Liverpool have turned down an audacious bid by Chelsea for striker Fernando Torres, the EPL club confirmed yesterday.

Chelsea, who are believed to have tabled a similar bid for the player last summer, had been told that the Spanish international was not for sale.

"Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando which has been turned down. The player is not for sale," a Liverpool spokesman said.

Reports earlier put Chelsea's bid at 35 million pounds. Torres (26) is under contract at Liverpool until 2013. However he is widely reported to have a buy-out clause in his deal which will allow him to leave if another team matches his 50-million-pound valuation.