[CharlotteSometimes]

Fernando Torres has passed his medical for Liverpool FC, and reportedly will sign a 6-year contract for the £26.5 million we've spent on him. Is he worth such an enormous fee? Can he cut it on the Premiership, given that he's hardly the most robust of players? And is his rather meagre (domestic) goal tally likely to increase at his new club?

Personally, I'm not convinced at all. I'd rather the money was spent on Bent & Owen instead, with the obvious advantage of them being British as well. And much as he could infuriate at times, I'm sad to see Luis Garcia moving in the other direction, too.

[Dan_]

I'd say that there's a good chance he's going to a success, maybe overpriced a bit but he's a very special player and still years off his peak.

He's often had to play a lone striker role at Athletico Madrid so he's not exactly weak and there's plenty of strikers in the premiership who aren't particularly strong.He's skilful and pacey which will cause many defenders problems and with service from the likes of Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso and Pennant he'll have many chances and I can see him getting at least 20 goals come the end of the season.Over the last few years he's always been in and around the top scorers in Spain whilst in an average side.

I believe there was only going to be one striker coming in this summer seeing as Voronin was already signed and Kuyt and Crouch already on contract and not likely to go leave.Bent seemed to prefer Spurs as he's settled down south and I'd not take the chance on Owen in light of all his injury problems, he needs to prove his fitness.I just couldn't see him as one to rely on.

I don't think Luis Garcia should have been allowed to go, so many times he produces a goal out of nothing and it's hard to find someone else like him.

[CharlotteSometimes]

I was hoping you'd reply.

As for his strength (or lack of), I'm largely going by what I've read in the Liverpool Echo & Football Echo, from various writers and supposed experts on the Spanish league, and a few video highlights. The fact that he's done reasonably well in Spain despite not playing for one of the big boys, and was appointed captain at such a young age, sounds promising. But comments such as 'he's not the strongest', or 'he's not an out-and-out striker' don't at all. I think when the figure we've paid absolutely shatters our previous transfer record, it's reasonable to have a few doubts. Obviously I want us back where we belong, whether United et al. will be forever in our shadow or not. But we've been stung too many times in recent years (Heskey, Diouff, Cisse, etc.) not to be a little sceptical. As for Voronin, I suppose his 1 in 3 tally for Bayer Leverkusen sounds promising. But the general buzz here seems to be that he'll be a peripheral figure who'll be gone in a season or two.

And we do need to up our quota of English players soon too, hence Bent & Owen. I think Bent was far more interested in playing for England than anything else, so location wouldn't have been of that much importance to him. Playing for his country aside, it's pretty obvious which club of the two is likely to earn him a medal collection. Owen's injuries are a worry, of course. But he's far and away the best English striker around at the moment, as well as being available at a bargain price. I think his return would be like Xmas coming early for most of us, and there's just no way a player of his calibre either wants or needs to be stranded at a club that has few realistic hopes beyond UEFA Cup qualification.

I hope all of our summer signings go on to become Anfield legends. But right now, the signing of Lucas Leiva and hopefully a quality winger or two to come excites me more.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by CharlotteSometimes
I was hoping you'd reply.

As for his strength (or lack of), I'm largely going by what I've read in the Liverpool Echo & Football Echo, from various writers and supposed experts on the Spanish league, and a few video highlights. The fact that he's done reasonably well in Spain despite not playing for one of the big boys, and was appointed captain at such a young age, sounds promising. But comments such as 'he's not the strongest', or 'he's not an out-and-out striker' don't at all. I think when the figure we've paid absolutely shatters our previous transfer record, it's reasonable to have a few doubts. Obviously I want us back where we belong, whether United et al. will be forever in our shadow or not. But we've been stung too many times in recent years (Heskey, Diouff, Cisse, etc.) not to be a little sceptical. As for Voronin, I suppose his 1 in 3 tally for Bayer Leverkusen sounds promising. But the general buzz here seems to be that he'll be a peripheral figure who'll be gone in a season or two.

And we do need to up our quota of English players soon too, hence Bent & Owen. I think Bent was far more interested in playing for England than anything else, so location wouldn't have been of that much importance to him. Playing for his country aside, it's pretty obvious which club of the two is likely to earn him a medal collection. Owen's injuries are a worry, of course. But he's far and away the best English striker around at the moment, as well as being available at a bargain price. I think his return would be like Xmas coming early for most of us, and there's just no way a player of his calibre either wants or needs to be stranded at a club that has few realistic hopes beyond UEFA Cup qualification.

