Liverpool to pocket £15m for strike duo

RAFA BENITEZ received a £15m windfall last night – after unloading unwanted strikers Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse.
Liverpool finally agreed a £7.5m fee with West Ham for the transfer of Bellamy, and banked a fee in the region of £8m from Marseille after Djibril Cisse's loan deal was made permanent.
But the Reds’ hopes of landing The Hammers' Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun were thwarted when West Ham refused to budge on their staggering £8m valuation.
On a frantic day of transfer activity at Anfield, Bellamy was forced to accept he was leaving his boyhood heroes after a solitary season.
But Benitez denied that the decision to sell had anything to do with disciplinary problems.
"It was nothing to do with discipline," he said. "We only had the one problem with Craig and that was not a big thing. I just wanted different types of strikers."
That incident, when Bellamy chased team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club on a team bonding trip to the Algarve, was quickly forgotten when both players scored in the Champions League tie which followed in Barcelona.
Liverpool tried to include Bellamy in a player plus-cash exchange for Benayoun, but Alan Curbishley dug in his heels and insisted he wanted a straight swop.
Benitez rejected that proposal and it was decided the two transfers would have to be negotiated separately.
Liverpool have had a third offer of £5m rejected but are unlikely to go much higher.
Marseille, meanwhile, agreed to the permanent transfer of Cisse, with the striker delighted to make his loan deal there permanent.
The French club also snapped up midfielder Boudewijn Zenden, released by Liverpool this summer, on a free transfer.
The Dutchman penned a two-year deal after completing a medical.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso will try to help Liverpool’s record signing Fernando Torres settle in at Anfield – on and off the pitch.
The midfield playmaker is a huge fan of his Spanish international team-mate – and believes his signing will help Liverpool close the gap on Manchester United next season.
Although Liverpool reached the Champions League final last season, they had a disappointing Premiership campaign and finished 21 points behind the champions.
But Alonso is convinced that the acquisition of Torres can see that gap closed significantly.
He explained: “I am optimistic before the season gets underway that we can go out and fight for the title.
“With Fernando, Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt we are going to have one of the best attacks in Europe. It will be our task to help set them up for as many goals as possible.
“Fernando is one of the best forwards in Europe and it will be great for us to have him in the team. I believe that he is going to be a big reinforcement for Liverpool.
“It is necessary for us to have the spirit needed to be champions from the first game.”
Alonso reveals that he scoured the newspapers all summer to see how Liverpool’s pursuit of Torres was progressing.
The 23-year-old finally completed a £20million move this week, and Alonso believes the Spanish contingent already at Anfield will be key to Torres adjusting to his new surroundings in England.
Alonso added: “It is great news that Fernando Torres has now become one of my team-mates at Liverpool.
“There were so many rumours that he was going to come into the Premier League and I was constantly checking the news to see if we had signed him.
“He has shown over the last few years at Atletico Madrid how much quality he has got as a player. It will be a major challenge for him in England but I am convinced he will be a big success over here.
“We will help him to settle in from day one and help him adapt to the club, the city and living in England.”
Reds boss Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, is also thrilled at Torres’ capture.
But he stopped short of declaring that his squad is now ready to mount a title challenge.
“They (Manchester United and Chelsea) have been spending big money for years,” Benitez said.
“Now we are spending some money, but I don’t know if it will be enough to be contenders in one year’s time. I’m sure that it will help, but you at least need to do it. We needed to sign players of this level if we’re going to be contenders.”

GERRARD BACKING REDS OWNERS

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes the club is heading in a new direction and the finances made available by American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks can make the Reds "a great team".
Manager Rafael Benitez completed a club record £20million transfer for striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid this week and is targeting further signings as he seeks to break the Premier League stranglehold of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
TORRES CONFIDENT OF FLYING START
Gerrard praised Gillett and Hicks for backing Benitez financially, believing they have set the club on the way to restoring former glories.
The England midfielder described the American duo as "classy guys with sharp business minds".
“[By handing Benitez] the finance to strengthen, we can go from a good team to a great team," Gerrard writes in the paperback update of his autobiography out next week, reports the Daily Telegraph.
The 27-year-old also hailed Benitez as an "outstanding" manager, although he admitted he was surprised by some of his tactical decisions in the 2-1 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan in Athens - not least leaving it late to bring on striker Peter Crouch.
"Rafa came up with the right game-plan in Athens," said Gerrard, referring to the manager's decision to swamp Milan's midfield with a 4-5-1 formation.
"In the second half (with Liverpool losing 1-0), I expected some subs sharpish.
“I trust Rafa. The manager clearly had belief in the players who were on, but I was surprised Crouchy did not come on earlier. Not just Crouchy, any sub. We needed something different."

