Manchester City will aim to test Liverpool's resolve by offering a world transfer record for Fernando Torres.
Reports in today's press suggest that the Citizens are expected to beat Real Madrid's £80 million swoop for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer with an offer of £100 million for the highly-rated Spanish hitman.
Despite failing to lure former AC Milan ace Kaka to Eastlands last year for the same amount, the free-spending Mancunians have stepped up their pursuit of the biggest names in world football.
With Roberto Mancini now at the managerial helm, City are set to flex their financial muscles in a bid to extending their attacking options despite already boasting the likes of Robinho, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor in their ranks.
Is is believed that Torres, 25, would net up to £200,000-per-week in wages as part of a five-year deal worth £50 million.
Liverpool are set to resist any advances for Torres following claims by manager Rafael Benitez that he would resign if his compatriot was sold against his will.
However a bid of such enormity could force George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the club's owners, to reconsider rebuffing an approach amidst crippling debts.
The Reds currently owe the Royal Bank of Scotland £240 million following a refinancing loan taken out by the American duo, who have been in charge at Anfield for the past three years, in January 2008.
Hicks sold his controlling stake in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise this weekend for an estimated £350 million but like Gillett - who pocketed £187 million from his sale of his ice hockey franchise, the Montreal Canadiens, in September 2009 - is not expected to plunge his profits back into the Merseyside club.
If repayments to RBS and US-based bank Wachovia are not met, the financial giants could force the sale of key players such as Torres, Javier Mascherano and captain Steven Gerrard to aid the repayments.
Source:clickliverpool.com/
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