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Milan hint at move for Chelsea's Torres

Fernando Torres has been described as a "big-name striker" by AC Milan © Getty Images

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Fernando Torres' time at Chelsea could finally be coming to an end after AC Milan hinted they are close to signing the striker.

Speaking as he signed autographs in Milan on Tuesday, the club's general manager Adriano Galliani promised "a big signing" will be made before the transfer window closes.

Fans demanded to know whether the new signing would be Torres and Galliani branded him a "fantastic centre-forward", adding: "We're currently in the midst of plenty of negotiations".

Galliani also told the club's official television channel: "We're entering the final hours of the market so let's see if we are able to sign a big-name striker, this is our main objective. Torres is certainly a big-name centre-forward, let's see if we can get him or somebody else. We're hard at work."

Milan are in the hunt for a new forward after selling Mario Balotelli to Liverpool. The funds earned from that sale also give them enough financial backing to formalise a bid for Torres, 30, who doesn't appear to have much of a future with Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho has brought in £32 million striker Diego Costa, who has scored two goals in two Premier League games, while the returning Didier Drogba is also above Torres in the Chelsea pecking order.

Torres was left out of the squad completely for Chelsea's 2-0 win at home to Leicester City last weekend, though following the match, Mourinho went on to insist Torres still has a future at the club.

Aside from Torres, Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel is also understood to be tempting Milan, with a proposed season-long loan deal on the table.

With a permanent move for Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt looking unlikely, Van Ginkel is seen as a low-cost alternative. Milan would prefer a loan move to a permanent transfer, an arrangement which would also suit Chelsea.

"We've written to Chelsea [about Van Ginkel] and we're waiting for a response," Galliani said. "We're quite confident. He's a very talented player and hopefully he'll come."

Should a bid for Torres break down, Liverpool's Fabio Borini may instead become a target with Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi understood to be a fan of the forward, who is wanted by Sunderland after his loan spell on Wearside last season.

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