Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has joined co-owner Tom Hicks in insisting that striker Fernando Torres will not be leaving Anfield amid rumours of a €63 million bid from Chelsea.

The Spanish striker made a seamless transition to the Premier League following his transfer from Atletico Madrid, scoring 33 goals in his first season in England.

His efforts earned him the runner-up spot in the Footballer of the Year award behind Cristiano Ronaldo and he has become one of the most coveted forwards in the game.

According to some reports he is now Chelsea's top target with the London club prepared to break all records for the 23-year-old.

Benitez, however, says he knows nothing of Chelsea's interest and insists: "The situation is very simple - we do not want to sell Fernando Torres.
 
"If a player does a good job for his team, like Fernando has for us, then it is sometimes easy for people to speculate that he might be wanted by other clubs.
 
"I am not aware of any offer being made by Chelsea but even if there was my answer would be the same - he is not for sale.
 
"We are trying to add to the spine of our team and that means keeping players like Fernando, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher."

The Spaniard will have been pleased to have read similar sentiments from Hicks in the Daily Telegraph this morning: "We would never consider it," was the American's response to the reports.