Hodgson to meet Torres and demand decision on his future

Hodgson knows that Spanish star Torres' decision will have a big effect of his transfer campaign and movement for the window and he wants to get a straight answer from Torres.

Torres has been sending out mixed messages on what he plans to do and Hodgson wants have a face to face conversation about the next move.

Torres said he wants to know what Liverpool have planned for next season and he is aware that there are some big clubs waiting for his signature if he was to leave the club.

Chelsea, Manchester City and even Manchester United are ready to make offers if Liverpool sell and the chase would start immediately if the Hodgson meeting does not go well.

Liverpool would want around £50 million for the striker whose injury-hit and misfiring club campaign ended with some low-key displays at the World Cup.

They need a straight answer out of Torres as they have to line up a replacement and have him registered for the Europa League campaign.

Torres discovered yesterday he will be out for three weeks because of a ruptured muscle in his left thigh.

Hodgson wants to hang on to his World Cup-winning striker and was relieved when Torres was  photographed wearing a Liverpool scarf during Spain's celebrations on Sunday as proof that he is happy at Anfield.

"I think it's safe to say the pictures of Fernando in the dressing room with the World Cup certainly went down well with our fans, but the club can be proud of all the players who went away to the World Cup,"said Hodgson to mirrorfootball.co.uk.

Hodgson ignored talk of Torres' possible departure and says he is looking forward to working with him and the club's other World Cup finalists when they return to Melwood at the start of next month.

"As Liverpool manager, I take great pride in the fact that two of our players can call themselves World Cup winners this summer," he said.

"To have four players reach the final is an incredible achievement and I look forward to working with them when they return to Melwood after their holidays."

Liverpool claim Torres could be ready by the start of next month and are flying out members of their medical team to Madrid to organise his rehab.

The Reds are in close contact with Spain's doctors, who yesterday diagnosed what they called "a grade one" tear in Torres' thigh when they sent him for a scan in Madrid.

Liverpool's new head of sports science and medicine, Dr Peter Brukner, claims this is good news and that the club's £26.5million record signing will be back in time for their Premier League opener against Arsenal on August 15.

"The initial assessment was he had a mild adductor tear and the Spanish medial staff didn't consider it to be too serious at the time," said Brukner to the mirrorfootball.co.uk.

"He had an MRI scan yesterday, which confirmed a small tear. He should be able to resume training within two to three weeks and be able to play again within three to four weeks."

Liverpool's World Cup stars were missing when their youthful 20-man party jetted out to Switzerland yesterday for their 10-day training camp.