Euro dream driving Chelsea’s Torres chase

CHELSEA believe Fernando Torres is the man who can win owner Roman Abramovich the Champions League at last; and that is the driving force behind the London club’s relentless pursuit of the Liverpool striker which will almost certainly end today in a record bid for the Spaniard on transfer deadline day.

Reports suggest Abramovich has already sanctioned an increased bid of £40m (€46.6m) for Torres — who is able to play in the Champions League for Chelsea this season because Liverpool have not been involved in the competition — after the forward handed in a written transfer request at Anfield and signalled his desire to leave.

That move, which came after Chelsea had a £35m (€40.7m) bid for Torres turned down, has changed the balance of power in negotiations as Liverpool’s new owners reluctantly accept it would be almost impossible to keep an unhappy player on board for another five months.