Fernando Torres - Liverpool's latest transfer saga

It seems to be becoming somewhat of a yearly tradition at Liverpool, for a transfer sags to embroil to the club's summer activities.

In recent times it has been Gareth Barry, which actually stretched on for more than one summer, which we have also seen Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano wanting to leave the club.

None of those arrivals/departures would rock the club in such a way that Torres leaving would though, especially if he were to depart for a fellow Premier League club.

Since his £26.5m move to Anfield from Atletico Madrid, the Spaniard has revelled in a league he was tipped to fail.

The argument that he was too slight of frame to make a success in England was soon put to bed, and he now sits here 116 appearance and 72 goals later.

The Kop has grown to him more and more and despite his growing injury troubles, he is integral to the current rebuilding job that is taking place at Liverpool.

So the news that Manchester City are willing to pay £70m for his services, while some bookmakers have suspended betting of his Anfield exit is to put it mildly unwelcome.

Before this years World Cup the key to his future was believed to be Steven Gerrard, 'if he stays I stay' seeming to be the message.

However that is clearly not the case now, with Roy Hodgson not exactly sounding confident with his comments that Torres has problems with the club.

The 26-year-old has himself stated he would like to play in Italy, while it is no secret he would one day like to go back to his native Spain.

So should he leave this summer, Liverpool fans will be praying it isn't to a Premier League rival.

If that is the case, the Anfield legacy he is fast building could be thrown out of the window in double quick time.

The USA - football's care home!

As another player drifts across the pond, the debate once again begins to rage.

Thierry Henry has joined David Beckham in America, three years after the Englishman skipped across the Atlantic and into the arms of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

What both these moves have in common is one thing, they both show a distinct lack of ambition.

Fair enough Beckham wasn't getting treated fairly at Real Madrid, so it was kind of understandable when he thought his time was up.

He will never admit he regrets it, but his time on loan at AC Milan will certainly have eaten away at him and show the seeds of regret have begun to sow.

The Frenchman will no doubt feel a similar sense of regret after a year or two, glancing back over the pond thinking 'if only'.

He will rack up a ridiculous goal tally in America, as the circus show that his career will become trails around from one city to the next.

His new side the New York Red Bulls, were one of the MLS' worst ever performers last season, so this a major coup for them.

A major name can work wonders, on paper, but the craze could soon ware off as it did in Beckham's case.

As previously mentioned it is not a as if these two didn't have European offers, but they chose the more lucrative, meaning a higher wage, option.

It should be a disappointing site to all football fans, that these stars who still have a lot to offer don't mind wasting the end of their careers.

Ryan Giggs at 35 become the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also claimed the PFA Players of the Year award for his displays last season.

Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham are example of strikers who continued well into their twilight, so what is the fad of 'cracking America'.

It seems any player entering their 30s and nearing the end of their contract is linked with a move to USA, to take their 'brand' and try to improve the view of 'soccer'.

The quotes used upon the announcement also bring about a state of deja vu:

“I want to promote football in America. It is the world’s greatest sport and will be big in America soon,”

If neither Pele or George Best could muster this feat it is unlikely that Henry will have much of an impact.

It seems that we will have to admit that passion and ambition are now a thing of the past, a quick buck in a footballers twilight is the new dream.

All this needless flirting!

Is there anyone else out what thinks a final decision should be made about the sale of Cesc Fabregas?

I understand some people may point to the fact there has been other transfer sagas that have gone on for longer, think Gareth Barry and Cristiano Ronaldo, but this eclipses them all.

In the other two cases neither player made such a statement to the leave the club, although i know they both stated publicly on a few occasions.

But Fabregas seems to be stating it weekly, with a debatable plea to stay at Arsenal made a few weeks ago seemingly throwing his desires into disarray.

The fact is he has grown up a Barcelona fan, I presume you knew the other club in question, and it is inevitable he will leave to go back to Catalonia.

He is a self confessed fan of the Spanish Champions, constantly wishing them to do well and no doubt deep down wishing he was there himself.

Arsenal's, or Arsene Wenger's, refusal to invest heavily in the transfer market has no doubt sealed his fate.

The years of no success could be too much to handle for the youngster, despite his love of London and the Emirates based side.

It is at times unbelievable to believe that Fabregas is just 23 years of age, after so many years of being the lynchpin in the Gunners side.

But this incessnant flirting needs to come to an end sooner rather than later.

The constant public desires to stay far outnumber the one he made to stay at the club, while the latest debacle at the Spanish World Cup celebrations should be the final nail in the coffin.

'Forced' to don a Barcelona shirt, Liverpool 'keeper Pepe Reina (another ex-Barcelona player) then hailed him "the future of Barcelona".

These fluttering eye lashes aren't just all one way, as Arsenal seem to be kidding themselves into believing.

If sold now it would benefit both sides.

Barcelona would be getting the player they consider one of there own, after growing up in the much lauded Barca academy.

While Arsenal would have plenty of cash to re-invest in a squad that looks some way off the pace.

