Black Widow
07-17-2010, 11:33 AM
CHELSEA have made a club record £50million bid for Fernando Torres.
Liverpool turned down a £40m offer for the Spanish striker, 26, last week.
And the Anfield club made it clear they would not welcome any further approaches for their World Cup-winning star.
But that will not deter Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich from stepping up the pursuit of his top target this summer.
A top Stamford Bridge source said: "It's true Liverpool have knocked back the first bid of £40m but it's highly unlikely that will be the end to it.
"Let's see what happens when an offer of £50m lands on Christian Purslow's desk."
Red Rom is now on holiday after spending two weeks at the World Cup finals in South Africa but will test Liverpool's resolve by upping his offer.
He is hoping a significantly improved offer will concentrate minds at a club that has failed to qualify for the Champions League.
They are also £350m in debt and made a £55m loss in the last financial year.
Torres, who joined Liverpool for £21.5m from Atletico Madrid three years ago, met with new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson and managing director Purslow this week in Spain.
But that did little to stifle speculation surrounding his future.
And if the Kop favourite comes out publicly and demands to leave Merseyside, then Liverpool may reluctantly consider doing a deal.
But sources close to the hitman, who will be out for three weeks after tearing an abductor muscle in the World Cup final, say he is in no rush to commit himself either way yet.
A Liverpool insider said: "The club were quick to reject Chelsea's £40m bid and tell them Torres is not for sale.
"But the worry is it still won't be the end of it and that Chelsea will be back.
"Fernando could kill the deal stone dead by coming right out and committing himself to the club. Hopefully he'll do that sooner rather than later."
The Reds are closing in on a £12.5m move for Nice striker Loic Remy, who is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in France.
Remy, 23, said: "Liverpool are a legendary club. I'm very excited about the thought of playing there."
The Sun
Liverpool turned down a £40m offer for the Spanish striker, 26, last week.
And the Anfield club made it clear they would not welcome any further approaches for their World Cup-winning star.
But that will not deter Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich from stepping up the pursuit of his top target this summer.
A top Stamford Bridge source said: "It's true Liverpool have knocked back the first bid of £40m but it's highly unlikely that will be the end to it.
"Let's see what happens when an offer of £50m lands on Christian Purslow's desk."
Red Rom is now on holiday after spending two weeks at the World Cup finals in South Africa but will test Liverpool's resolve by upping his offer.
He is hoping a significantly improved offer will concentrate minds at a club that has failed to qualify for the Champions League.
They are also £350m in debt and made a £55m loss in the last financial year.
Torres, who joined Liverpool for £21.5m from Atletico Madrid three years ago, met with new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson and managing director Purslow this week in Spain.
But that did little to stifle speculation surrounding his future.
And if the Kop favourite comes out publicly and demands to leave Merseyside, then Liverpool may reluctantly consider doing a deal.
But sources close to the hitman, who will be out for three weeks after tearing an abductor muscle in the World Cup final, say he is in no rush to commit himself either way yet.
A Liverpool insider said: "The club were quick to reject Chelsea's £40m bid and tell them Torres is not for sale.
"But the worry is it still won't be the end of it and that Chelsea will be back.
"Fernando could kill the deal stone dead by coming right out and committing himself to the club. Hopefully he'll do that sooner rather than later."
The Reds are closing in on a £12.5m move for Nice striker Loic Remy, who is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in France.
Remy, 23, said: "Liverpool are a legendary club. I'm very excited about the thought of playing there."
The Sun