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London - Liverpool's hold on Fernando Torres may be slipping on Monday, with the Spain striker reported to be on the way to Chelsea on the final day of Europe's January transfer window, in what could be English football's most expensive ever transfer.
Torres left Liverpool's training ground on Monday, and British media widely reported that Chelsea is prepared to pay 50 million pounds ($79.5 million) for the Spain striker.
Liverpool expects to complete the signing of Uruguay forward Luis Suarez from Ajax on Monday, and could be one of the busiest clubs in the market. The club has also been linked with Newcastle's Andy Carroll and Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez, apparently as a replacement for Torres.
"We're going to look after ourselves first and foremost," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. "Is that not the same in any business? If someone's going to go you've got to have a replacement.
"There is as good a chance of us getting someone else in as there is someone going out."
Liverpool turned down Torres' request to leave the team he joined for a club-record 20.3 million pounds (then $40.6 million) from Atletico Madrid in 2007.
Torres, who is contracted until 2013, is one of the most sought-after players in world football, despite a disappointing contribution to Spain's World Cup win last year.
He scored the winning goal in Spain's 2008 European Championship win over Germany and has struck 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool.
Thus far, the biggest transfer between two English clubs was Manchester United's 2002 signing of Rio Ferdinand from Leeds for 29.1 million pounds (then $44.5 million).
Suarez passed a medical examination, and is on course to complete his 26.5 million ($36 million) transfer, while Liverpool has allowed defender Paul Konchesky to join second-tier Nottingham Forest on loan. Daniel Ayala has been loaned to Derby by the Reds.
United States midfielder Michael Bradley was undergoing a medical examination with Aston Villa, with the 23-year-old son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley set to join the central England club on loan until the end of the season from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Villa has already signed Darren Bent, Jean Makoun and on-loan Kyle Walker during the January transfer window.
Tottenham's attempt to sign Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid ended when the Argentina star signed a new contract with his Spanish club, while Stoke may let Tuncay Sanli join Wolfsburg after the Turkey forward traveled to Germany for contract negotiations.
