Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson
has insisted striker Fernando
Torres is not for sale.
The 26-year-old Spain international has been the subject of
persistent speculation linking him with a big-money move away from
Anfield this summer.
The former Fulham chief took
charge at Liverpool a fortnight
ago but was unable to meet Torres at first due to the player's
involvement in the World Cup in
South Africa.
Speaking at his team's pre-season training camp, Hodgson said:
"I have met with Fernando.
"I found him to be a very pleasant man and we had a nice
conversation.
"As far as we are concerned he is a Liverpool player and we want him to remain a
Liverpool player.
"He is not for sale and we don't welcome any offers for him. We
want to keep him.
"My conversation with him was only short because I had to leave
to come to the training camp in Switzerland.
"We spoke about football, the World
Cup, his injury, and I told him how much I am looking
forward to working with him.
"Christian Purslow [managing director] was also at the meeting
and chatted to Fernando for a lot longer after I left but my chat
with him was only about football matters."