £8million.

But the 24-year-old's representative Kees Ploegsma insists there have been no offers for his client so far.

- To date, there is no offer for Keisuke from Liverpool, Kees Ploegsma says according to Sky Sports.

- There is nothing, these are just rumours. The situation is quiet. To date, there is no offer for Keisuke from Liverpool, nor from other teams.

- The player has a contract with CSKA Moscow [until 2013] and is now on vacation.

According to a report from France Football, Liverpool will move for Stade Rennais winger Sylvain Marveaux in the coming weeks as the talented 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer and will be available on a free transfer.

Rennes have repeatedly tried to extend the contract of the Vannes-born player, though he has persistently turned down their advances.

Having been approached by Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille last summer, it appears that Marveaux’s future is in England as new Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli has instigated the move for the former France Under-21 international.

Last season was something of a breakthrough campaign for the attacker, who scored an impressive 10 goals in 35 appearances. Previously his career had been rather blighted by injury, and even now he won’t play until 2011 because of a hamstring problem.

Liverpool have been recently linked with highly rated FC Copenhagen left-back Oscar Wendt and have admitted to scouting the defender.

Reds scout Jakob Friis-Hansen explained to swedish paper Expressen:

- We are keeping a good eye on Oscar. He does a great job, but he must play at a high level every week, the scout said.

- In Denmark there are just a few high-quality games.

He’s hardly Liverpool’s secret though. Several clubs such as Tottenham, Roma and Juventus have previously been keen on the player but a contract renewal in 2009 put an end to any potential move for the left-back.

German outfit Werder Bremen are now on red alert having discovered Liverpool’s possible intent and have renewed their interest. Bremen signed former Manchester United left-back Mikael Silvestre to fill the role last year, but Bermen manager Thomas Schaaf is far from satisfied with the former French International’s performances.

Wendt is very much the modern full-back and could fit comfortably into both teams. He a very strong defender but he also has the ability to get forward and support attacking play.

The Swede has been linked to a host of clubs, and probably more than we know about. Liverpool will have to write a decent cheque to land this one. Despite a valuation of £2.5million to £4million, it’s likely Roy will get his man at around £6million come January.

Reported Liverpool target Mirko Vucinic seems to be closer to a departure from Roma, according to TribalFootball.

Mirko Vucinic's minders are not firm in their commitment to AS Roma.

Rather than rule out a move away, the striker's agent, Eugene Ascari, now says the decision will be up to Roma management.

Vucinic confessed earlier this season an ambition to play in England.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all had the Montenegro star watched in the last 12 months.

Two strikers on the radar

Today has been a slow day for transfer rumours involving Liverpool FC. However it has not been absolutely quiet on the radar...

Yesterday The Daily Mail linked Liverpool with an exchange deal, sendig Dirk Kuyt to Roma with Philippe Mexes in return.

Now it has emerged that Liverpool are keen to keep Kuyt at Anfield and are poised to make a £20m offer for Mirko Vucinic, also being mentioned in the Mail article.

According to TalkSport Liverpool are set to step up their interest in the Roma striker and hope to finalise a deal to bring him to Anfield in January.

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Vucinic (27) has a proven track record in Serie A and is regarded as one of the best forwards in Europe.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is desperate to find a proven partner for Fernando Torres and Vucinic could be just the right man to help Liverpool challenge for major silverware again.

In addition Liverpool is also linked with Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano.

Liverpool are the latest in a long list of clubs seeking the services of fallen Sampdoria ace, Goal.com reports.

The Italian playmaker faces a rescissionary hearing with the Lega Serie A's arbitration panel who will decided whether Sampdoria have legal grounds to terminate his contract after his feud with club president Riccardo Garrone.

28-year-old Cassano has been linked with Genoa, Inter and Juventus, but Tuttomercatoweb.com reports that Liverpool are pushing themselves into the que.

According to reports, Reds manager Roy Hodgson is looking for a top-level partner for Fernando Torres and Cassano fits the bill.

However, reports earlier this week prefigured Cassano had signed an agreement with Inter, his long time admirers.

Carlton Cole back on the radar

Today we have been familiar with the rumour that Italian club Roma want Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt - and are happy to give the Reds Philippe Mexes in return.

Roy Hodgson on the other hand insists he is now keen to keep the current squad intact ahead of the January transfer window. 

The Daily Mail today claims Roma have set their sights on Dirk Kuyt and hope to tempt Liverpool with an exchange for Philippe Mexes.

