Liverpool have also turned down Torres’ request but it may have given Chelsea enough encouragement to move again for the 26-year-old before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Yet if that is the plan, Ancelotti was remaining tight-lipped about it this afternoon after his side came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

“I don’t know, we will have to wait. There is no change,” was all the Italian would say when asked on the matter.

Ancelotti’s cup holders recovered from a poor start to the second half to maintain their grip on the FA Cup with a 75th-minute equaliser from substitute Salomon Kalou.

Everton had been rewarded for a strong spell of a pressure with a 62nd-minute opener from Louis Saha and almost claimed a second through Seamus Coleman.

The Irishman was first denied by Petr Cech as he met a Leighton Baines cross with a firm header and Michael Essien reacted quickly to prevent him tucking in the rebound.

The true value of that excellent defensive work became clear moments later.

Everton boss David Moyes said: “The team played well and I am disappointed we have not gone through.

“It all roughly hinged on a save by Petr Cech and a block by Essien.

“That could have made it 2-0 but from that corner, instead of us scoring, they scored.

“I think the pass from (Nicolas) Anelka when they broke on us was meant for Ramires, it was actually slightly behind Ramires and ran on to Kalou.

“But you give them credit for getting players forward on a counter-attack.”

Both sides could have won the tie late on and thus prevented a replay at Stamford Bridge next month as Ramires hit the post and Jermaine Beckford also extended Cech.

Moyes added: “I don’t think you can come away and say Chelsea were really threatening.

“I thought we looked the side who were more likely to score than Chelsea.

“Petr Cech made some really good saves and that is what goalkeepers do.

“They had one shot which hit the outside of the post late on but overall I thought the players played really well today.

“They performed well against a team that has not lost an FA Cup tie since 2008 and are Premier League champions. I have to give the players a lot of credit.”

Ancelotti had no complaints about the result, admitting his side were outplayed for spells by the hosts.

Ancelotti said: “I think a draw was the right result, we played better in the first half and they played better in the second half.

“The result was good also because we were 1-0 down and it was not easy.

“To come back into the game we had good attitude and good spirit.

“It was not easy – Everton put pressure on us all the time.

“They were very dangerous on set-pieces, used a lot of long balls and because of the sun we couldn’t play from the back as we did in the first half. We lost control in the second half.

“It was important behaviour of Essien to save the goal, after that we scored the goal.”

Chelsea are bidding to become the first team to win the FA Cup in three successive seasons since 1886 but Ancelotti admits getting past Everton will be tough enough.

He said: “Against Everton – every time it is a balanced game.

“We didn’t win (against them) last year. We lost here and drew at home and both times this year we have drawn.”