• Premier League

Chelsea must pay £50m to snare Torres

Fernando Torres will only leave Anfield for the £50 million buy-out fee contained in his contract, according to well-placed ESPNsoccernet sources.

Chelsea's latest offer of £35 million plus the £5 million-rated Daniel Sturridge falls £10 million short of the trigger price and will not be accepted.

The £50 million buy-out clause can only be triggered at the end of the current season, and was put in place as a compromise to keep Torres at Anfield with a promise that the club would be purchasing top players to ensure a return to the Champions League.

After a poor first half to the season, Liverpool already look to have little prospect of qualifying for the Champions League, leading Torres to feel that the club should honour their agreement to let him go - albeit ahead of schedule.

Liverpool have dug their heels in and on Friday night turned down Torres' transfer request. However, an offer of £50 million may prove too good to turn down when the other option is to keep an unhappy player at the club.

A source told ESPNsoccernet: "I don't see it happening, I do not believe Roman Abramovich will authorise £50 million bid for Torres, or indeed, for any player.

"The player has a get-out clause of £50 million, and it might be that the club would consider selling in January, but only if £50 million was offered.

"Chelsea started off by bidding £28 million, and would go to £35 million plus a player, but Liverpool have said no, and Chelsea are aware that they mean it.

"However, they have a player who has asked for a transfer and they are in a difficult position, knowing that Torres could well go in the summer in any case, but again it might have to be for the full amount of £50 million."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.