Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool reject £35m bid from Chelsea for Fernando Torres
Chelsea have made a stunning £35million offer for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, only to see it flatly rejected.[LNB] A Liverpool spokesman confirmed: 'Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando, which has been turned down. The player is not for sale.'[LNB] Transfer talk: Liverpool insist striker Fernando Torres is not for sale[LNB] However, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will not be deterred and is expected to return with an increased offer for the 26-year-old, who had a £50m get-out clause written into his Anfield contract last summer.[LNB] The Barclays Premier League champions have been admirers of Torres for many years and have now made a move to try to get their title bid back on track.[LNB] Pain game: Torres has suffered a difficult season after returning injured from World Cup[LNB]Abramovich has been disappointed by the slump in form endured by Carlo Ancelotti's team this season and, with Didier Drogba turning 33 in March, feels it is now time to splash out on a new star striker at Stamford Bridge.[LNB] Liverpool's owners, the Fenway Sports Group, are said to be determined to fend off Chelsea's interest and keep hold of the Spain World Cup winner, who arrived at Anfield from Atletico Madrid for £21m in the summer of 2007.[LNB] Torres has suffered a difficult season after returning injured from Spain's World Cup campaign in South Africa last summer. [LNB]However,the appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager following the departure ofRoy Hodgson appears to have lifted the striker, who has shown hisprolific form of old in recent weeks, scoring three goals in fourmatches.[LNB] Chelsea willhave to move quickly if they want to tie up a deal for Torres beforethe transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday, but it will take a hugeoffer to persuade Liverpool chairman John W Henry to sanction the sale.[LNB]Henry will be wary of a backlash from the Anfield faithful should theylose their talisman, while the likes of skipper Steven Gerrard wouldalso see his departure as a sign that the club lacks ambition, and mayeven force him to consider his own future.[LNB]Torres's contract, which runs until the summer of 2013, is worth £110,000 a week but Chelsea could easily double that. [LNB] Luis Suarez begs Ajax boss Ronald de Boer to allow him to complete Liverpool switchSeventh heaven? Gerrard says league position 'unacceptable' at LiverpoolDalglish facing transfer trouble as Kop boss keeps chasing Adam and SuarezAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Kenny Dalglish, Roman Abramovich, Steven Gerrard, Carlo Ancelotti Places: Liverpool, Spain, South Africa
