Chelsea Want Torres!

Premiership outfit Chelsea are reported to be in the hunt for Liverpool’s prized asset Fernando Torres. The London Blues are ready to splash out as much as €50 million for the Spanish international striker, according to latest transfer reports.

Madrid-based Spanish daily Marca reports that Chelsea are eager to land Torres at Stamford Bridge before the start of the season and are ready to pay as much as Liverpool demand for the player. Last season Torres emerged as arguably the best striker in the Premiership although it was his first outing with the Reds after being signed from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2007 for a massive transfer fee.

The speculation on Fernando Torres’s future at Liverpool stems from the financial crisis that the Merseyside club are steeped in. It is reported that Liverpool are in a debt of a considerable sum of money and that to wipe out this debt, they shall have to offload one or even two of their most prized assets.

Fernando Torres of course has always maintained that he is happy at Anfield and that he loves the Kop. The 23-year old Spanish star broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s goalscoring record this season and became the most prolific foreign striker in the his debut season in the Premiership.

Marca reports that Chelsea owner Roman Avramovich is eager to import the player to Stanford Bridge in the summer. Chelsea are anticipated to undergo a massive revamp of their own before the start of next season and Roman wants his new Chelsea team to play fascinating and entertaining football which they haven’t since the Russian oligarch took control of the club.

Marca also reports that the Russian billionaire feels that Fernando Torres’ entry into the Chelsea unit would enhance his team’s attraction. But it is unlikely that Torres would like to move out of the secure shadow of his club manager Rafael Benitez any time soon.