Future of Gerrard and Torres Still Up in the Air

The powers that be at Liverpool have given their two top performers Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres a fortnight to decide whether they will stay or go.

As reported by News of the World, new manger Roy Hodgson is set to hold talks with captain Steven Gerrard upon his return to regular training on Tuesday.

Transfer plans at the club have been left up in the air as the highly anticipated decisions on the future of the club’s two key players has not yet been decided.

Anfield bosses have imposed the deadline in the hop of getting things moving and finally put all of the speculation to rest. It is widely believed that if Gerrard and Torres do not request a transfer before the end of July, they will spend next season at Merseyside.

On the upside, things are definitely looking as if both players may stay with the Reds for season 2010-2011 – and this will in turn, will provide Roy Hodgson with a £40m transfer stockpile, if, that is – Inter Milan’s move for Javier Mascherano goes through.

If star duo Torres and Gerrard do decide to depart, the stockpile will increase to around £140m, giving Hodgson the green light to start bidding on some big names to replace them.

As it stands, Liverpool are in preparations for the Europa League qualifying games and Hodgson is struggling to piece together a quality side while he waits for his World Cup 2010 players to return.

The Merseysiders are in desperate need of a fresh injection of young new talent bearing in mind Emiliano Insua’s £5m transfer to Fiorentina and the imminent departure of Nabil El Zhar and Damien Plessis.

Ahead of the selection for 2nd leg qualifiers against either Macedonia FK Rabotnicki or Armenian team FC Mika – it is hoped that Three Lions representatives Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher and captain Steven Gerrard will be available.

With a shortage of star power, however, it looks that keeper Pepe Reina will be asked to return sooner to join the Red’s line up for the first qualifier.