Soccer: Liverpool will be bracing themselves for a renewed bid from Chelsea for star striker Fernando Torres after turning down a transfer request from the player on Friday night. The Anfield club turned down Torres' request and then told the Spain striker they expect him to honour his long-term contract.
Speculation had been rife all day about the 26-year-old's future after the club turned down a €40 million bid from Chelsea. Just hours after the Reds concluded a deal with Ajax for their Uruguay forward Luiz Suarez Torres handed in his request.
It was rejected and the player was reminded of his previous pledge to the club.
"Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool," said a club statement. "Fernando is under long-term contract and the club expect him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement."
Barely had news of the Suarez deal, worth up to €26.5 million for the Dutch club, filtered out then speculation began to increase about Torres.
It had been hoped the capture of the Uruguayan would provide the necessary evidence that owners Fenway Sports Group were serious about investing in the squad and convince star names like Torres and goalkeeper Jose Reina that they could have a successful future at Anfield. However, it appears the 26-year-old's mind had already been made up to ask to leave in the wake of Chelsea's bid even though he has a contract until the end of 2013.
The Stamford Bridge side have tried to sign Torres before and last summer it seemed they were preparing to make another offer when the player returned from South Africa as a World Cup winner.
Torres put an end to the speculation spoke publicly of his feelings for the club on August 3rd, saying: "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed.
"I am looking forward to the challenge ahead."
It is those comments which the club have now turned back on the player, insisting they have no desire to allow him to leave. Their statement also, quite cleverly, leans heavily on the elevated position the Spaniard has with the supporters, who have adored their number nine since the day he signed in July 2007.
The timing of Torres' request is odd, just three days before the close of the transfer window, and that could act in Liverpool's favour as they desperately try to hold on to a player who has been so influential for the vast majority of his three and a half years at the club.
Even if Chelsea return with an improved bid the Merseysiders will reject it and then can stall and frustrate any other attempts to manufacture a move, knowing there is very little time left for pressure to build. Liverpool are not in action this weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round and return to action on Wednesday at home to Stoke in the Barclays Premier League.
Manager Kenny Dalglish is scheduled to hold his pre-match press conference on Monday - deadline day - but he is likely to have done plenty of talking behind the scenes before he faces the media after the weekend. Dalglish is a man Torres has great respect and feeling for so if anyone can talk the Spaniard round it is the legendary Scot.
But even if he is successful in buying enough time for the window to close it will be interesting to see what reaction Torres receives from the Kop who adore him at Anfield in midweek.
The whole saga has overshadowed what should have been a day of positives for the Reds who, having confidently rebuffed Chelsea's approach, then clinched the deal they have been striving for throughout the whole of January.
Suarez, who has yet to pass a medical and agree personal terms, was meant to be the signing which made everything all right for Torres.
The plan was for the 24-year-old - scorer of 111 goals in 159 matches for Ajax - to provide much-needed support up front, supplementing the Spaniard not replacing him. It is a real statement of intent from FSG and should have been a key moment in the Americans' short three-month reign.
However, keeping hold of Torres takes on even greater importance but even if they are successful whether the damage of him handing in a transfer request can ever be repaired remains to be seen.
FERNANDO TORRES FACTFILE
1984: March 20 - born in Madrid.
1995: Plays first youth match for Atletico Madrid.
1999: Signs first professional contract with Atletico.
2001: Becomes Atletico's youngest player with first-team debut against Leganes and is the top goalscorer as Spain win the Under-16 European Championship.
2002: Scores in the final and finishes top goalscorer as Spain win the Under-19 European Championship.
2003: Makes senior debut for Spain against Portugal.
2004: Features for Spain at Euro 2004:
2006: Scores three goals in World Cup finals in Germany.
2007: July 4- Arrives in Liverpool and signs a six-year contract after completing a £20million transfer.
August 19- Scores first goal for Reds in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Anfield.
2008: March 3- Fires a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over West Ham - his third treble in his debut season with Liverpool.
April 30- His equaliser takes Champions League semi-final against Chelsea to extra-time at Stamford Bridge, but the Blues prevail in the additional period.
May- Ends first season with 33 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for the Reds.
June 29- Scores the only goal as Spain beat Germany 1-0 in Vienna to be crowned champions of Europe.
November- Confirms he would like to return to Atletico one day to "finish some things that are left to do".
December- Short-listed for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, which is won by then Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
2009: May- Torres fires 17 goals in 38 appearances for Liverpool, who finish second in the Premier League behind Manchester United. His tally comes despite being affected on no less than three occasions by hamstring problems.
August 14- Liverpool confirm Torres has signed a contract extension until 2013, with an option for a further year.
December 9- Groin problem sidelines him for over a month before he returns in a home Champions League defeat to Fiorentina.
December 22- Admits Liverpool "don't have money to bring in the best players".
2010: February 21- Returns as a substitute against Manchester City after a lay-off following a knee operation.
March 13- Torres admits in an interview with Spanish newspaper AS that he will have to consider his Liverpool future if the club fail to make significant signings in the summer.
April 11- Forced to see a specialist over continued problems with a knee injury.
April 18- Ruled out for the rest of the season after it was confirmed he would require further knee surgery. His club statistics for the season are still impressive, with 22 goals in 32 games, including 18 in 22 league appearances.
July 11- Collects a World Cup winner's medal with Spain after their 1-0 victory over Holland, but after fighting hard to claim a place in the squad he pulls up with an adductor problem in the final in Johannesburg, having come on as an 89th-minute substitute.
August 3- Commits his future to Liverpool after speculation he would look to move on.
He said: "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead."
20 11: January 28- Liverpool confirm they have rejected a bid for Torres from Chelsea. The club later reveal that they have rejected a transfer request from the striker.
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