Despite speculation linking Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City with £50million-plus bids the club have always been confident the Spain striker would still be at Anfield for the start of the next campaign.

And even though Torres has expressed the need for the Merseysiders to match his own ambitions by bringing in quality signings, he has never voiced unhappiness about being at Liverpool.

But while he prefers to concentrate on the forthcoming World Cup rather than talk about his future, his agent Jose Antonio has offered assurances about the player's commitment.

"For the moment I can assure fans that Fernando will continue at Liverpool next season," he told Punto Radio in Spain.

"Everything is down to Liverpool's attitude but for the time being Fernando is happy at the club and has a good contract.

"Liverpool have not spoken to us about his future, so he is just concentrating on playing at the World Cup."

Torres has endured another season hampered by injury as first he struggled with a hernia before a knee problem resulted in two operations, the second prematurely ending his domestic campaign in April.

Even taking those issues into account the 26-year-old underlined his importance to Liverpool with 22 goals in 32 appearances, including scoring 18 in 22 Barclays League games.

It was not enough to prevent the club slumping to their worst league finish - seventh - for 11 years.

But having been out of action for nearly six weeks Torres is trying to salvage something from his year with success at the World Cup.

"It's been a very difficult season," he said.

"When you start a campaign you hope you will be able to fulfil your dreams, winning titles, not having injuries, enjoying yourself, and it has been just the opposite.

"But there is always a tomorrow in football and this summer, the World Cup.

"I've put aside the club, the bad season, and I want to finish in the best way possible by making history with my county."

Torres is optimistic of being fit for Spain's opening match in South Africa against Switzerland on June 16.

"I'm very well, happy with the progress of the injury. Since January I've had two operations, and that isn't easy," he told Marca.

"After the second the objective was to be ready between six and seven weeks, and I'm at the start of the sixth.

"I will do a few more days of specific work and, God willing, I'll be 100% for the first game of the World Cup for sure."

With the future of Torres seemingly no longer a worry for Rafael Benitez, the Reds manager can concentrate on other summer targets.

He may still be awaiting confirmation from chairman Martin Broughton exactly what finances are available this summer but there are key areas which need attention.

Having already set up a pre-contract agreement with Standard Liege's Serbia forward Milan Jovanovic, Benitez must find a new left-back after Fabio Aurelio's widely-expected departure was confirmed.

The 30-year-old Brazilian defender, whose Anfield career has been littered with injuries, turned down the offer of a new pay-as-you-play deal and will leave the club next week.

Aurelio missed the start of this season after sustaining a freak knee problem while playing football with his children and a thigh injury in February prematurely ended his season.

"Fabio's contract is nearly finished and he is going to leave us," said Benitez.

"We had been trying to work something out with regards an extension but it was a pity that we couldn't.

"He has given us absolutely fantastic service. The one problem we had with Fabio was that he suffered too many injuries and it was such a pity because he has great quality."

Aurelio's absence placed additional pressure on 21-year-old Emiliano Insua as there were times when Benitez wanted to rest the player but had no other back-up and, as a result, the Argentinian played 44 matches before he too succumbed to injury late in the season.

"With Fabio being out so much, it meant that we had to use Insua more than we would have liked and that was not easy for him," added the Spaniard.