Torres not for sale at any price insists Benitez

Rafael Benitez insists Fernando Torres is not for sale at any price after the Liverpool manager revealed he received offers from Premier League clubs for the Spain striker during the close-season.

Torres underlined his value to Liverpool as he took his goal tally for the season to eight in seven games with a hat-trick in Saturday’s 6-1 win over Hull at Anfield.

The former Atletico Madrid star has established himself as one of the best forwards in Europe since joining Liverpool in 2007 and it is believed Manchester City and Chelsea both enquired about buying him before the start of the season.

But Benitez has warned any potential suitors they would be wasting their time trying to prise Torres away from Anfield.

“How much is he worth? “Well at least 70 million pounds (75 million euros), you would say,” Benitez said.

“I’m not saying he’s the best in the world because he is young and can get better, but of course he is one of the best, and he can still improve if he wants to.

“This year we had some agents acting for other English clubs who were coming to us asking about the price of Torres, with big, big figures, but we said that he’s not for sale.

“I would say at this moment in time he is not for sale at any price.”