Chelsea and Manchester City are receiving encouragement to go for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

The Daily Star Sunday says Torres will follow Rafa Benitez out of the Anfield exit door - sparking a furious £70million scrap for the Liverpool striker between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Now that the man who signed him has gone, Torres feels little allegiance to Liverpool after publicly criticising their lack of ambition in signing big-name players.

Torres, 26, said: "We need four or five top-class players to compete with our rivals. There has to be signings.

"The fans are worried about players going. It's a problem when you start to fear that your players are going."

Torres, like Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard, will make a decision on his future after the World Cup.

But it's becoming increasingly clear that Torres would jump at the chance of joining either Chelsea or City.

Torres craves Champions League football which will obviously be guaranteed by Chelsea.

City can't match that attraction but boss Roberto Mancini will sell the promise to Torres that, with his help, they can achieve a Champions League spot next season.