Liverpool’s failure plays into Chelsea’s hands
The perils of not making it into the Champions League are beginning to show for Liverpool, as new manager Roy Hodgson has to deal with transfer rumours over both Spaniard Fernando Torres and England captain Steven Gerrard. This is the huge dilemma for Roy Hodgson, as he has to perform a balancing act between selling players to re-shape the Liverpool squad, while maintaining enough quality to actually push to get into the Champions League next season. According to Spain’s defenders Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos, Steven Gerrard is top of Real Madrid’s shopping list, as Jose Mourinho builds his new squad at The Bernabeu. As for striker Torres, who has looked short of his top form at the World Cup, his agent has been suggesting that the Spaniard could well be staying in the Premier League, just not at Anfield though.
Chelsea are favourites to grab the signature of Fernando Torres, as coach Carlo Ancelotti wants to inject some new life into his aging squad. Chelsea have apparently ready to launch a bid to the value of £70 to get Torres, and may fund the move by selling on left back Ashley Cole, who is also wanted by Jose Mourinho. While Barcelona are also interested in Torres, the Spanish club won’t get into a bidding war, as they have already splashed out big on David Villa, which should leave the way clear for Chelsea. The further bad news for Liverpool, is that because of Torres’ poor form at the World Cup, Chelsea could now probably go in with a bid of lesser value. While this would be a bitter blow for Liverpool fans, having to sell their top player to a Premier League rival, the exodus has perhaps already began, as Carlo Ancelotti has signed midfielder Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.
Chelsea, who let England’s Joe Cole, Portugal’s Deco and Michael Ballack walk out of Stamford Bridge on free transfers during the summer, are looking to set themselves up for an assault on more foreign stars. Portugal’s impressive Meireles is a target for the Stamford Bridge outfit, as well as Germany’s rising young star, Thomas Mueller. Mueller, a versatile attacking threat, is just seven games into his international career and has already bagged himself four goals. His impressive displays at South Africa 2010 have made him a high profile target, as Europe becomes the big football supermarket for the managers of English sides who are looking for the best bargains. Chelsea fans may be singing with the prospect of a new glitterati of stars being brought into Stamford Bridge to retain their Premier League title, but England fans will be dismayed that more foreign talent is being targeted to come to England’s domestic top flight.
