May 27 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post
Torres is understood to have been the number one target of previous manager Avram Grant, who was sacked on Saturday – but Chelsea’s hierarchy are still considering an audacious bid.
Torres himself appears to have no intention of cutting short his love affair with the Kop – in front of which he scored 18 times last season – after less than 12 months.
Although dismissive of yesterday’s speculation, he did say: “I am enjoying my time at Liverpool, although I would prefer to forget the transfer talk for now and concentrate on Euro 2008, which is my primary concern at the moment.
“I will go away on holiday once the tournament has finished and will then return to Liverpool.”
Although no approach has yet been made, Liverpool would recoup double the record transfer fee they paid Atletico Madrid for Torres last year, but the club would be reluctant to cash in even to that extent.
The 24-year-old’s stock rose considerably when he broke the record for the most league goals by a foreign player in a debut season in England.
His 24 Premier League strikes surpassed Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous best and Torres’s 33 in all competitions makes him pretty much irreplaceable at Anfield.With manager Rafael Benitez confident he has the spine of a side that can further close the 11-point deficit between Liverpool and champions Manchester United last season, selling his top player would dismantle his pre-season plans.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is seemingly determined to break the world transfer record, particularly after the club lost the finals of the Carling Cup and Champions League and finished runners-up in the Premier League to United or the second successive year.
The Russian billionaire has previously been prepared to pay £50million to take Thierry Henry from Arsenal and beat the £46million Real Madrid forked out for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Meanwhile, Torres’s fellow Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt is also preparing for Euro 2008 and has thanked Benitez for prompting his return to the Holland fold.
Kuyt scored his country’s first in the 3-0 warm-up win over Ukraine on Saturday and pinpoints the right-sided role he was handed in the latter part of the season as key to him rediscovering his form.
“It’s gone well for me,” said the Dutchman. “Sometimes things just fall into place.
“The way we play now for the Netherlands is very similar to the Liverpool system, and I think I have shown I can play there.
“You have players who can turn a match with one touch and players who perform in service to the team. I have no problem playing for the team.
“I feel really strong. That is the advantage of playing in the Premier League. It is the physically toughest league in the world and you only get better and stronger from playing there.”
Fernando Torres could be allowed to leave the club.
The Anfield boss claimed there was no offer which would persuade the club to part company with its record signing and top scorer.
Benitez said: “The situation is very simple – we do not want to sell Fernando Torres.
“If a player does a good job for his team, like Fernando has for us, then it is sometimes easy for people to speculate that he might be wanted by other clubs.
“I am not aware of any offer being made by Chelsea but even if there was my answer would be the same – he is not for sale.
“We are trying to add to the spine of our team and that means keeping players like Fernando, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.”
Earlier this morning, a club spokesman added: “The idea that Liverpool Football Club would consider selling Fernando Torres
even the chelsea fans say it’s all bullshit
even they know that torres wont leave liverpool
and that they should have bought torres a few years back rather than shevchenkowell
few years ago people keep having reservation about torres
saying he’s overrated and he wont perform in the premier league
only Rafa trusted Torres and spent the money to bring him over
now that he’s a proven success you people want to buy him?
because you have BIG money so you can make us test out the player for you?
dream on!
torres wont want to play for all your shite team in the first place
or he would have gone to le arse or mancs when they wanted to buy him a few years back
arsene wenger even wanted to buy the 18 yr old torres!
simple as that
except for the fact that he’s not a Scouse by blood
he is really no diff from stevie and carra
There is no way that Liverpool would sell Torres. The thing I like was not only Torres denying that he would leave but also the way he denied it.
We should be adding players of Torres’ ability to the squad. It just goes to show that if you do spend the right money on the right quality you will get results. Torres has been a revelation this season and it is a massive compliment to him and to Liverpool that Chavski even contemplated bidding for him.
No way Torres will leave Liverpool. I’ll burn his house if he leaves Liverpool (nah just kidding). But seriously, i agree that Rafa trusted in Torres even though his scoring record in spain wasnt the prettiest. I’m sure he gonna stay at Liverpool for many many many more years to come. I can even bet that Torres to break Ian Rush goal scoring record!!!
Liverpool is the greatest team eva and it has to stay that way TORRES is the bestest player this seasoni not lying its true everybody loves him i and he will never leave liverpoolbecause himand gerrard make a legened he is alright looking aswell ans great play’n his history is great to he was happy to come to liverpool liver 4lyf
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TORRES IS THE BESTEST PLAYER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I’m not a Liverpool fan, sorry…but i think he’s an awesome player!!!!!!!! Besides i haven’t seen Liverpool play…EVER!!!!! I guess i’ve always been caught up in the hype about Man U, Chelsea & Arsenal…
STILL LOVE TORRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!