Matt Hughes, Tony Barrett
1 minute ago
Fernando Torres has told Liverpool that he wants to leave, a move that will only fuel Chelsea’s confidence that an improved bid will allow them to sign the striker before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Monday.
The Barclays Premier League champions are prepared to offer £40 million in cash plus Daniel Sturridge, the England Under-21 striker, whom Liverpool inquired about taking on loan last month.
Liverpool rejected a straight cash offer of £35 million for Torres on Thursday and maintain that he is not for sale, but Chelsea are hopeful of capitalising on the player’s disenchantment at Anfield to get the deal done.
The Spaniard has not issued a written transfer request but has made it clear in a phone conversation with club officials that he would like Liverpool to enter formal negotiations with Chelsea.
Liverpool’s official position is that Torres, 26, is not for sale, but they would consider cashing in if he is adamant he wants to leave.
Yesterday, the Anfield club agreed to sign Luis Suárez, the Uruguay striker, from Ajax in a deal that could be worth £22.8 million. Suárez was signed to complement Torres, but there are increasing concerns that the pair may never play together. Liverpool also had a £6.5 million bid for Charlie Adam rejected by Blackpool .
By confirming Chelsea’s bid on Thursday, Liverpool have effectively put the ball in Torres’s court by placing the onus on him to force through the transfer. It is understood that his contract includes a buy-out clause enabling him to leave for £50 million, which was introduced by the previous Liverpool regime but comes into force only at the end of the season.
The West London club had a £25 million bid for Torres, who would be available for the remainder of Chelsea’s Champions League campaign, rejected last summer. They remain in negotiations with Benfica over David Luiz and have offered £24 million plus Nemanja Matic for the Brazil defender.
still have some hope he will be playing in a chelsea shirt soon though 