According to a Soccernet report, Chelsea Russian owner Roman Abramovich has flown to South Africa in a bid to get Torres' signature.
It is believed that Abramovich is willing to pay up to £55 million for the Spain striker whose Liverpool future is in doubt with new manager Roy Hodgson admitting that he could not guarantee that Torres would be at Anfield next season.
Hodgson, who took over from Rafa Benitez, had made it known that he is evaluating the situation regarding five big-name stars at Anfield who are reviewing their own futures.
In a recent interview with Catalan newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, Torres was reported to have turned down the opportunity to commit his future to Liverpool.
Liverpool is going through a precarious financial situation and it would be tempting to sell off Torres to the highest bidder. Even skipper Steven Gerrard may be heading for a transfer.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti reportedly has the backing of the Russian owner as they see Torres as an asset in their European quest to win the Champions League.
Torres himself wants Champions League football and sees Chelsea as the team that can give him the chance to win major honours.
Spain's La Liga champions Barcelona are also reported to be eyeing Torres but raising the funds is a struggle for the Catalan club.
According to AFP, Barca is seeking a 150-million-euro credit extension to help its short-term cash flow. Club president Sandro Rossel, who replaced Juan Laported in June, reportedly said "the club is not in danger and this week we will have everything we need to pay the salaries of the players, coaches and staff."
Meanwhile, Torres' form at the World Cup leaves a lot to be desired and it's touch and go whether coach Vincente del Bosque will play him on Wednesday in the semi-final clash against Germany.
There are speculations he may be dropped in favour of either Cesc Fabregas or David Silva. - MK
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