Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says he expects Manchester United to come knocking on the doors of clubs with world class strikers in January to replace Wayne Rooney and admits Fernando Torres could be their target.
It was revealed this week that Rooney has told Utd he wishes to leave Old Trafford with Manchester City favourites to sign the England forward.
Hodgson fears that Torres’ discontent at the club at the moment could see him make a swift exit when the transfer window reopens after Christmas.
“When a great player like Wayne Rooney is looking to leave his club, Manchester United will be in a position to target a lot of players around the world,” Hodgson said. “I don’t think Fernando Torres will be the only striker they target, and I don’t think that we will be the only club that will be worried their striker can be targeted.
“I am not naive to believe there won’t be any danger and we will never lose a player like Torres, I understand these things can happen. I don’t believe we will lose him, we will do our best to ensure he stays, and I only hope I can do everything in my power to help him return to the very top level we know he has. I certainly hope he will get back very quickly, we want to get him back to form and back to the level we know he can achieve as quickly as possible.”
Torres was left out of Hodgson’s squad going to Italy today for tomorrow night’s Europa League clash with Napoli. Hodgson is resting him, Steven Gerrard, Lucas and Raul Meireles for Sunday’s must-win Premier League game at home to Blackburn.
