Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has warned Chelsea even a world-record transfer fee would not tempt him to cash in on star striker Fernando Torres.

Torres, 24, is reported to be a transfer target for new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari after a 33-goal haul in his first season at Anfield.

It was claimed at the weekend that the Champions League finalists were preparing a Stg£40 million bid, but American Hicks is adamant that even if Roman Abramovich offered to exceed the £47 million Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001, he would not contemplate doing business.

"There is no price at which we would consider selling Fernando Torres," Hicks told the Liverpool Echo. "The Chelsea rumours in the media are total rubbish."