Reds forced to wait for Torres as Atletico face fan backlash

Talks between the two clubs over a potential £25million move for the Spanish international have taken place between officials.

Taking aim: Liverpool are stepping up their moves to sign Atletico Madrid star Fernando Torres

But the Madrid club are facing a backlash from their own supporters, unhappy at the prospect of their idol being sold to the Champions League finalists.

Atletico fans have staged a protest in a Madrid square against the sale of the 23 year-old, a youth product of the club who has constantly professed his love for the team he has supported since childhood.

That pressure is likely to delay any deal at least until the player returns from holiday on July 10.

And Atletico will now be even more determined to extract every last penny from Liverpool, so that they can sell the deal to their fans as having got best possible financial outcome.

Gil Marin, Atletico's major shareholder, wants to see Torres leading Atletico's attack again next season, but is adamant that the striker is not irreplaceable.

"Nobody is indispensable. We are trying to create a competitive team and no player by himself, very good though he is, is able to make a team achieve its aims," Gil Marin said on Punto Radio.

"Atletico are building a team that does not revolve around Fernando Torres but around the team as a whole.

"I would delighted if Fernando was to continue here, but the future is going to be decided by Fernando himself.

"We have spoken to him and told him we would like him to stay.

"It is normal that he has doubts. It is normal that the offers and everything surrounding them has made him think.

"Torres knows that Atletico want him and if Fernando wants to continue at Atletico, he is going to continue."

Gil Marin also revealed they were hoping to bring in Villarreal's former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan to boost the Rojiblancos' firepower - whether Torres stays or not.

"The operation which we are trying to close is that of Forlan, who we are looking at to provide support to Fernando, as well as a possible alternative."

As well as Torres, it is believed that Benitez's other targets include PSV striker Arouna Kone, Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Diego Milito at Real Zaragoza.

Liverpool's first group of players report back to Melwood tomorrow for pre-season training.

Missing, however, will be Emiliano Insua and new signing Lucas Leiva, who take part in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup which opens in Canada this weekend.

Insua is in the Argentina squad, while summer signing Leiva is an integral member of Brazil's team. The 24-nation tournament runs from Saturday until July 22.

Argentina are defending their crown and kick-off their campaign on Saturday against the Czech Republic in Ottawa. Brazil's tournament starts five hours earlier against Poland in Montreal.