Rumours have it that Liverpool are planning a 25 million pound swoop for highly rated Atletico Madrid and Spanish striker Fernando Torres. The Merseyside club are also believed to have joined Newcastle, Sunderland and Aston Villa in the race to sign Uruguayan international Diego Forlan, who is currently at Villareal.
The Reds have not made any significant signings since the transfer window opened, but bringing Torres in could change that. Reports suggest that Torres has a 38 million euro buyout clause in his contract, and that Liverpool are either willing to pay that, or send Luis Garcia out of Anfield as part of any offer for the 23 year old forward.
Torres had rejected the offer to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005-2006 season, and has always been the target of many Premiership clubs, including current champions Manchester United. Plus Atletico’s inability to secure a UEFA Cup spot might well influence the striker’s decision of moving out of the club where he has plied his trade for the past seven years.
The case of Diego Forlan is a bit more intriguing. He was unable to adjust at Old Trafford, but a return to the Premiership is in the offing for the striker, who has been immensely successful at Villareal. He helped them to secure their first ever appearance in the Champions League, and was pichichi for the 2004-2005 season. The Yellow Submarines are rumoured to have priced him at 15 million pounds or so.