The speculation that Fernando Torres will be leaving Liverpool for Chelsea seems to be gathering pace, and the Mail is reporting that Rafael Benitez is demanding the full £70m sale price so that he can re-invest the whole lot in rebuilding his Liverpool squad, which has underperformed badly this season.
There is even talk that Liverpool will sell Alberto Aquilani after just one year as he has failed to settle in England, which would give Benitez a possible £100m war chest if both he and Torres are sold. But it seems that until the sale of Liverpool goes through Hicks and Gillet are loathe to make any promises at all to Benitez.
If Liverpool is sold to new investors, and they decide against cashing in on Torres, the Telegraph report that an able substitute could be the prolific Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, who would cost considerably less at £34m. They also say that the negotiations over Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid have hit an impasse as Atletico refuse to reduce their price from 50m euros (about £45m).
Higuain has had a great season in La Liga, having already scored 20 goals, and is expected to be an integral part of Argentina’s assault on the World Cup this summer alongside Aguero.
The Telegraph also say that Milan’s Pato and Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko are also still on Ancelotti’s wish-list.
The idea that Chelsea are looking at all these talented strikers would seem to imply that Nicolas Anelka’s future at Stamford Bridge is in peril, but the Mail has thrown cold water on that theory by reporting that the Blues are just about to offer Anelka a two-year extension to his current contract, which would keep him at the club until 2013. If Torres, Aguero or Higuain arrive, I would imagine he would spend most of that time on the bench!
After Deco’s announcement that he will be moving back to Brazil next season, it seems that Michael Ballack will also not be getting a renewed contract. The Schalke 04 manager Felix Magath is keen to take Ballack back to the Bundesliga. He said yesterday: “I think Michael Ballack would be willing to accept a drop in salary for the chance to return home to Germany.”
I know these new Premier League rules mean that Chelsea will need to get rid of some of their older stars, but Ballack is one player I will genuinely miss. He has always seemed so committed to the Chelsea cause and it would be fantastic for him to get a Premier League medal before he leaves.
***Make some cheap apple wine for that summer party NOW!***
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