I know selling the best player would be largely criticised, however look what happened after the sale of Theirry Henry.

If Wenger could work that magic again, while splashing the cash Arsenal could find themselves in with a very real shout of the Premiership title.

The final looms!

The pinnacle of world football is almost upon us, with Spain and Holland all but ready to contest the 2010 World Cup final.

South Africa has thrown a fantastic football party, and one of world top nations is about to shed it's 'underachievers' tag.

Holland have not lost a game at this years tournament, and this coupled with the fact they also went unbeaten during qualifying makes them a daunting proposition.

Some said they breezed through a mediocre qualifying phase, but they have answered all their critics as they stand on the brink of greatness.

Largely hailed as the best side not to win the World Cup, this current crop of Dutch stars could etch their names on the record list for many years to come.

Key to success are of course the fearsome duo of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, the latter of which is an unlikey joint top scorer.

Against Brazil he bagged both goals, as Holland showed great grit and determination to come from behind against the side who many tipped to go all the way this year.

Uruguay were pushed asisde, with a stern defence also showing they can get on the score sheet as Giovanni Van Bronkhorst smashed in a stunner.

Also if Gregory Van Der Wiel and Nigel De Jong are restored to the line up, they will field shirt numbers 1-11.

The group phase was a pushover as were the qualifying and last 16 stages, could they be about to lift their first World Cup.

Spain on the other hand are the pinnacle of beautiful passing football.

With a large crop of Barcelona players, seven of which started the semi-final against Germany, this hardly suprising.

David Villa is once again topping the scoring charts, along with Sneijder, with Andres Iniesta and either Pedro or the mis-firing Fernando Torres expected to sit just behind him in a three pronged attack.

Iker Casillas has put som early dodgy performances behind him, with his defence looking stronger with each passing game.

From the midfield Xavi is no doubt the key man.

He touched the ball every 46 seconds in the semi, and along with Xabi Alonso the pair form a fearsome duo with a wide array of passing ability.

After defeat to Switzerland in the first game Spain have come back stronger, and with them being widely fancied for the trophy before the tournament they could become the first side in history to win the Euro's and then the World Cup.

Beside all the debate one thing is for certain, this year will be the first time a European side has won the World Cup outside of Europe.

Before that happens though their is the little matter of the third/fourth placed play off.

Uruguay haven't beaten a European side in their last 14 attempts, since defeat to germany at the same stage in 1970.

It should be an excting conclusion, to the best sports event in world sport.

Nadal eyes clean sweep!

As the dust settles on yet another Wimbledon championship, their are many things that have combined to make this one of the more memorable summers of Tennis.

The fact there was no rain always helps on our wet and dingy shores, but added into that was the demise of Roger Federer on his treasured centre court and the marathon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut.

However following this years event, champion Rafael Nadal has his gaze firmly fixed on joining the elite group that has at least one win in each of the Grand Slams.

It is the US Open that has so far proved elusive for the Spaniard, and he will get his chance to triumph at Flushing Meadows later this year.

John Mcenroe has already voiced his opinion on this matter, firmly believing that Nadal will end his long wait for the US title.

With this is mind, maybe it should be another target that the Majorcan should be setting his sights on.

At 24-years-old with eight Grand Slam titles under his belt in total, he is already ahead of great rival Roger Federer when he was at the same age.

Although the Swiss is now on double Nadal's current total with 16, it is by no means out of reach that he eventually overtake him.

These two individuals are the best thing that has happened to men's Tennis, encapsulating different aspect of the game.

Federer glides across any surface, rarely breaking a sweat, Nadal on the other hand is full of energy and bounds around the court full of speed.

It is this speed that allows him to get to many shots his rivals wouldn't, while his shots of 'vamos' show he doesn't share the quiet gene with Federer.

Nadal seems to be getting better with age, with his speed around the court and shot selection and power constantly improving.

One thing is for sure, if he can steer clear of injury, I certainly wouldn't bet against Federer's grand slam haul one day being over taken by the young Spaniard.

Brazilians showing their class!

As we prepare for the quarter finals of the World Cup to kick-off, only one thing has been certain in the duration of the tournament so far.

That is that Brazil have to be the over whelming favourites to take the title.

No one has come close to matching them so far, not even Portugal as you might argue.

Even though they drew 0-0, it was simply to cement both sides places in the round of 16.

Julio Cesar looks solid if not a world class as goalkeeper, while their defence is also looking more stable.

A place where Brazil have traditionally suffered is now a strong point, watch out the rest of the World Cup.

Who ever the play as holding midfielder aren't just one dimensional.

As well as breaking up play, they can also set up attacks whether that be with storming runs or defence splitting passes.

Then, finally, we come to the free flowing attackers that everyone loves the samba superstars for.

Their strength in attack, with Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho etc, is just too much to handle.

Even Elano, an outcast at Manchester City, seems to be loving life at the World Cup with Brazil.

While Holland will be a test today, no one can stand in the way of Brazil on their quest for a sixth World Cup triumph.

Wins breed confidence, so this side must be simply unstoppable.