Manchester City Will Launch An Audacious Bid For Liverpool Ace Fernando Torres

Manchester City look set to take full advantage of the financial uncertainty at Liverpool by launching a £40 million bid for striker Fernando Torres.

According to the Sunday Mirror, City are prepared to offer a cut-price deal to take the Spanish international to Eastlands.

Despite Reds chairman Martin Broughton giving assurances that the club do not need to sell any of their prized assets this summer, City are believed to be in pole position to sign the former Atletico Madrid star, with Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti ruled out a move in midweek.

“[Fernando] Torres is a fantastic player, but comes with a very expensive price tag," Ancelotti said.

"I won’t go for him in the summer because, with Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in the squad, it’s difficult to think about signing him.”

Despite suffering a similar fate to their Merseyside rivals, City have not been deterred by their lack of Champions League football next season and are reportedly willing to offer Torres in the region of £200,000-a-week.

It is also speculated that Torres will have a clause in his contract, providing him with the chance to leave the Citizens after just 12-months if they fail to secure their place in Europe’s most elite club competition.

This comes just days after manager Rafael Benitez all but assured fans that he is staying at Anfield, after talks about a move to Juventus stalled.

A source close to the Italian club said: “Juventus feel they have gone as far as they can to bring [Rafael] Benitez to Italy.

“The latest obstacle is compensation. Time is starting to run out.”

(taken from goal.com)