Tom Hicks: Fernando Torres not for sale at any price
Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, insisted yesterday that Fernando Torres would not be sold at any price amid interest from Chelsea in the Spain striker.
Although Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, Rick Parry, the club's chief executive, and Torres have dismissed talk of a move, Hicks's declaration that not even a world-record offer in excess of £50million would be enough to prise the player away from Anfield is the clearest “hands-off” warning yet to Chelsea. “There is no price at which we would consider selling Fernando Torres,” Hicks said. “The Chelsea rumours in the media are total rubbish.”
Luiz Felipe Scolari, who will take over as Chelsea manager on July 1, two days after the European Championship final he hopes to contest with Portugal, has been presented with a list of targets that includes Torres. Chelsea were always mindful that the Spaniard represents a hugely ambitious objective, but, while they were said to be hoping to exploit the divisions between Liverpool's warring owners, Hicks and George Gillett Jr, it remains to be seen whether Hicks's statement prompts a rethink and forces the West London club to look elsewhere.
Reports at the weekend suggested that “one half” of Liverpool's ownership team was prepared to sell Torres, but as long as at least one of the owners wants to keep the player signed for £20.2million from Atlético Madrid last summer, he cannot be sold. Under the terms of their takeover, Hicks requires the support of Gillett and vice versa when making such decisions, which is why Hicks has been unable to sack Parry, who retains the backing of Gillett.
Similarly, Gillett was unable to sell his 50 per cent stake in the club, despite receiving a £200million offer in February for his share from Dubai International Capital, the private equity investment arm of the Arab state, because he first had to offer it to Hicks, who has been trying - unsuccessfully - to raise the finances to buy out his estranged business partner.
Hicks, nonetheless, maintains that he will have the money in place by September to fund the creation of a new stadium in Stanley Park, adjacent to Anfield.
As deeply unpopular as Hicks is among the Liverpool supporters, they will be pleased to learn of the Texan's refusal to countenance the sale of a player who quickly established himself as a hero on Merseyside, with 33 goals in an impressive debut season.
If Torres's Liverpool future seems secure, however, the same cannot be said for John Arne Riise and Jermaine Pennant. While Riise has reluctantly accepted that his days at Anfield are numbered, with AS Roma hoping to complete the £4million transfer of the Norway defender in the coming days, Pennant is adamant that he “wishes to stay” at the club, despite speculation that the winger is surplus to requirements.
With Juventus still to lodge a firm offer for Xabi Alonso, even though one is expected imminently, the sale of Riise would help Liverpool to raise the funds to meet Aston Villa's £18million valuation of Gareth Barry, with the Merseyside club expected to make a fourth bid for the England midfield player this week.
Benítez is also hoping to bring James Milner, the Newcastle United winger, to Anfield, possibly as a replacement for Pennant, while the manager wants to raise more funds by offloading Peter Crouch, the England forward, to Portsmouth.
Liverpool have announced two friendly matches as part of their pre-season training camp in Switzerland next month. They will play FC Lucerne in the Brühl Stadium in Grenchen on July 16 before taking on Wisla Krakow at the St-Leonard Stadium in Fribourg three days later.
