Manchester City Coach Mancini Not so Hot on Fernando Torres

Liverpool has valued Torres at £70m, but in a turnaround from yesterday’s reports, Mancini is now saying he admires the Spanish player, but has not yet approached him about a transfer.

City have showed interest in Wolfsburg’s Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli from Inter Milan is also on their wanted list. At the moment City are also hoping to receive offers for Robinho who was away on loan to Santos last season and they also may wish to loan out Craig Bellamy. It seems that reports that Wayne Bridge, Micah Richards and Shaun Wright-Phillips are up for sale though are incorrect.

Mancini said that if the situation was correct then Torres was one of a number of strikers he would be interested in. Mancini said "Torres is one of the best strikers in Europe and is already playing in the Premier League for three years and knows it very well. But it depends on his situation - his price and whether he wants to come."

Torres was injured in the World Cup final and limped off the field; however, he is expected to be fit for the start of the season when Liverpool face Arsenal on 15th August. Torres joined Liverpool in 2007 and signed another deal with the club last year, however, it is reported that he is disappointed with the club because he feels let down by broken promises relating to investment in new players.

Hodgson would like him to stay but says there is not much more he can do. Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalgish told BBC sport that he hoped Hodgson’s arrival at the club would persuade Torres to stay.

Mancini is still interested in Aston Villa’s James Milner but he insists on paying a fair price. Mancini said, "When Manchester City enquire about a £10m player, the club asks for £20m. That is not good for us. James is still a player who interests us but only at the right price.”