Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has hinted he would be open to a swap deal involving Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres amid resurfacing speculation linking the duo with exits from their respective clubs, ESPN FC understands.
Torres has failed to established himself as a No. 1 strike option at Chelsea following his £50 million megamove from Anfield to Stamford Bridge in January 2011.
In addition, the arrival of former Liverpool mentor Rafael Benitez — much to the chagrin of the Blues’ supporters — has bore no fruit.
According to recent reports, Torres may be offered a Chelsea escape, with Simeone hinting — but remaining somewhat coy — on whether he would welcome the Spain international back to the Estadio Vicente Calderón.
“Fernando Torres is currently playing for another team and we have to wait for the season to finish and decide which of the available players could come here and do a good job,” Marca quotes Simeone as saying.
“Fernando knows about the club’s history, what it means to play here and I don’t need to speak about his ability. We were team-mates. I know how important he can be.”
Torres, 29, has scored 17 goals in 48 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions this season.
Van Wolfswinkel to Norwich
Norwich City have agreed a deal to sign Sporting CP striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel for an undisclosed fee in the summer, Sky Sports reports.
Van Wolfswinkel, 24, will join the Canaries on a four-year deal in July.
The Dutch striker has been in impressive goal-scoring form since moving to Sporting CP in 2011, and was even linked with a move to Manchester United in late 2011.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton is delighted with the signing of Van Wolfswinkel, and rightfully so.
The 24-year-old striker has bagged 82 goals in 188 competitive senior appearances for Sporting CP, FC Utrecht and Vitesse Arnhem.
“Ricky’s profile is a perfect fit for us – he’s young, ambitious and a proven goalscorer,” Hughton told the club’s official website.
“He has an excellent goalscoring pedigree and he’s a young man very keen to continue his personal progression and to play in England. He’s already an exciting talent but he still has more development as a player ahead of him.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to agree a deal with Sporting Lisbon and with Ricky and we look forward to welcoming him to the squad in July, once all of the paperwork gets sorted out.”
Van Wolfswinkel made his international debut for Holland in an international friendly against Ukraine in August 2010, but has been kept out of the national team picture by the likes of Robin van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Jeremain Lens and Luuk de Jong.
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