| ign="center"> | | | | crunch time in terms of the clubâs |
| Once again Liverpool are hitting the headlines for | | | | history,â said Hansen. |
| all the wrong reasons with further speculation that | | | | âThe mere fact that Fernando Torres |
| star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard | | | | chose to speak about the need for âfour |
| are set to leave the club along with manager, | | | | or five top-classâ players to be signed by |
| Rafa Benitez. | | | | the club will be a worry for Liverpool supporters |
| On the back of Liverpoolâs consecutive | | | | because, in a perfect world, he would have said |
| 1-0 defeats to Wigan and Lille, and Real | | | | nothing and simply got on with the job.â |
| Madridâs elimination from the Europe, | | | | âOn the pitch, things are not looking |
| speculation is mounting that Benitez will finally | | | | great because it looks as though they are going |
| succumb to Madridâs advances. Benitez | | | | to miss out on Champions League |
| has apparently already turned down three | | | | qualification.â |
| approaches to swap the soccer uniforms of | | | | âTo qualify, they are going to have to |
| Liverpool for Real Madrid over the past few | | | | win 95 per cent of their remaining games this |
| seasons but with both clubs faltering badly it looks | | | | season and they donât look capable of |
| as if all parties concerned would welcome such a | | | | doing that.â |
| move. | | | | âIf they fail, thatâs when the |
| Media reports in Spain also suggest that Real | | | | problems could really start. I donât know |
| Madrid are lining up a big money move for | | | | about the intentions of Torres or Steven Gerrard, |
| Liverpool captain who has cut a dejected figure of | | | | but if you are in the top 100 players in the world, |
| late as Liverpool slump once again. | | | | you want to play in the Champions League |
| If this werenât bad news enough for the | | | | because it is the only place to be.â |
| Anfield faithful, Fernando Torres has come out | | | | âIf Liverpool are not in the Champions |
| with a thinly veiled threat to quit the club if there | | | | League, will they accept missing out as a one-off |
| isnât a cash injection soon that will | | | | or fear it happening season after season? Should |
| finance a squad overhaul. | | | | either of them decide to leave, it would leave an |
| âThe really important thing is that the | | | | enormous hole that would be impossible to |
| club make a big effort and bring in important | | | | fill.â |
| players, who will improve the quality of the | | | | âSo this is the problem facing whoever |
| squad,â said Torres. | | | | comes in with new investment. It is a big ask of |
| âWe need four or five top-class players | | | | anybody to expect them to find the money for a |
| to compete, who will make us grit our teeth and | | | | new ground and a new team.â |
| do everything we can to try to keep our places. | | | | âIt has been 20 years since Liverpool |
| Without reinforcements next year we will once | | | | won the league. If it goes another five years and |
| again be fighting to be fourth. I want to fight next | | | | the club slip into mediocrity, then you are not only |
| year to win the Premier League, to win the | | | | asking for trouble, you are likely to get |
| Champions League or the Europa League, but for | | | | it.â |
| this there have to be signings.â | | | | âThat is why the next few months are |
| When questioned about his future, Torres said: | | | | so crucial. If the new investment arrives, then the |
| âI have three more years on my | | | | club will have to either back manager Rafael |
| contract. I owe Liverpool many things and | | | | BenÃtez to the hilt in the summer or he will |
| Iâm very happy here. The fans have | | | | have to go. At the moment, you would have to |
| treated me like one of their own, but | | | | say that the outcome of that one is |
| Iâm going to think about my future. The | | | | 50-50.â |
| club deserve to get back to winning [trophies] but | | | | The wearers of the most successful of all soccer |
| right now that is far off. The fans are worried | | | | uniforms in English soccer history have a chance |
| about players leaving.â | | | | to generate better headlines when they take on |
| These quotes were released before a recent | | | | Portsmouth at Anfield later today. |
| report that The Rhone Group, a global private | | | | Browse through Soccer Uniformsextensive |
| equity firm with bases in London, Paris and New | | | | collection of soccer kits. |
| York have been in talks with the Reds for a | | | | Report this article |
| number of weeks and have now put together a | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| $165 million offer that would see them take a | | | | Source: |
| 40% stake in the club. | | | | Republish this article |
| A number of investors have been circling the club | | | | |
| for some time and now that a firm bid is on the | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
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