Liverpool refuse to discuss pair departures until...
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Liverpool refuse to discuss Torres and Benayouan departures until Hodgson confirmed as boss
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Liverpool will resist all attempts to snatch any of their players until they have a new manager in place.
And that seems certain to happen within the next week, with sources at Fulham confirming last night they have lost all hope of holding on to Roy Hodgson.
Liverpool dismissed claims of offers for Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun last night, by insisting they have not had an approach for any player, and made clear departures would have to be agreed by the incoming boss.
Spokesmen at Anfield have maintained their official position that they will not be rushed into appointing a successor to Rafa Benitez, and will consider every possible detail of every viable candidate before making an announcement.
But yesterday, a senior figure at Craven Cottage acknowledged that the London club now has no chance of persuading Hodgson to stay, with a formal approach imminent.
The Mirror revealed last week that a Liverpool board meeting on Friday has rubber-stamped a move for the experienced manager, and formal contact is expected to follow.
Fulham are aware of that interest, and after talks with their manager before he prepared to fly out to the World Cup, they are now resigned to losing him.
Talks over a contract, security of tenure should there be an Anfield takeover, and size of budget will proceed over the next week, and an official announcement could be made by next Wednesday or Thursday if agreement is reached.
Hodgson has spoken to his Fulham board, and conceded that he would find the offer to manage at Liverpool too hard to turn down, despite his affection for the Craven Cottage outfit.
Liverpool are ready to double his contract and also provide massive bonuses for a top four finish - which is the minimum requirement this coming season, after Benitez finished in a disastrous seventh place during the previous campaign.
They will also offer a minimum of £12million in cash to spend on new players, plus all money raised from sale of players the new boss deems surplus to requirements.
Liverpool are determined though, not to let any players leave until the new manager is in place, to allow him the chance to decide if he wants to keep them.
Fernando Torres is reported to be the subject of intense interest from Chelsea, with sources from the London club suggesting a £50million bid could follow.
Yossi Benayoun has also been linked with a £5.5million move to Stamford Bridge, amid suggestions that the player has already agreed a £75,000 a week contract.
But a spokesman for the Anfield club said last night that no offer had been received from any club for any of its players.
And officials were adamant that even if Chelsea do bid for Torres it will be turned down flat, with Liverpool determined to keep hold of their prized assets.
Hodgson has indicated to close friends that the first thing he will do if agrees to take the job on Merseyside will be to persuade Torres and skipper Steven Gerrard to stay.
He may be more accessible though, to allowing Javier Mascherano to leave, particularly if he can get the £40million Inter Milan are rumoured to be ready to offer for the defensive midfielder.
Hodgson would be confident of finding a replacement for an essentially negative role at that price, with money to spare to make much-needed attacking signings.