Liverpool preparing striker swap to land starlet

Atletico Madrid are laying the groundwork for life without Fernando Torres having made a bid for Diego Forlan and having it turned down. The 23-year-old Spanish international is very close to a deal that would see him join Liverpool as it appears both clubs are willing to accept a player + cash swap. What and who remain. Liverpool better move fast as a certain club in London that just lost its biggest asset might just swoop in.

It appears that the two clubs are 8m pounds apart in their respective valuations of Torres as well as different players involved in the deal. Liverpool have offered former Atletico player Luis Garcia but the Atletico are demanding Peter Crouch.

Liverpool also offered combinations of including Djibril Cisse in their bid for Torres. Rafa Benitez has gone as far as instructing Cisse’s management to discuss personal terms with Atletico. Cisse plus a cash offer of £15 million doesn’t seem enough though.

Liverpool will have to smash their record transfer fee by more than 10m pounds to land Torres as Atletico won’t budge from a release clause of 27m pounds. Last week Liverpool representatives travelled to Spain for negotiations and plan to return again this week.

While Peter Crouch is an option, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to hold on to him, plus there are enough Spanish players at the club and misfits to close the 8m pound transfer gap.

Liverpool better not wait if they are serious about Torres. Arsenal just lost their best ever player who happens to play the same position. Arsene Wenger has long been interested in Torres and would surely step in with a bid should the means appear. He’s a creative manager and knows how to make a deal (and also get shafted on Henry’s transfer fee) and recall that Jose Reyes is still on Arsenal’s books.