TORRES PUTS OFF TRANSFER TALK

Liverpool hot-shot Fernando Torres has put off all transfer talk surrounding him until after the World Cup.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted he is an admirer of the Spanish striker, while Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in the past.

Transfer speculation has intensified after the cash-strapped Reds failed to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League, although Torres' representative, Jose Antonio Peton, has dismissed such rumours, insisting the 26-year-old will still be a Liverpool player in 2010/11.

Those remarks were put to the striker at a press conference for his national team on Wednesday, but Torres told Sky Sports News: 'I didn't read them.

'The most important thing for me now is the World Cup. My future is the World Cup and then we'll see later.

'For now and hopefully for the next two months the only thing I am thinking about and talking about is the World Cup.'

Torres, who is bidding to be fully fit for Spain's World Cup opener against Switzerland next month, also hopes Liverpool's ownership can be resolved.

Former Liverpool chairman David Moores has called for American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to sell up quickly and Torres hopes the situation can be addressed.

'That is one of the ways we need to improve,' said the Spain international.

'I know the situation, I speak to the chief executive (Christian Purslow) and Rafa (Benitez) every week and I am aware of what is going on.

'I have tried to stay apart from them and re-focus on the national team so when the World Cup ends, we'll see what happens.'