Reports today suggest that Newcastle United have dismissed a weak player-exchange bid for England U-21 midfielder James Milner.
With board room tension still rife at Anfield, it would appear that not for the first time this summer manager Rafa Benitez is being forced to offer players to get the players he wants to bring to the club.
Like Liverpool’s initial bid for Aston Villa‘s Gareth Barry, a number of Reserves players are thought to have been offered in exchange.
The north-east based Shields Gazette suggests Emiliano Insua and Jack Hobbs have both been offered to Newcastle for Milner.
Today Reds striker Fernando Torres made his feelings on the club’s transfer policy clear – the owners have to splash the cash.
Preparing for tomorrow’s Euro 2008 clash between Spain and Russia, Torres told the Liverpool Echo, “It’s clear that United and Chelsea have a lot of £20million or £25m players, and that difference is what separates us in the table.
“I hope that the club does what needs to be done and we can quickly catch them up.
“In order to compete with Manchester United and Chelsea, if we can’t keep up with them economically, then we have to get it absolutely right in the transfer market.”
