MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed they would be willing to break the British transfer record to seal a deal with Fernando Torres worth �70million.

The Spaniard is currently holding talks with the club’s managing director, Christian Purslow, as his future remains shrouded in uncertainty and Roy Hodgson has conceded he can do no more to convince the striker to stay.

“I made it clear from my point of view that I’m really looking forward to working with him and I believe he’s a key, key figure at the club.” He added; “I obviously want him to be a part of the team we’re trying to build here and I can only hope he’ll buy into what the club is offering him.”

City seem to be the only suitors able to fund a deal and offer the player �200,000 a-week, although Chelsea and Barcelona have been linked with the former Athletico Madrid man.

Mancini insists the prospect of taking Torres to Eastlands has not ended even though they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

“Torres is one of the best strikers in Europe and is already playing in the Premier League for three years and knows it very well. But it depends on his situation – his price and whether he wants to come.

The Italian also hinted that Liverpool may have to sell to bring in extra funds: “There are two or three strikers that we could go for, first there is the price and then it depends if the players want to change team. Until today, Liverpool haven’t bought many players.”

The Spanish striker signed a four-year contract worth �110,000 a week last August, and has stressed that money will not be the over-riding motivation as he considers his future at Liverpool this summer.