Chelsea signed Fernando Torres on deadline day, 31 January 2011, for £50 Million from Liverpool. A British record at that time. Unfortunately, the £50 M has failed to score even 50 goals for Chelsea.
A lot of fans, optimistic ones, have been backing Torres to re-capture his old form. Some have gotten so tired of the misfiring striker that they have turned into eternal pessimists from eternal optimists.
There was a glimmer of hope at the beginning of this, 2012-13, season that Torres could turn it around. Those hopes have died too. So it is not surprising that a lot of the Chelsea fans want to see Torres sold and a new striker bought. They want one as early as January 2013.
Torres signed a 5-and-a-half-year deal on 31 January 2011. That should keep him at Chelsea till the end of 2015-16 season. 3-and-a-half-years more to go, come this January.
Torres is 28 years old now. He is rumoured to earn £175,000 per week. Torres is one of the top earners in world football. Let’s assume, Chelsea put Torres up for sale.
Which club could buy Torres?
Which club can match Torres’ current weekly salary of £175,000? There aren’t too many clubs who have the financial clout to manage that. Manchester City, United, PSG, Anzhi, Zenit are a few clubs who can afford Torres.
However, do any of those clubs have a need for a misfiring + costly striker?
Falcao is a fan favorite already, even before he has signed for Chelsea. Chelsea could have signed Falcao last summer. Although, they had Drogba, Anelka, Torres in the squad at that time. So it is understandable why Chelsea weren’t interested in Falcao last year.
Some have suggested a Falcao – Torres swap. That is, fans want Chelsea to offer Torres + cash for Falcao to Atletico Madrid. Sounds like a good deal.
Atletico Madrid is Torres’ boyhood club. Atletico might prove to be an attractive club for Torres. Atletico is where Torres came into prominence. Atletico could help him re-capture his form.
But, can Atletico afford him?
Atletico are prepared to sell Falcao for £48 Million/ €60 Million, his release clause. But why are they letting go of their most prized asset who happens to be their best player as well?
Debt.
If Atletico sell Falcao, it will solve their debt issues, as said by their GM. He also said that, if Atletico cannot qualify for Champions League next season, they cannot afford Falcao. Atletico are second in La Liga behind Barcelona and above Real Madrid. Yes, that is right. Atletico are ahead of Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
By the way, there is a derby this weekend. Real and Atletico go head to head.
That means, Atletico will not be able to afford Torres. Some reports have suggested that Atletico Madrid still owe Porto, for Falcao’s transfer. So a player + cash deal will not be enough to lure Atletico into selling Falcao. They need €60 Million. And they could ask for a hefty amount upfront, in cash.
Torres to Atletico in exchange for Falcao will not work, even if Torres took a wage cut. Atletico are need in of a cash influx. Maybe if Chelsea offer Torres + €60 Million, they would accept.
That is where FFP comes in. Only recently had Chelsea made a profit of £1.4 Million, first time since Roman Abramovich took over. Chelsea could sell Torres for a loss. Chelsea could buy Falcao as well. However, that deal will upset the Chelsea accounts.
Falcao could demand the same sort of salary as Torres does currently. On top of that a £48 Million transfer fee would be a huge expense.
If Falcao signs a 5 year deal for £50 Million, that would cost Chelsea, £10 Million per year.
Torres is on a similar contract as well and he costs Chelsea £10 Million per year. This is just the transfer fee, salary has not been included. As far as salary is concerned, Chelsea can afford to pay Falcao the same salary as Torres, if Torres is off the wage list.
So that is £20 Million per year. Goodbye profit!
Even if some club were brave enough to offer a fee for Torres, it would be no where near £50 Million. Chelsea would be lucky if Torres commanded £15 Million in the transfer market.
To make matters worse, there have been rumours that Torres is carrying some sort of ‘degenerative knee injury’ ever since his Liverpool days and that is the reason for his form slump. If true, what club in their right minds would offer to buy Torres?
Solution?
At the moment, I’ve got none. Maybe you have one?
Well, I think I do have a solution. Hope for a MIRACLE. Torres magically rediscovers his old form and Chelsea don’t have to worry about buying a new striker.
Even if he does get his old scoring touch back, Torres, the player, will not command the same transfer fee as he once did. It is only in Chelsea’ best interest that the striker starts contributing for the team. If the club can find some way to help him do that, then all good.
Hoping for a miracle. 
Resources
Chelsea sign £50m Torres - ESPN FC
Chelsea hand Torres £35m Five Year Contract - Caughtoffside
Comments on: "Chelsea cannot get rid of Torres, not easily anyways." (6)
Our solution is currently on-loan and scoring for fun at West Brom! – @thatWallace
Haha… Lukaku!
at least, your assessment of torres is fair enough, unlike others dailies, treating him as if he was a criminal, and trying to send him to assylum.
I just hope abrahamovich will allow the coach or manager to sign thier own choice of players.
Thank you.
Chelsea don’t really give the managers freedom to sign any player they want. Chelsea do discuss with the manager on their choice of players. Benitez recently spoke of it in an interview. Benitez said, the Chelsea board had asked his opinion on player transfers for the January window. So it is not all that bad.
Torres is just there to sell shirts. They make money because he is a big star in football, signing falcao wouldnt sell shirts which is believe it or not a huge contributing factor to why clubs sign BIG players. Falcao may be a fantastic player and certainly one of the most clinical strikers in the world, but with that pricetag he isnt worth it. Torres may be a terrible player now but i certainly hope that Chelsea can get rid of him when and if he rediscovers his form. He is probably still worth 15-20m pounds because the revenue the buying club would make of merchandise and turnstile increases would outweigh his rubbish displays on the pitch.
Basically, Torres needs to rediscover his form and as soon as he does Chelsea need to get rid of him. Hope that is in the January window because he is not only stopping the growth of young players, but he plays with no passion…and that my friends is the worst thing for a football player.
if Falcao joins Chelsea, he could sell more shirts. Falcao is very popular and if he joins a club like Chelsea, his popularity will surge. And the form that he has displayed, he could end up being more popular than Torres.