City to shock Reds and other transfer rumours

Manchester City are ready to stun Liverpool’s beleaguered fans by launching an audacious £50m bid for Fernando Torres. According to reports on Sunday, City’s billionaire Arab owners believe that the Reds will be forced to sell their prized goal ace if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Elsewhere, Manchester United are willing to offer £50m for Valencia striker David Villa in a bid to scare off other clubs; Barcelona are tracking Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe; Liverpool are set to sell Dutch striker Ryan Babel to Bayern Munich for around £9m but will bring in former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan as a replacement; and Chelsea and Manchester City will go head-to-head to sign Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso in the January transfer window.