Exclusive: Torres for sale! Chelsea will take £20m in January for flop striker
By NEIL ASHTON
Last updated at 10:57 PM on 13th December 2011
Chelsea will listen to offers for £50million flop Fernando Torres in next month's transfer window.
The £150,000-a-week striker has scored just three Barclays Premier League goals since his move to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool on January 31.
Chelsea considered sending him on loan to rebuild his shattered confidence, but they are now prepared to sell.
Forlorn Fernando: Torres has failed to fire for Chelsea since his £50m move
The club will have to take a massive financial hit on the most expensive player in British football history, but they have almost exhausted their other options.
Instead they will listen to any club prepared to offer around £20m and match his huge salary demands next month.
When Andre Villas-Boas became Chelsea boss in the summer he was convinced Torres could recapture the form that turned him into one of the most feared strikers in world football.
The manager hoped signing Juan Mata from Valencia would improve Torres's game, but even that has failed to spark the Spaniard back to his former glories.
Off target: Torres was the most expensive player in British transfer history
Chelsea have been patient with the 27-year-old, but the feelers are already out in Europe to find Torres a top club to take him in January.
The World Cup winner has been a disaster since moving to the Bridge and is now behind Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge in the pecking order.
He did not even get off the bench against Manchester City on Monday night and stayed immobile in the dug-out as the rest of the substitutes, along with the backroom team, celebrated Frank Lampard's late winner from the penalty spot.
Head boy: Daniel Sturridge is above Torres in the strikers' pecking order
It underlines Torres's frustration with his position and the belief that he is now firmly out in the cold at Chelsea.
Although he remains a popular figure with supporters at the London club, he has failed to live up to his billing as one of the best players in the world.
There were signs of the old Torres magic when he scored at Old Trafford in September, but all the hard work was undone when he was sent off against Swansea in the following game.
Rare sight: Torres has celebrated scoring just four goals this season for Chelsea
He went 13 games without a goal when he signed for Chelsea, finally getting off the mark in a 3-0 win over West Ham on April 23. He was mobbed by team-mates at the time, but then went another nine games before scoring against Manchester United on September 18.
He has scored only four goals this season, despite starting 11 games, with two of those coming against Genk in the Champions League in October.
Why so glum, Fernando?
The arms go up, the roars bellow out. Manager Andre Villas-Boas leads Chelsea’s celebrations as the final whistle blows on Monday night.
But take a closer look... one player doesn’t appear to be in victory mode.
£50million man Torres (circled) appears glum after another match on the bench watching his team-mates shine.
Was there something in the air that night, Fernando?
Party pooper: Torres (circled) fails to celebrate at the final whistle
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1gSnwkDQK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2073746/Fernando-Torres-sale-Chelsea-20m-January-flop-striker.html
Last updated at 10:57 PM on 13th December 2011
Chelsea will listen to offers for £50million flop Fernando Torres in next month's transfer window.
The £150,000-a-week striker has scored just three Barclays Premier League goals since his move to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool on January 31.
Chelsea considered sending him on loan to rebuild his shattered confidence, but they are now prepared to sell.
Forlorn Fernando: Torres has failed to fire for Chelsea since his £50m move
The club will have to take a massive financial hit on the most expensive player in British football history, but they have almost exhausted their other options.
Instead they will listen to any club prepared to offer around £20m and match his huge salary demands next month.
When Andre Villas-Boas became Chelsea boss in the summer he was convinced Torres could recapture the form that turned him into one of the most feared strikers in world football.
The manager hoped signing Juan Mata from Valencia would improve Torres's game, but even that has failed to spark the Spaniard back to his former glories.
Off target: Torres was the most expensive player in British transfer history
Chelsea have been patient with the 27-year-old, but the feelers are already out in Europe to find Torres a top club to take him in January.
The World Cup winner has been a disaster since moving to the Bridge and is now behind Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge in the pecking order.
He did not even get off the bench against Manchester City on Monday night and stayed immobile in the dug-out as the rest of the substitutes, along with the backroom team, celebrated Frank Lampard's late winner from the penalty spot.
Head boy: Daniel Sturridge is above Torres in the strikers' pecking order
It underlines Torres's frustration with his position and the belief that he is now firmly out in the cold at Chelsea.
Although he remains a popular figure with supporters at the London club, he has failed to live up to his billing as one of the best players in the world.
There were signs of the old Torres magic when he scored at Old Trafford in September, but all the hard work was undone when he was sent off against Swansea in the following game.
Rare sight: Torres has celebrated scoring just four goals this season for Chelsea
He went 13 games without a goal when he signed for Chelsea, finally getting off the mark in a 3-0 win over West Ham on April 23. He was mobbed by team-mates at the time, but then went another nine games before scoring against Manchester United on September 18.
He has scored only four goals this season, despite starting 11 games, with two of those coming against Genk in the Champions League in October.
Why so glum, Fernando?
The arms go up, the roars bellow out. Manager Andre Villas-Boas leads Chelsea’s celebrations as the final whistle blows on Monday night.
But take a closer look... one player doesn’t appear to be in victory mode.
£50million man Torres (circled) appears glum after another match on the bench watching his team-mates shine.
Was there something in the air that night, Fernando?
Party pooper: Torres (circled) fails to celebrate at the final whistle
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1gSnwkDQK
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