Liverpool FC tell Chelsea to forget it after receiving bid for Fernando Torres
Luke Traynor
Jan 28 2011
LIVERPOOL have turned down a bid from Chelsea to sign Fernando Torres and insist the star striker is simply not for sale.
Details of Chelsea's move for the striker emerged just three days before the end of the transfer window.
The London club have tabled an offer of around £35m for the striker, which was promptly rejected by Liverpool.
A Reds spokesman said: "Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando, which has been turned down.
"The player is not for sale."
Chelsea will now decide if they are prepared to make a further offer for Torres between now and Monday.
But if they do so, owner Roman Abramovic will be issued with another clear 'hands-off' from the Liverpool hierarchy who absolutely have no intention of cashing in on their star number nine.
Sources within Anfield are not entertaining any thoughts of Torres leaving Merseyside, and the five times European champions are keen for the striker to form a new and exciting partnership with Ajax's Luis Suarez, if that deal can be agreed before Monday.
Ajax had set a deadline of tomorrow for any transfer to be wrapped up, but with the two club's valuations of the player still some way apart, the Dutch side wanting between £20-25m for the Uruguyan, negotiations have not been straightforward.
Torres, meanwhile, has endured a frustrating season at Anfield, scoring nine goals in 25 appearances for the club.
But he has looked rejuvenated under new caretaker boss Kenny Dalglish, and scored twice last Saturday in the Reds' 3-0 win against Wolves.
Liverpool have progressed up the Premiership in recent weeks under the Scot's stewardship, moving to seventh after Wednesday's win against Fulham at Anfield.
They remain nine points behind Chesea, who are fourth, while Carlo Ancelotti's side, who themselves have struggled for form this season, stand ten points behind league leaders Manchester United.
Torres returned to Anfield after winning the World Cup with Spain in the summer where he had struggled with form and a knee injury which plagued him througout the competition and looked out-of-sorts under manager Roy Hodgson.
It is reported the striker, whose contract expires in 2013, has a £50m buyout clause in his contract, which could test Chelsea's resolve in the coming days and demonstrate how keen they are to land the 26-year-old's services.
The Spaniard has been subject to transfer speculation before, last underlining his desire to stay at Liverpool after returning from South Africa last summer by stating 'my commitment and loyalty to the club and its fans is the same as it was on the first day that I signed."
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