LIVERPOOL FEEDING ON SCRAPS
All in all, the backpages make for dismal reading for Liverpool.
In addition to the claims that Chelsea have made a formal offer for Fernando Torres, The Telegraph reckons that 'Javier Mascherano is also understood to be adamant that he wants to leave and Steven Gerrard is still attracting very strong interest from Real Madrid.'
And there's worse to come:
'Roy Hodgson has just £12.5 million to spend and inherited one senior left back, the inexperienced Argentine international, Emiliano Insúa.'
If reports elsewhere are to be believed, approximately half of that kitty could be spent on Wigan full-back Maynor Figueroa.
And according to The Times, 'Sami Hyypia could also be in line for a return to Anfield. Hodgson, who worked with the defender as Finland manager, is considering re-signing him from Bayer Leverkusen.'
Fortunately, before the depression becomes overwhelming, there is a report of potential optimism in The Sun. The paper reckons that 'Hodgson will try to talk Joe Cole out of a move to Spurs and join his Anfield revolution.'
A 'Liverpool source' is quoted as saying: "Roy knows he faces a tough job in persuading Joe to move north. But he sees him as the ideal playmaker to shape a new era at Anfield and hopes the player will be excited by this new challenge."