Barcelona 'to offer £17m for Fernando Torres'

Barcelona are reportedly preparing to make a £17m bid for Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.

The Catalan giants have been linked with the former Liverpool forward in the last 24 hours, but are only prepared to offer a fraction of what the Blues paid for him, according to The Sun.

Chelsea smashed the British transfer record when they brought the player to Stamford Bridge from Liverpool, shelling out £50m on the Spanish hitman.

Barcelona are said to see Torres as a potential replacement for David Villa, who is expected to leave Camp Nou this summer, and are willing to match his £175,000-per-week Chelsea wages.

Torres, who has three years remaining on his Chelsea deal, scored 22 goals for the Blues last season, only eight of which came in the Premier League.