Chelsea Set To Sacrifice Fernando Torres for La Liga Star – Report

Chelsea are reportedly planning to offer £50m Fernando Torres to Atletico Madrid in a swap deal that would see La Liga star Diego Costa move to Stamford Bridge next summer.

After signing midfielder Nemanja Matic, winger Mohamed Salah and centre-back Kurt Zouma last January, Jose Mourinho's priority for the summer is to sign a striker and the Atletico Madrid star is reportedly leading a shot-list that also includes Porto's Jackson Martinez and Paris Saint Germain's Edinson Cavani.

According to Metro, Chelsea are set to include Torres in the deal as he is a legend at Atletico, where he developed in their academy and rose to become captain before moving to Liverpool.

Costa's release clause is £32m and, according to Metro, the Blues are ready to offer £20m and Torres as part of the deal.

Metro claims that Mourinho does not trust in Torres anymore and with Romelu Lukaku returning from a loan spell at Everton, his first-team chances next season will be non-existent.

Last month reports in Spain claimed that Atletico were willing to sell Costa to Chelsea but they asked the Blues to include Thibaut Courtois in the deal, rather than Torres.

Costa, 25, is the second top scorer in La Liga, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo, and after netting 20 goals in just 23 domestic league appearances he has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe – with Arsenal and Manchester United also reportedly interesting in acquiring his services.

Atletico have forced to sell other stars in recent years, including Sergio Aguero to Manchester City and Radame Falcao to Monaco, due to their precarious economic situation and it appears Costa will be the next one who will leave the Vicente Calderon.

Indeed Atletico boss Diego Simeone has suggested that the club may listen to offers for Costa this summer.

"Diego Costa? No one is indispensible. What's most important is the club.

"Atletico has always had a turnover in the striker position from Torres, Aguero... [yet] Atletico, as a club, has always survived."