Chelsea Transfer News: Fernando Torres to Be Offered to League Rivals for Free

Chelsea are preparing to offer fellow Premier League clubs the chance to take Fernando Torres on a free, according to Neil McLeman of the Daily Mirror.

The Spanish striker has scored just once during his loan spell at AC Milan this season and is reportedly deemed surplus to requirements by the Rossoneri. Milan are "seeking to cancel" his two-year loan because they believe "they are not getting value for money," according to McLeman.

The aforementioned publication's stirring backpage was tweeted by B/R UK:

The Italian side agreed to pay £3.1 million per season for Torres, who could now be offered to any English side willing to take a chance. McLeman's report doesn't state whether this would be in a permanent or loan deal, but either way Torres could be a tempting addition for the Premier League's lesser clubs.

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Chelsea paid a staggering £50 million for the Spaniard back in 2011. The striker previously hit 18 goals in the 2009-10 Premier League season with Liverpool, per WhoScored.com, in which he showed excellent pace, tight finishing skills and a general hunger to succeed.

This diminished rapidly at Stamford Bridge, leaving a dispirited, forlorn and frustrating figure in its place.

Football writer Thore Haugstad highlighted a disappointing turn of fortune for the player: 

Many thought the slower pace of Serie A would suit Torres, but this hasn't proven to be the case. Milan boss Filippo Inzaghi hasn't completely trusted the player to score goals, providing him with just 591 minutes across 10 appearances, per WhoScored. As it stands, defensive midfielders Nigel de Jong and Sulley Muntari have netted double Torres' total, with centre-back Adil Rami equalling his return.

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The 30-year-old perhaps has one more opportunity to prove he still belongs at the top level. Torres' instincts seem to have softened over the years—he isn't as quick off the mark and is unlikely to try ambitious attempts at goal—but he could still offer quality if situated in the box.

We've often seen strikers with big reputations struggle at the Premier League's top clubs before improving elsewhere in the division.

Former Arsenal enigma Nicklas Bendtner once hit a seasonal career high of eight goals while on loan at Sunderland. Marouane Chamakh's output has also increased since he switched the Emirates for Crystal Palace. The "big fish" situation may suit Torres, but there's no doubt he needs to quickly impress if he's to be deemed a worthwhile addition.

Such a situation, if it comes to pass, would perhaps highlight the downfall of an individual whose early career success is now a distant memory.