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Andre Villas-Boas Says Fernando Torres Not for Sale at Any Price

Fernando Torres is not leaving Chelsea any time soon. Bluesmanager Andre-Villas-Boas emphatically denied recent reports linking the misfiring striker with a cut-price move away from the West London Club, according to the Daily Mirror. 

"It's not true, I'm sorry," Villas-Boas said. "He is not available at any price, now or in the summer.

"I think Fernando is ready mentally. Everybody wants to be involved for more time and now Fernando is pushing for place with Didier Drogba, who is on a good run at the moment.

"But we always count on our players and we are sure that when Fernando is involved he will respond because of the quality and talent he has. He will be back sooner or later but we have to make the best decisions."

Big clubs across Europe were put on high alert after it was reported Chelsea might accept offers as low as £20 million ($30.8 million) for the 27-year-old, nearly one year after buying him for a British-record £50 million ($80 million) from Liverpool. 

Torres has struggled mightily since his controversial move. He's scored just five league goals in 35 games and fallen behind Drogba and Daniel Sturridge in Villas-Boas' pecking order in recent weeks. 

It seems from the manager's comments that Torres will be given another year to make his mark with the Blues. The Spanish international claimed he's found life difficult in London because he is not surrounded by teammates and coaches who speak his language like when he was at Liverpool.

Photo via Flickr/T-Esque