Liverpool's Sissoko: I rejected Barcelona, Juventus
Mali international Mohamed Sissoko has claimed he turned down offers from Barcelona and Juventus in order to remain with Liverpool.
The midfielder struggled with injuries last term and the arrival of Javier Mascherano halfway through the season forced him further down Rafa Benitez's pecking order.
Sissoko is determined to prove his worth next term, after revealing he snubbed offers from Barca and Juve in order to remain at Anfield.

"It is true that I received nice offers this summer," Sissoko told football365.fr.
"Those offers were interesting on both financial and sporting levels. But I made up my mind and decided to stay here because there is a nice project.
"Liverpool are an ambitious club hungry for titles and this attracts me. Besides, staying can help me to progress.
"The offers came from Juventus and Barcelona. It has been very difficult to take my decision as I was in direct contact with both clubs. I analysed the pros and the cons and made a choice that I don't regret."
Sissoko says he came close to leaving, but was reassured he had a future at the club by Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry.
He added: "They both wished to keep me and put my name on the non-transferable players list."
Although admitting he endured a mixed season, Sissoko feels the fact Barca and Juve came calling proves he has the talent to succeed at the highest level.
"If Juventus and Barcelona have been interested in me and wanted me to sign, that is not for nothing. I have proved my worth. It is always a pleasure to receive such offers from big teams like that.
"I progressed last season, but the injuries slowed me down. Those injuries happened at the worst moments for me, but the page has been turned.
"A new season is about to start and I want it to be a great year."

Liverpool Football Club has today officially announced the signing of Ukrainian international striker Andriy Voronin.
The 27-year-old, who was out of contract at Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, will be unveiled to the media after 1pm today. Rafa Benitez said: "He is a player with pace and with good movement. He plays between the lines, between defenders. He is a good worker also, and he scores goals. "He's not the kind of player you can talk about strengths because he has many things he can give to us." Voronin is a versatile forward who has played in the hole, on the wing and as an out-and-out striker. He began his professional career aged 15 after Borussia Moenchengladbach spotted him playing for Ukraine Under-16s. Next up for the player nicknamed The Raven was a move to FSV Mainz, where he scored 20 league goals during the 2002/03 season. Voronin signed for FC Cologne in 2003 but was snapped up by Leverkusen a year later. In 2004-05 he featured in the German side's 6-2 aggregate defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League. The striker leaves the BayArena with a record of 21 goals in 71 league games. Voronin made his international debut in a friendly against Romania in March 2002. He's so far earned 44 caps, including four in the 2006 World Cup, and scored five goals for his country.

Rafa quip ends Bellamy's Liverpool's career

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted Craig Bellamy could be leaving the club.
Bellamy's future has been the subject of speculation for some time with a number of clubs believed to keen on signing the Welsh international.
The former Newcastle striker struggled to hold down a place in Benitez's side last season and the arrival of Fernando Torres has pushed Bellamy further down the pecking order at Anfield.
Benitez admitted a number of clubs have expressed an interest in Bellamy but he insists Peter Crouch will be going nowhere.
Asked if Bellamy will be leaving, Benitez said: "Possibly. We have some clubs asking about him and it's a possibility."
When asked if he had a future, Benitez jokingly asked: "I take it you mean Torres?" and when corrected with Bellamy's name, Benitez raised his eyebrows and added: "I'm very happy with Torres."
He went on: "Bellamy is our player at the moment but there is a new player here now. The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with us."
Benitez also played down rumours linking him with a move for Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze.
The Spaniard says he is looking at bringing in wide players rather than defenders.
"Really we are working with wingers," added Benitez. "People can talk about a lot of things and a lot of names but we're working on wingers."