The paper says reports in Rome claim Kuyt is open to a move to Italy.

Rafa Benitez remains keen to take Kuyt to Inter Milan, but Liverpool put off the European champions by demanding a prohibitive £20m in the summer.

Roma can’t even offer half that and a straight swap for France centre half Mexes looks far from value for money as the 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season.

Kuyt is under contract at Anfield till 2012 and Roma fear Liverpool will ask for Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic in exchange.

Vucinic has many admirers in England, including Manchester United, though coach Claudio Ranieri wants him to stay at the Olympic Stadium.

I can never ever understand how Hodgson would want to sell Kuyt to Rome to get Mexes back. Kuyt is a real quality player that brings a lot to the team. Mexes is going to turn 29 next year. The rest you can figure out yourself.

But now on to anther more likely rumour.

Carlton Cole was a reported Liverpool tranfer target this summer. And he will leave West Ham for Liverpool in January, according to Metro.

The Hammers striker was publicly critical of boss Avram Grant after they slumped to 3-0 defeat at Anfield last Saturday and the east London club remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.

This has led to speculation that the 27-year-old wants out of Upton Park, with Liverpool reportedly the frontrunners for his signature.

Cole said after the Liverpool loss:

- We can come here and talk a good game and say we are going to do this to them and come with a game plan, but we didn’t even turn up for this game.

- In the first 10 minutes we had lost the game, psychologically anyway. I’m lost for words now, I can’t speak too much because I get emotional with these things and it gets on my nerves and I don’t want to talk about certain things, he said.

The £9m rated England forward was linked with a switch to Anfield during the summer and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has recently admitted he was monitoring Cole.

Hodgson has made no secret of his desire to add more potency to his Anfield attack after admitting that Liverpool rely too heavily on Kop heroes Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Bolton striker Johan Elmander and Aston Villa winger Ashley Young have both been linked with moves to Anfield as the January transfer window draws closer.

In-form Bolton ace Johan Elmander has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs as his future at the Reebok hangs in the balance.

According to the Mirror, Liverpool, Newcastle and Stoke all have the talented Swede in their sights after it was revealed he could leave Bolton for nothing in the summer when his contract expires.

Elmander is Bolton's record-signing after joining the club from Toulouse for around £10 million in 2008, and the 29-year-old has been in magnificent goalscoring form of late.

His performances have led to Bolton launching a surprise assault on the Champions League places and have also reportedly caught the eye of Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson has made no secret of his desire to add more potency to his Anfield attack after admitting that Liverpool rely too heavily on Kop heroes Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

And, with Torres' chequered injury history, Hodgson is keen to strengthen his striking ranks and is thought to be interested in bringing Elmander to Liverpool.

However, Bolton boss Owen Coyle has attempted to ease fears that the Sweden international would be moving to Anfield, but admitted that Elmander would be crazy not to consider joining a club the size of Liverpool.

- If players are playing well it is only natural bigger clubs will cast an eye on them. That is the nature of football and I am relaxed about it, Cole said.

- Until those bids come in, it is all hypothetical. When they do we will give them respect and make a decision. I do not get caught up in it too much and beat myself up. Johan knows that.

- If it was a club of a similar size to Bolton I believe he would stay here. If an elite club came in Johan would be crazy not to think about it.

- I have no problems with that. Johan is well within his rights to do what is right for himself and his family. What I will do game by game is try to get the best out of him.

Coyle added: - Phil [Gartside] has had talks with Johan's representative and that will be on-going.

- Johan has been terrific from day one and if they decide they want it to run its course into January, then so be it.

Yet another Lille player supposedly is on Liverpools transfer radar.

Liverpool are now being linked with a January transfer move for French international Adil Rami, GiveMeFootball reports

The Lille defender is the latest Ligue 1 player to be targeted by the Anfield club, with Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson thought to have his eye on a string of Les Dogues players.

Rami, Gervinho and Eden Hazard are all thought to be potential transfer targets for the Merseyside outfit.

A towering defender of Moroccan decent, Rami joined Lille from Frejus in 2007, and has gone on to be an integral part of the team at the Stadium Lille-Metropole.

Experience at European club and international level makes the player a viable target, and the Liverpool boss was thought to have been impressed by Rami's performance in the recent 2-1 victory for France over England at Wembley.

The Reds boss is thought to have targeted 'five or six' players for the opening month of 2011, and new owners NESV look set to offer the Liverpool chief a transfer war chest in the region of £35 million.

