Fernando Torres was the surprise winner of the Euro 2012 Golden Boot. Should Chelsea stick or twist?
If you predicted Torres would win the Golden Boot at this year’s tournament, congratulations, for you should now be a very rich person.
But then, nothing about the Spaniard is predictable nowadays. After his £50 million move from Liverpool, Torres was expected to be all-conquering at Chelsea.
The fact he is a Champions League winner does not tell the whole truth. Since arriving he has been a big disappointment.
In total for Chelsea he has scored just 12 times in 18 months – three of those came in one game against a woeful QPR side.
With Didier Drogba, the partnership never gelled, and both strikers suffered. Now with Drogba gone, £50 million Torres is hoping to become the main man.
But what if he doesn’t? What if he goes back to producing the same indifferent form as before?
Surely it will be tempting for Chelsea to cash in while his price will be high – never as high as the amount they paid for him – but his finishing at Euro 2012 has shown that he can still produce on the grandest stage.
Chelsea are looking at bringing in Hulk. Would that bring the same problem for a misfiring Torres as Drogba did? Perhaps, but Chelsea can’t afford to go into the season with the Spaniard as their only established out and out striker, his form has shown that to be too much of a risk.
While Torres has become almost a cult-figure among Chelsea supporters, who have rallied around him due to the inevitable flak he has received, is their a fan who would genuinely want him in their team ahead of Falcao?
The free-scoring Colombian was devastating for Atletico Madrid in his debut season, leading them to the Europa League.
He would cost upwards of £40 million, but if Chelsea were to throw Torres into the mix, they could take a substantial sum off that. And then there is Barcelona. Torres would prefer to be a squad player at the Nou Camp than at the Bridge, and if a bid of around £20 million came in, Chelsea should take it.
Would Carlo Ancelotti have him back at PSG? The French club could be persuaded to take such a big name forward, and pay big too.
Next season could be the year Torres makes his mark at Chelsea, but if an offer comes in which is too good to refuse, they should consider selling up.
How much is Torres worth in today’s market? What kind of offer would it take for you to be happy for Chelsea to sell?
image: © Ben Sutherland
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