By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – Liverpool’s new chairman Martin Broughton insists the club will not be forced into selling Fernando Torres (pictured) or captain Steven Gerrard in order to cut the club’s debts.
As Liverpool prepare for their final fixture of a largely disappointing season, Broughton is under mounting pressure to do something to stave off losses of £54.9 million ($81.3 million) for the year to July 31, 2009.
Reports have consistently linked Torres and Gerrard, Liverpool’s main two talisman, with possible big money moves away from Anfield this summer.
But Broughton said: “There’s absolutely no reason to sell either Torres or Gerrard.
“We don’t need to do it to pay off any debt.”
The British Airways chairman, who was brought in last month to oversee the sale of the club, added: “I don’t want to sell either of them.
“Rafa [Benitez] does not want to sell either of them, the club is not looking to sell them.”
Broughton has had what he described as a “constructive and frank exchange of views” with Benitez on summer transfer targets and admits the squad needs strengthening.
“What I have asked for from Rafa is an appraisal of each of the players, where the weak links are, which players he would prefer to sell if he had the opportunity, which positions he needs to fill, who are his prime candidates and what would be his priorities.”
Torres is hoping to overcome knee surgery in time to play for Spain at the World Cup but, if he stays at Liverpool, will miss out on Champions League football next season after the club finished out of the top four in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s loss was 34 per cent worse than 2008’s figure as £40.1 million ($59.3 million) went on servicing the club’s £351.4 million ($520.4 million) debt to Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and American firm Wachovia.
So however much Benitez needs is unlikely to be forthcoming as American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett look to sell the club for as much as they can.
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