Torres Anfield shock: I can do no more to keep striker at Liverpool, admits Hodgson



By Sportsmail Reporter

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is hoping Fernando Torres will follow captain Steven Gerrard's example and publicly commit himself to the club.



However, the Englishman admits he has no idea what the current situation is with the Spain international.



Gerrard returned to training this week after his break following the World Cup and put an end to speculation about his future by stressing how much he was looking forward to playing alongside new signing Joe Cole next season.



Divided: Steven Gerrard has committed his future to Liverpool but Fernando Torres is yet to follow suit

The Liverpool manager now hopes Torres, whom he briefly met for the first time last week, will follow suit.



Asked whether he could provide an update on discussions with the 26-year-old, who has been linked with Manchester City, Chelsea and Barcelona, Hodgson said: 'No, but Christian Purslow (managing director) might be able to if you got hold of him.



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'I haven't spoken to him for the last two days; he's been travelling back from Spain where he's been on holiday.



'His holiday has also been taken up a lot of time by discussions with Fernando and his people, so I'm afraid the only person who can give you the type of details you require is Christian. It would be wrong of me to say too much.'



Hodgson said he would ideally like Torres to follow Gerrard's example by pledging his future to the club.



'That's what I'm hoping for,' he said. 'I made it clear from my point of view I'm really looking forward to working with him and I believe he's a key figure at the club.



'I obviously want him to be a part of the team we're trying to build here and I can only hope he'll buy into what the club is offering him.



'I don't think there are any worries with him in terms of me personally or what we're doing.



'I think the concerns go back once again to the time before I came to the club.'







