Rafa goes for £30m Torres... but do the board know?

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Benitez has identified Atletico Madrid star Fernando Torres, one of the most wanted men in Europe, as his No 1 target despite a £30m valuation placed on the 23-year-old striker.

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Anfield's frustrated manager has also outlined plans to pip Newcastle, Sunderland and Aston Villa to Villarreal's former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, who will cost £15.5m.

Benitez's contacts in Spain have told him how much would be required to lever the players out and now he wants Liverpool's board to back him. The reality is that it might take double the Americans' proposed budget.

Although Atletico are due to announce this week that their £30m-valued talisman is staying put, they may be tempted by cash plus Liverpool's Luis Garcia, who played for them four years ago.

Certainly, the key deals Benitez wants to push through will test his new owners' intent in the ambitious Spaniard's eyes.

He wants to move quickly for Torres, whose emergence as one of the best finishers in Europe has also been monitored by United, Arsenal and, inevitably, Chelsea.

He has scored 82 goals in 212 League games for Atletico — and another 14 in his 42 appearances for Spain — but his club are vulnerable after their failure to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Benitez, eyeing a first Liverpool title in 18 years, wants to further increase his options by adding Forlan, who has emerged as a different player in Spain since ending his problematic spell at Old Trafford.

But the skilful Uruguay striker, 28, finished the Spanish season strongly and could be hard to lure back to the Premiership, given his love of life in Spain.

If he can land both Torres and Forlan, Benitez — already inclined to let Craig Bellamy move on — would live with the loss of Luis Garcia.

He is also happy to allow striker Djibril Cisse to remain at Marseille, where he spent last season on loan, with the clubs thought to be close to agreeing a new deal that would frustrate Bolton boss Sammy Lee.

Plans for the new Anfield stadium are expected to be unveiled and submitted to Liverpool council next month.