Fernando Torres Wants Chelsea to Pay up £16m Contract to Ease AC Milan Move

Fernando Torres wants Chelsea to pay up his £16m contract so he can secure a move to AC Milan and replace Mario Balotelli.

Milan are looking to take the Spaniard to the San Siro on a one-year loan but the striker would prefer a permanent move and reportedly wants the Premier League club to pay off the remaining two years of his Stamford Bridge deal.

The Daily Mail reports Roma are also interested in Torres but the transfer of Balotelli to Liverpool means Milan have become favourites to land the 30-year-old.

But Chelsea are said to be reluctant to see the striker leave west London as it will leave manager Jose Mourniho short of options should Diego Costa or Didier Drogba become injured or unavailable.

Mourinho has said he wants three strikers at the club and now that he has sold Romelu Lukaku to Everton for £28m, the Portuguese is unlikely to want to part with Torres without bringing in a replacement.

One possibilty has been to include Roma striker Mattia Destro in a move that would see Torres head in the opposite direction.

However, the 23-year-old's agent, Renzo Contratto, has since shot down suggestions a swap could take place, while maintaining Chelsea's interest in the player.

Tottenham have also registered an interest in the player with the Rome club's director Walter Sabatini having reportedly been in discussion with his Spurs counterpart Franco Baldini about a possible deal.

Meanwhile, former Blues stiker Samuel Eto'o is on the brink of a move to Everton. The 33-year-old was released at the end of last season, attracting the attention of Liverpool.

But after the Reds completed the signing of Balotelli it was their city rivals who emerged as the favourites to sign the Cameroon international.