Source: FOOTYMAD
Torres bid waiting to be faxed
Get on with it Chelsea... Fernando Torres is Chelsea's top target this summer. A £50m bid is waiting to be faxed to Anfield today but the green light is needed by Roman Abramovich. Chelsea are hoping to use the instability of the the loss of Rafa benitez to tempt the Liverpool hierachy. Chelsea need to land a top player to consolidate their position as one of Europe's top sides. Despite winning the domestic double of league and FA Cup, Abramovich is still furious at the lack of Chamapions league title at Stamford Bridge. Last season's defeat to Inter Milan was the ultimate embassrassment for the russion oligarch as it was Jose Mourinho who rubbed his nose in it by firstly winning both ties with Inter and then winning the trophy itself. The Chelsea board ratified the bid for Torres two weeks ago but have yet to send it to Liverpool. Roman is likey to agree to the move but will want to see some return of the outlay by Chelsea in the form of a lower wage bill and ideally some transfers fee coming in. Other business like signing Michael Essien to two more years is done and dusted. Chelsea will offer Michael Ballack a rolling one-year deal. This should placate sponsors adidas who see Ballack as a major shirt seller for the German national team. Chelsea will also by hoping that Ballack does not retire from international duty for the same reason. Ballack is worth as much for his commercial pull for the Blues than he does for his footballing ability. Joe Cole is headed off to north London to Arsenal so that leave just the deadwood of Deco and Richardo Carvalho to shift from SW6. Nicolas Anelka will be seeking assurances from Carlo Ancelotto of his game time for next season. With a Didier Drogba / Torres front two, Anelka will have to decide on a right flank berth or a move away from Chelsea.