Whilst a striking foil for Fernando Torres is thought to be the priority, the former Fulham boss is keen to strengthen in the core areas. Central defence is one of those positions, leading to speculation that Liverpool will make a move for Rami at the first opportunity.

Five strikers and one defender linked

The Mirror today comes up with an utterly silly and gibberish story about Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina wanting to leave Liverpool in january.

They are, according to the paper, ready to use secret escape clauses in theire contracts to quit Anfield. The paper though has no quoted sources what so ever. So we don't belive that, do we?

Roy Hodgson has on his hand warned Manchester United that goalkeeper Pepe Reina is not for sale.

Anyway Roy Hodgson would want to pair Torres with another striker in january. But who would that be?

One alternative apparently is Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo. Liverpool are prepared to break the bank to land the Chilean goal scorer who could make a £22 million move to Anfield in January, if we are to belive Mexican publication Ultima Hora, Givemefootball.com reports.

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Cardozo will be a familiar name to the Anfield faithful after the Chilean struck three times in two matches against Rafa Benitez's Reds in last season's Europa League.

Liverpool appear to be frontrunners for his signature in a deal which would firmly establish NESV as serious backers to the Anfield cause.

Earlier reported Liverpool target Ibrahim Afellay has according to Goal.com rubbished talk of an agreement with Atletico Madrid. 


The player has been made available by PSV Eindhoven in January after he failed to agree a new contract. The Dutch side do no want the player to leave on a free transfer next summer when his deal runs out, and a fee had reportedly been agreed with Atletico. 

But this is not true. 

- We have not reached any agreement with any club whatsoever. Not even with Atletico. Some of the names in the press are correct, but I do not wish to confirm any one, his agent says.

Another earlier reported potential transfer target in the January transfer window is Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan.

It is believed that he could be made available in January to finance a move for Lyon’s Lisandro Lopez, reports Spanish newspaper Cadena Ser.

Both Spurs and Liverpool are said to be interested in signing the 31 year old Uruguayan and any move by Atletico for Lopez could see either English club pounce for the prolific goalscorer.

The same is the case for Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez, who according to The Daily Mail are going to be offloaded to finance a £40m move for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko.

The Reds missed out on a loan deal for the German international in the summer but Roy Hodgson is still believed to be keen on signing the 25 year old.

Another striker turning up on the rumour mill is Mirko Vucinic. 

The Montenegro international is reportedly keen on a Stadio Olimpico exit after clashing with manager Claudio Ranieri, and Liverpool are thought to be one of the interested parties in the player, says Givemefootball.com. 

Temperament could be a key issue in any decision to move for the player, and Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson would have to pay in the region of £13 million to bring him to Anfield. 

Reports in Italy suggest the player is looking to move after reactingly badly to being substituted in the 0-0 draw against Parma, and the aforementioned fee is a reduced price from La Maggica's original valuation. 

And finaly a defencive player is being linked. This time it's the Real Madrid defender Royston Drenthe, who Liverpool reportedly have made contact with Real Madrid over.

The 23-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at La Liga side Hercules, earning rave-reviews for his performances. Liverpool are thought to have been impressed by Drenthe's performances at the José Rico Pérez stadium, and Spanish paper Sport notes that Jose Mourinho would be willing to listen to offers for the former U21 international.

Roy Hodgson is still thought to be keen on bringing the player to Anfield, and it's thought that Liverpool will have to pay a fee in the region of £8 million for the player.

Roma striker linked

The last few days I have been distracted by the LFC-RBS-Hicks-Gillett-NESV-takeover saga.

The rumour mill has also gone fairly quiet. But some stories has come through the media grid.

Roma striker Mirko Vucinic is hoping to impress interested Premier League Clubs with his performance for Montenegro against England. Vucinic has been linked with among others Liverpool according to the Daily Mail.

- I am very happy there is a lot of interest from the Premier League, and I hope to do my best and have a great game, Vucinic told the paper.

Vucinic scored nineteen goals in all competitions last season, and at 27 year of age seems to be looking for a new challenge. 

Liverpool looks to be in the driving seat when it comes to the highly-rated left-back Reto Ziegler.

A story by Metro.co.uk says a number of clubs are hunting the 24 years old Sampdoria player, including European giants Juventus and Zenit St Petersburg.

The guess is however that Roy Hodgson is confident of persuading Ziegler to return to England three seasons after quitting Spurs for a move to Italy.

The Swiss international defender has shown his versatility for both club and country by playing in a more advanced role on the left of midfield, meaning he could play in tandem with Konchesky.