<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Liverpool are on the brink of sealing a club record ?26.5m deal to sign Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres. BBC Sport understands a transfer has now been agreed between Liverpool and Atletico, with Diego Forlan replacing the departing Torres. Liverpool's Luis Garcia is likely to go in the opposite direction for ?4.5m, but the Torres deal will not collapse if he rejects the switch. Boss Rafa Benitez is being linked with Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze. Argentine defender Heinze is currently playing in the Copa America, but there is growing speculation Liverpool will try to do a deal for the 29-year-old. It may prove complicated, however, with fierce rivals Liverpool and United notoriously reluctant to sell players to each other. Torres is Liverpool's main priority, and there is hope that he could put pen to paper within the next few days. Atletico's announcement that they had agreed to sign ?15m-rated former Manchester United striker Forlan on a four-year deal from Villarreal is effectively confirmation that Torres is on his way to Anfield. Liverpool officials are playing their cards close to their chest on what will be a move that shatters their previous club record deal, the ?14m paid to Auxerre for Djibril Cisse three seasons ago. But it is understood the framework of the Torres move is finally in place between the two clubs after lengthy and complicated negotiations - although Liverpool remain cautious until it is actually signed and sealed. Liverpool's approach is understandable given that Torres has reportedly been leaving Atletico for several seasons, only for moves to fall at the final hurdle. Spanish international Garcia is expected to sign for Atletico, but if he remains at Anfield, Liverpool's new owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks will pay straight cash for Torres. Torres, 23, is currently on holiday until early July, but Benitez remains hopeful of confirming the deal then, with personal terms not expected to be a problem. Atletico fans held a protest at the possible deal, and a club spokesman has tried to cool suggestions that move is now imminent. The spokesman said: "The player is on holiday at the moment and will report back to training on 9 July for an Intertoto match. "At the moment, any talk of a move is just speculation and we are still hopeful that Fernando will be with us next season." Atletico are reluctant to sell, but Torres is believed to be keen to link up with Benitez. Benitez wants to land Torres to provide a spearhead for an assault on the title - and also allow Gillett and Hicks to demonstrate their own financial commitment to his plans. Torres has been consistently linked with a move to England, particularly with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Liverpool are now set to win the race. If he signs, he will join fellow countrymen Garcia, Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso, as well as boss Benitez. Gil Marin, Atletico's major shareholder insisted that Torres is not irreplaceable. "Nobody is indispensable. No player by himself, very good though he is, is able to make a team achieve its aims," Gil Marin said on Punto Radio. "We have spoken to him and told him we would like him to stay. It is normal that he has doubts. It is normal that the offers and everything surrounding them has made him think." Torres, 23, scored 14 league goals in 36 starts this season as Atletico finished seventh in La Liga. The Spain international's Atletico contract runs until 2009. Torres came up though the youth ranks at Atletico and has been their leading scorer in each of the last five seasons. </div> Source: BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Liverpool to land ?26.5m Torres Finally after weeks of specualtion we have found a new Number 9 your thoughts?
He'll play well for Liverpool, good to see him in the Premiership because he is a talent. Hopefully he'll get even better in his first few years at Anfield.
<div class="quote_poster">Flight643 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">?26.5m for a Striker who only scored 15 goals? Another misfiring striker Liverpool have landed.</div> u never know, he was on fire in the WC
<div class="quote_poster">Oranje Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">u never know, he was on fire in the WC</div> But Liverpool are hardly Spain, no matter how many of them that Benitez signs. Who's going to give him the service? Jermaine Pennant? No. Benitez was just excitied to have a bit of cash and spunked it in one go. Would've been better served going for two or three players since Liverpool are a long way off being just one piece away from a title or even a sustained run in the premiership.
Now what Liverpool need to do is get a Winger who can supply him decent balls we know they have decent central midfielders..
<div class="quote_poster">Big Aaron Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But Liverpool are hardly Spain, no matter how many of them that Benitez signs. Who's going to give him the service? Jermaine Pennant? No. Benitez was just excitied to have a bit of cash and spunked it in one go. Would've been better served going for two or three players since Liverpool are a long way off being just one piece away from a title or even a sustained run in the premiership. </div> Pennant? Since when has Pennant been first choice on the right, thought it was Gerrard? Spunked it in one go? Do you work for the board? Do you know how much they have? No. I will say though, that I've always liked Manchester United and prefer to watch them than any other team, including Bindipperpool.
<div class="quote_poster">Art_Gunner4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Too much money for a kid...Tevez would have been a better choice.</div> Just thought you'd like to know that Tevez and Torres are the same age.
<div class="quote_poster">The 12th Man Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just thought you'd like to know that Tevez and Torres are the same age.</div> Tevez born February 5, 1984 Torres born March 20, 1984 Lol!! nicely done 12th, u know ur football trivia
lol....I guess I didnt use the right words for it, I was looking at their game, in comparison, Tevez has matured his game and overcome more adversity, proved alot more, instead of whinning and crying like other foreign players do, he sucked it up and played. Torres is a great prospect, but nobody really knows if he will actually adapt to life in england, game, life, etc......some players fail to impress, like Morientes, he looked very promising but never quite adapted. I just think that he will struggle, no matter how good you are (Sheva,Ballack). Tevez sounds more like the guy you want to have when your against all odds, the guy is a fighter. That was actually my point about the age, the maturity in their game and expirience.
Torres will be completing a medical on tuesday and may be unvieled officially on Wednesday. source: BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Torres to complete Liverpool move
Just a couple of months ago this site was Torres this Torres that ,Torres for United , Torres for Chelsea. Now its Torres for Liverpool his stocks gone down and he's a bag of shite in the mould of Ade Akinbeye. Get a grip!
yeah every united fan was loving him because he was linked to them now he's coming to us their like "waste of money", "overated", "bent's miles better" tut tut
I think he will be a brilliant signing for us! yes he only bagged about 14 goals in La Liga last season but he was playing for a shite team. I will also miss Luis Garcia when he goes the other way, he didn't have the best of games in the prem but in europe he was class!
Well it turns out we've only paid ?20m for him as opposed to the ?26/27m going about. So could turn out to be a bargain. He's also said he wouldn't of signed for anyone else other than Liverpool.
<div class="quote_poster">bringiton Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well it turns out we've only paid ?20m for him as opposed to the ?26/27m going about. So could turn out to be a bargain. He's also said he wouldn't of signed for anyone else other than Liverpool.</div> But it could rise to 26/27 mil
