CHELSEA have had a £40million bid for Fernando Torres rejected by Liverpool.
Blues owner Roman Abramovich personally set the offer in motion, after pinpointing the Kop goals king as his No 1 transfer target this winter.
An Anfield source confirmed last night: "Liverpool have had an offer for Fernando Torres from Chelsea and it has been turned down. He is not for sale."
Abramovich may be hard to shake off, though. And after failing with a similar bid for the player in the summer, he could now go as high as £50m for the World Cup winner over the weekend.
If the Russian billionaire does get his man, the Spaniard's first match could be against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on February 6.
It is thought Torres has a gentleman's agreement allowing him to leave in the summer.
But Chelsea are banking on the Merseysiders deciding it is best to cash in now - especially with their deal for £25m-rated Ajax striker Luis Suarez almost sealed.
Liverpool are in no mood to give up their prize asset without a fight.
New boss Kenny Dalglish has intervened in a bid to persuade top scorer Torres, 26, to stay put. The hitman cost £26.5m from Atletico Madrid 3½ years ago.
Kop forward Milan Jovanovic has turned down a £6m move to Wolfsburg, the German club managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.
Chelsea are sure they will land Benfica's Brazil centre-back David Luiz, 23, before Monday's transfer deadline, even if they have to pay the full £25m asking price, and have applied for a work permit.
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