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LONDON – LIVERPOOL has rejected a bid from English Premier League rival Chelsea for striker Fernando Torres ahead of the January transfer window closing on Monday.

Chelsea is in need of a new forward to help its faltering title defence after slipping from top to fourth in the standings, 10 points behind leader Manchester United.

‘Chelsea have made an offer for Fernando which has been rejected,’ Liverpool announced late on Thursday. ‘The player is not for sale.’ Liverpool’s American owner John Henry is not prepared to let his top player leave, with the team showing signs of a recovery since Kenny Dalglish returned to the manager’s job at the start of the month.

Consecutive victories have lifted Liverpool away from the relegation up to seventh – nine points behind Chelsea in the final Champions League qualification spot.

The bid for Torres was put at 35 million pounds (S$71.2 million) by British media, although the World Cup-winning Spain striker has only found the net nine times for Liverpool since returning from South Africa.

But three of those goals have come since Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson for a second stint as Liverpool manager. Torres joined Liverpool for a club-record 20.3 million pounds in 2007 from Atletico Madrid and is under contract until 2013. — AP