Blues warned off £50m swoop

Liverpool have told Chelsea to forget about signing Fernando Torres, while the player says he is staying put at Anfield.

The 24-year-old Spain international striker enjoyed a tremendous first season in England after joining the Reds from Atletico Madrid last summer, scoring 33 goals in all competitions to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's goalscoring record for a foreign player in their first campaign.

As a result Chelsea have since been linked with a £50million world-record breaking transfer swoop for Torres in the close-season. However, Liverpool's co-owner Tom Hicks says they are not interested in selling Torres to anyone, regardless of the fact they could double their money in the space of 12 months.

"It is simply beyond comprehension. There is no circumstance in which Torres will be sold," Hicks' spokesman told The Mirror.

"Why would the owners invest so much money in supporting the manager, to then undermine that support? It is ludicrous."

Torres has also spoken out to confirm that he has no intentions to quit Liverpool this summer. "I am very happy at Liverpool," he added. "I prefer not to think about these stories and to focus on Euro 2008. After the Euros I will go on holiday and then return to Liverpool.

"This is my team, my city and Anfield is my pitch. I can't tell you how good I feel about playing for Liverpool."