Chelsea to launch 50 million pound bid for Torres

LONDON - Chelsea is ready to test Liverpool’s resolve with a 50 million pound bid for Fernando Torres.

Carlo Ancelotti has already targeted Torres’ Spain strike partner David Villa, offering Valencia 35 million pound.

Now, the Blues boss is ready to make an audacious attempt to unite Villa and Torres at club level. iverpool manager Rafa Benitez will do all he can to block the move. But he is worried the huge sum offered by Chelsea could tempt American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Liverpool’s true financial state will be revealed over the coming weeks and Benitez is beginning to fear the worst, The Sun reports.

At the end of the season Benitez was hopeful of landing 27-year-old Villa. Now he not only has to face up to Chelsea signing Villa, but also targeting Torres.

Villa’s proposed move to Real Madrid has not gone through because Chelsea’s bid is 4 million pound higher and is preferred by debt- ridden Valencia.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich is prepared to take advantage of Liverpool’s own money worries by making the sort of offer he hopes Gillett and Hicks will not be able to refuse.t is understood a tentative inquiry was made by a third party in April about how much it would cost to prise Torres away from Anfield.

The message from Liverpool at the time was that there was no chance of Torres being sold. Then in May the 25-year-old striker signed an improved deal to 2013.

If necessary, Ancelotti and Abramovich will settle for just landing Villa. But if there is even an outside chance of snatching Torres away from Anfield, they will take it. (ANI)