Benitez Targets Porto winger Quaresma Next

Hot on the heels of Fernando Torres' arrival at Anfield, Rafa Benitez is looking to strengthen his squad further. Facing stiff competition from Atletico Madrid, the coach has turned his attention towards Porto winger Quaresma.
Rafa Benitez is seeking to avoid a second consecutive third-placed finish in the Premiership and in doing so is building a squad from the front.Fernando Torres is now settled in as the new star striker at Anfield, and now Benitez will look for wingers and attacking midfielders. Apparently, Quaresma is his number-one target.The Portuguese winger has been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid, but Liverpool are an outside bet to gain his signature. They've already allegedly had a £13.5m bid rejected, but are confident that an improved offer could change Porto's minds.Atletico, too, have apparently considered an offer in that region, but also included additional payout clauses based on results and performances.Quaresma spent a fiery season with Barcelona before sparking a feud with coach Frank Rijkaard over being asked to play on the left flank instead of in his more usual right-wing role.
Since departing the Nou Camp in 2004, he's impressed at the Estadio do Dragao, and often swapped positions to play on the left.

Liverpool’s new Spanish superstar no Spice Boy

LIVERPOOL FC’s latest Spanish import may have olive skin, blond highlights and a horde of adoring female fans but he is not likely to herald a new “Spice Boys” era for the club.
A quiet man who shuns the limelight, striker Fernando Torres is said to favour a night in over partying at city nightspots.
The 23-year-old Madrid-born striker has been known to criticise footballers who consider themselves “part-time athletes and full-time stars”.
Nicknamed “El Niño” (the kid) because of his fresh-faced looks, Torres yesterday completed a £20m transfer deal from Atlético Madrid to Liverpool.
He will wear the number nine shirt, also worn by Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler, himself once tagged with the Spice Boy image.
He was born in Madrid’s Fuenlabrada neighbourhood, traditional Real Madrid territory, but grew up to wear the red and white stripes of Atlético Madrid, known as the “cloth cap team” with a working class fan-base.
Since 1999, Torres has been dating childhood sweetheart Olalla, who he met at the age of eight when his parents moved to the same street as her family in Galicia. The pair are rumoured to be marrying this September.
Madrid-based journalist Tim Brown said he hoped Torres’s team mates would help him settle in . He said: “He is a quiet lad. His goal celebrations are even conservative. He has a steady girlfriend so that could disappoint the ladies in Liverpool. He doesn’t speak English and is very used to life in Madrid.
“Hopefully, he’ll spend a lot of time with his Spanish co-players. That should help him settle in..”
But Madrid-based football writer Javier Conzuelas thinks Torres’s clean-living nature may change once he gets a taste of life in Merseyside.
She said: “El Niño is famous for being the football geek.
“He likes his nights in with his childhood sweetheart Olalla.
“But there is a lot of concern about whether he will change once he is away from the watchful eyes of his family. Liverpool may be much smaller than Madrid, but there are still a lot of distractions for a young lad working away from home for the first time.”
Sky TV’s La Liga expert Guillem Balague believes Liverpool are on to a winner.
“The fans of Liverpool can relate to him and he can be a big success,” he said.
Earlier this year, friends gave Torres an unusual birthday present, a captain’s armband bearing the logo: “We’ll never walk alone”.
It was meant simply as a symbol of their friendship, but led to inevitable speculation.
He has been so dedicated to playing for the Spanish side that around 1,500 Atlético supporters, shocked at his departure, yesterday gathered at the club’s ground yelling about their feelings of disquiet.
As well as “El Niño”, Torres has amassed other nicknames during his six-year stint with Atlético. These include “El Niño de Oro” (goldenboy), “el Dios” (God) and “La Flecha” (the arrow).
Lord of the Rings fan Torres also has a collection of tattoos. One says “Fernando” in Tengwar, the “elvish” language created by JRR Tolkien.
The number nine, his shirt number for Atlético Madrid and the Spanish team, is tattooed on the inside of his right wrist.
And the Roman numerals VII VII MMI (07/07/2001), thought to be the day of his first date with Olalla, are tattooed on his right shin.