Italians interested in unhappy Chelsea star

Taylor Williams 8 February 2013, 21:00 2 minutes read

Many punters are enjoying their end of week drinks in the Football Transfer Tavern and there are a few surprised looks as a group in the corner pull out their smartphones to hear that talkSPORT claim Fiorentina are interested in prizing away unhappy Chelsea striker Fernando Torres in the summer.

Despite registering more regularly this campaign, it is still not enough at an expectant club like Chelsea with Blues fans far more concerned with his all-round game with the Spaniard still a shadow of his former self following his spell with Liverpool previously.

The reports actually derive from Italy in the La Nazione publication and they suggest the Viola could plot an audacious bid to take the under fire striker to Serie A.

With Rafael Benitez’ side bringing in Demba Ba during the January transfer window and the club still holding an interest in long-term transfer targets Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani, Torres’ future looks bleak and even the staunchest Blues fans would surely admit that they have been underwhelmed with the striker’s overall contribution, following the astronomical £50 million fee they paid for him in January 2011.

Fiorentina possess a few links with Torres which may make a deal possible with Viola technical director Eduardo Macia – who helped gain Torres his move to Chelsea, and sporting director Daniele Prade confident of persuading him to join the Stadio Artemi Franchi-based side.

Any deal would forge similarities to the Alberto Aquilani transfer with Liverpool still paying a chunk of the midfielder’s wages.