Liverpool’s chances of keeping Fernando Torres on board for next season’s title push (12/1 to win Premier League) are hanging by a thread after Roy Hodgson admitted the striker is looking to leave Anfield.
Hodgson may have signed Joe Cole and convinced Steven Gerrard to stay but his attempts to talk Torres around appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
The new Reds boss has been talking to Torres ever since taking charge but it looks as though the player’s mind is already made up and he wants to quit Anfield.
The most frustrating thing for Hodgson is the fact Torres’ problems stem from matters that have gone on in the past and there is nothing more he can do to convince him to stay.
Hodgson would not divulge too much and say whether Torres is angry with the American owners, former boss Rafa Benitez or any other Liverpool official, but he is obviously unhappy with the club and that could spell the end of his time at Liverpool.
“Unfortunately, I cannot do much more,” Hodgson revealed. “His beef is with the club and not me.
“Fernando’s situation has nothing to do with me, he made that perfectly clear over the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face-to-face.
“He knows what I would like to do with the club. He knows how much I value him. But his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future.
“If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that.”
Hodgson’s comments are sure to alert Manchester City and Chelsea who are both interested in the striker and have the cash needed to prize him away from Anfield.
Torres is 11/2 to top the Premier League goalscoring charts next season but there is every chance he could be banging in the goals for either City or Chelsea.
Hodgson will still hold out some hope of keeping the player, who is under contract, but if Torres has made his mind up then there will be little the club can do.
Hodgson admits Torres doubts
Hodgson may have signed Joe Cole and convinced Steven Gerrard to stay but his attempts to talk Torres around appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
The new Reds boss has been talking to Torres ever since taking charge but it looks as though the player’s mind is already made up and he wants to quit Anfield.
The most frustrating thing for Hodgson is the fact Torres’ problems stem from matters that have gone on in the past and there is nothing more he can do to convince him to stay.
Hodgson would not divulge too much and say whether Torres is angry with the American owners, former boss Rafa Benitez or any other Liverpool official, but he is obviously unhappy with the club and that could spell the end of his time at Liverpool.
“Unfortunately, I cannot do much more,” Hodgson revealed. “His beef is with the club and not me.
“Fernando’s situation has nothing to do with me, he made that perfectly clear over the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face-to-face.
“He knows what I would like to do with the club. He knows how much I value him. But his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future.
“If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that.”
Hodgson’s comments are sure to alert Manchester City and Chelsea who are both interested in the striker and have the cash needed to prize him away from Anfield.
Torres is 11/2 to top the Premier League goalscoring charts next season but there is every chance he could be banging in the goals for either City or Chelsea.
Hodgson will still hold out some hope of keeping the player, who is under contract, but if Torres has made his mind up then there will be little the club can do.
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