I hope all of our summer signings go on to become Anfield legends. But right now, the signing of Lucas Leiva and hopefully a quality winger or two to come excites me more.

Torres does look not look too bigger built but I guess he's just a bit lanky at being over 6ft.Whenever you get a guy that's well over £20m from abroad there's going to be questions and doubts about them but I do think he'll do the business, being alongside players like Crouch and Kuyt I think will help him no end too.There always has been that lack of a main striker in recent years and the transfers has obviously gone wrong but of all of them Torres has always been talked about as being one of the world class strikers.Voronin will mainly be 4th choice striker but with Luis Garcia gone I reckon he may even end up filling in the role he took as I understand he can play on the right side of midfield.

There really is a lack of English players being signed at Pool of late, the most worrying thing is the youth team being filled with these foreign youngsters,most not up to standard and will just go back to their home country.I'd have liked Bent as he is young and proven in the prem but I guess Spurs came in and he was happy to go there straight away.I reckon all the big sides are wary of Owen's injury troubles and aren't taking the gamble, surprised Arsenal didn't go in for him instead of this Eduardo bloke though.

Lucas looks to be potentially a very good player but yet another central midfielder but at least he's attack minded.Heinze looks to be the next target, not sure on him really, would it mean Riise pushing onto the left wing more?

[SiMoN!]

i think he a great buy - just what liverpool need - cant wait to see him in the prem

but i wanted him at man utd with rooney lol

but i am cled hes at liverpool and not chealsea

[natjake2504]

im not a liverpool fan but i think its a great move personally

[Dan_]

Liverpool have signed Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid on a six-year deal for a fee believed to be £20m.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez said the 23-year-old Spanish striker, who passed a medical at on Tuesday, took a pay cut as part of the move.

"The Liverpool offer arrived and I told the club to listen to that offer as that is the team I wanted to play for," said the Spanish international.

"It's one of the best, if not the best, club in Europe."

Interview: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

Torres returned to Madrid to say farewell to the Atletico supporters before travelling back to Merseyside to be unveiled by his new club.

He had been at Atletico since 11 and became their youngest ever captain at the age of 19.

He has been the Spanish club's leading scorer in each of the last five campaigns, scoring 14 league goals in 36 starts last season as the side finished seventh in La Liga.

"It has been a difficult decision to leave my all-time club," said Torres.

"But it would have been hard for me to reject Liverpool's offer. It is a big leap for me and I think it was the right thing for everyone.

"The time comes in the life of a player that he needs more challenges."

Torres will wear the number nine shirt worn by ex-Anfield forward's Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler.

His capture also shatters the £14m the Reds paid Auxerre for striker Djibril Cisse as the club's previous record signing three seasons ago.

"The fact that Liverpool are giving me the number nine jersey just goes to show the confidence they have placed in me, when considering those who have worn that shirt before me," said Torres.

"A new beautiful adventure begins for me and I hope that with work and effort I can be among the best players.

"This is a unique opportunity for me. Liverpool aspire to everything and that has been an important factor in my decision to go there.

"I want to adapt as quickly as possible. I think Premiership is a football that adapts well to my style.

Villarreal's Diego Forlan has been lined up to replace Torres at Atletico in a £14.2m deal, while the Anfield club have recouped some of their outlay by selling Luis Garcia to Atletico for about £4m.

He has power, pace, is good in the air, scores goals, can dribble and do a lot of things

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wanted to land Torres to provide a spearhead for an assault on the title and believes the fee for Torres will not adversely trouble the player.

"He has experience," said fellow Spaniard Benitez. "He was playing in the first division at 17 years old and I think he can manage the pressure.

"He knows he will be an important player and I'm sure the staff and other players will help him.

"He has power, pace, is good in the air, scores goals, can dribble and do a lot of things. The kind of striker he is different to the other strikers we have at the moment."

Benitez also expects Torres to have more of an impact at the club than ex-striker Fernando Morientes.

"He is different to Morientes," added Benitez. "He is quicker and stronger.

"Morientes had other skills and was a very good finisher but Torres can run behind defenders, can play in the wide areas or play between the lines to receive the ball."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/6239286.stm