Spanish star Fernando Torres on Monday warned Liverpool’s owners they must bring in big-money signings if the Anfield club are to break Chelsea and Manchester United’s dominance next season.
Torres — who signed last July for an estimated £26,5-million — had a blistering season, netting 33 times and in the process breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for goals scored by a foreigner in a debut Premier League campaign.
”It’s clear that they [United and Chelsea] have a lot of £20-million or £25-million players, and that difference is what separates us in the table,” Torres told the Liverpool Echo.
”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,” the 24-year-old added.
Torres, currently preparing for Spain’s opening match in Euro 2008 against Russia on Tuesday, is looking forward to the challenge of his second season in England’s top flight.
”The second season is always the more difficult. People know all about me now, although I know more about my opponents as well,” he said. ”But there’s no doubt that I will have to account for the fact that I am better known from now on.” — Sapa-AFP