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January 30, 2011

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Liverpool rejects Torres' written plea for transfer

LIVERPOOL has turned down a transfer request from Fernando Torres hours after Kenny Dalglish made his first major transfer impact in his second spell as manager by agreeing to sign Uruguay forward Luis Suarez.

The club, which said on Friday it had agreed to buy Suarez from Ajax Amsterdam for 26.5 million euros (US$36.32 million), has made it clear it intends to keep Spain striker Torres.

"Fernando is under long-term contract and the club expect him to honor the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement," the Merseysiders said on their website.

On Thursday, Liverpool turned down what media reported was a British record fee of around 40 million pounds (US$63.45 million) for the forward from Chelsea.

Torres has struggled for form this season but has looked sharper since Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson on an interim basis this month, helping to lift Liverpool up to seventh in the Premier League with back-to-back wins.

If Liverpool can persuade Torres to stay it will end up with a potent strike force thanks to the addition of 24-year-old Suarez, who scored 111 goals in 159 Ajax appearances.

Liverpool said on its website it had been granted permission by Ajax to discuss personal terms with Suarez and his representatives, adding the deal was subject to a medical.

"I can understand Luis wanting to go to Liverpool, it's a beautiful club, but then it has to be satisfying for both parties," said Ajax coach Frank de Boer in a statement.

Nicknamed 'El Pistolero' or 'The Gunfighter', Suarez has just finished serving a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.

He was also at the center of controversy at last year's World Cup when Uruguay went through to the semifinals as he handled the ball on the goalline in the final minute of extra time against Ghana to prevent a winning goal by Dominic Adiyiah.

Suarez was sent off but his team subsequently won a penalty shootout.


 

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