Torres boost for Liverpool as takeover talks loom
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Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield by insisting he is extremely happy to be at "the best club in the country".
Torres and midfielder Steven Gerrard were thought to be considering moves away from Anfield amid uncertainty over the club's financial situation and its failure to qualify for this season's Champions League, but Torres has now followed his captain in committing himself to the club.
The striker has three years left on his contract but was rumored to be a big-money target for Manchester City and Chelsea.
"This is the best club in the country so the targets and expectations are always high," Torres said. "It was difficult last season but we are sure we can improve this season. I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my teammates.
"My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed."
Torres has scored 56 goals in 79 matches in three seasons at Liverpool, including 40 in 41 at Anfield, to become a firm favorite with fans.
British papers reported that Chelsea and City were both prepared to pay far in excess of the 20.3 million pounds (then US$40.6 million) Liverpool paid Atletico Madrid for him in June 2007.
Torres said manager Roy Hodgson, who replaced Rafael Benitez last month after guiding unfashionable Fulham to the Europa League final, had convinced him to stay by visiting him soon after he appeared in Spain's 1-0 World Cup final win over the Netherlands on July 11.
"I really appreciated the fact that Roy came out to see me while I was on my holidays," Torres said.
"He told me about his plans for the club and what he wanted from me and I appreciated that. I hope he will be the right man to reach the targets of Liverpool Football Club and I am really looking forward to working with him."
Meanwhile, the Royal Bank of Scotland has denied it was in talks with a Chinese businessman over the sale of the Premier League club. But a source close to Kenny Huang insisted talks to buy Liverpool's 237-million-pound (US$374.7 million) debt with RBS were under way as a first step towards a purchase deal for the 18-time English champion.
Liverpool's owners, who bought the club in February 2007 from former owner David Moores for 218.9 million pounds, instructed Barclays Capital to find a buyer in April and appointed British Airways chief Martin Broughton as chairman to oversee the sale.
Barclays Capital refused comment on Monday.
Broughton told the Guardian newspaper that QSL Sports Ltd was one of "several" parties hoping to take over the Reds.
"It still remains the objective to conclude a deal before the end of the transfer window. That remains the objective but there are no deadlines, and we will continue working to complete the process," Broughton said.
"Both George Gillett and Tom Hicks remain on the board and they have given commitments that the board of Kop Holdings (Liverpool's UK parent company) is the party that is responsible for the sale," he added.
Broughton insisted the board remain in control.
"Any bids that go straight to RBS - and there have been several - come to me and are directed to Barcap (Barclays Capital)," he said.
"RBS are not involved. The control remains with the board."
