Saints are being linked with ex Liverpool striker Fernando Torres who looks likely to leave Atletico Madrid in the january transfer window.

Fernando Torres is being tipped for a return to the Premier League in January with his ex boss at Liverpool being named as the favourite to sign him, but with Mauricio Pellegrino also on the coaching staff at Anfield during Torres time there, Saints are also said to be a possible destination.

The stumbling block for any club though will be Torres wages and this makes it likely that any move in January will be a loan one rather than permanent with the Spanish club looking to recoup as much of his high salary as they possibly can.

Another issue would be his age,, Torres will be 34 in March and that would also deter many clubs from anything other than a short term deal.

Certainly wthough he still has the scoring touch, last season he scored 8 goals in La Liga averaging a goal every 177 minutes he was on the pitch and also had 6 assists.

This season he is yet to score but he has only played 182 minutes of football in the League for Atletico and with his contract up in the summer they are looking let him go in January either on a permanent deal or more likely a loan move.

He could represent a good short term fix for Saints, although it could be that by the time January comes his old mentor at Liverpool has not survived the next couple of montha at St Mary's

Photo: Action Images

arfurdent added 10:00 - Nov 13 waste of time and money, his strike rate was crap
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SonicBoom added 10:14 - Nov 13 If this happens I'll bare my arse in Debenhams' shop window.
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SanMarco added 10:39 - Nov 13 Even before I saw Sonic Boom's threat/promise I was thinking and hoping this was nonsense. We need more than a 'quick fix' from a has-been.
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IWOZTHERE added 11:14 - Nov 13 Currently Gabbi is probably at least as good as Torres and would thrive with anything like good service. MP needs a provider, a target man, a new mentality and a kick up the arse.
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Waylander added 11:30 - Nov 13 How would he score if no-one passes to him?
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SaintPaulVW added 12:12 - Nov 13 If he comes back, he'll go to Liverpool and frankly, they can have him.
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SaintBrock added 13:23 - Nov 13 We are not a retirement home for senior citizens looking for a nice pension.
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Farmhouse added 20:20 - Nov 13 I think that would be absolutely brilliant, not sure why the negativity on here. End of the season deal, I think it would great to have a genuine star in a Saints shirt, as much for the players as the fans. Can be any worse than last years Caceres debacle. Torres and Gabbi up front? At least I will be excited turning up to a home match for once this season !!
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zonehead added 22:55 - Nov 13 Great back to the laurie Mac days
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TeamCortese added 07:34 - Nov 14 I'd be happier if there was rumours of Les Reed and Eric Black leaving. Torres is way past his prime and would add nothing to our squad apart from a significant wage bill!
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underweststand added 08:21 - Nov 14 I can't disagree with many of the comments above.. but what if.. Torres does sign? It's always a problem bringing in a "veteran" and expecting him to replicate the form he once had in his prime. But as "zonehead " quotes above...those with long enough memories will recall that Lawrie Mac's strategy of using " ex-international has-beens " did work very well in the early 1980's. Our younger players of that era; Steve Williams , Steve Moran and Nick Holmes blossomed playing alongside the likes of Ball, Osgood and Keegan. However, it's probably just "paper talk " and nothing will come of it, but anyone who recalls Torres time at Liverpool recalls that he was almost scoring for fun, and his presence alone might inspire the hit and miss attempts from Redmond, Long & Co. and at least get some goals going in. Torres certainly wouldn't get a 3-4 year contract but we only have to look back to last season to see what a pain in the a*se the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic was when he got to play with Man. U. If Torres has any goals left in him we'd certainly benefit - in the short term - until Saints learn how to start scoring again. Crazy idea ..YES ! ..but this is football ...so don't discount anything.

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IWOZTHERE added 10:37 - Nov 14 It's quality 'providers' we really need. If we get someone up front, someone who can head the ball please. No more dwarfs.
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