Fernando Torres: Who could Jose Mourinho get to replace Spaniard should he leave Chelsea?

Jose Mourinho could look elsewhere or find an in-house replacement

Fernando Torres missed another sitter in pre-season (Getty Images)

Fernando Torres appears to be on his way out of Chelsea. Dropped from the matchday squad for the win against Leicester at the weekend, Torres is now heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.

Jose Mourinho has said he does not want to lose Torres and with just two other senior strikers to choose from, Diego Costa and Didier Drogba, Chelsea would be dangerously short of attacking options if the Spaniard were to be sold and one of those other two got injured.

Torres’ woes as a Chelsea player are well documented – he’s not hit double figures in the Premier League in three-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge – but as a third choice option Chelsea will struggle to find many better players (even if Torres doesn’t want to be third in the pecking order).

Should Torres be sold then Mourinho could either make a move in the transfer market, which seems unlikely after spending £32m on Costa, use one of his wingers as an emergency striker or promote a striker from the youth system.

We look at the options Jose Mourinho may consider should Fernando Torres be sold.

Possible transfers

Mattia Destro (Roma)

The Italian burst onto the scene with Roma last year, scoring 13 goals in 20 matches to lift Rudi Garcia’s team to second in Serie A. The fiery 23-year-old has great pace and excellent movement in and around the box; however, he has a reported £20m price tag – far too much for a back-up.

Mattia Destro (GETTY IMAGES)

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain)

Mourinho is believed to be a big fan of the Argentine, who can play in multiple positions across the frontline. He was linked with an exit from PSG earlier this summer but it may be too late to do business now, with the French champions likely to need a replacement.

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Getty Images)

Loic Remy (Queens Park Rangers)

Almost moved to Liverpool in an £8.5m deal earlier this summer but failed a medical at Anfield – was superb for Newcastle last year and would probably be a willing second choice at a Champions League club. Could represent the best option for Chelsea but QPR are keen to keep the Frenchman.

Loic Remy (Getty Images)

Wilfried Bony (Swansea City)

Garry Monk confirmed that not a single bid has been made for the Ivorian striker this summer, a strange situation as Bony scored 25 goals last season and Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said they would be willing to sell at the right price. Another who may be willing to play second fiddle at a bigger team.

Wilfried Bony (Getty Images)

Others: Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Edinson Cavani (PSG)

Emergency options

Andre Schurrle

The German winger certainly has an eye for goal and has played up front on plenty of occasions for both the Blues and Germany - he scored nine goals for Chelsea last season and has 16 at international level. Schurrle playing in a more central position seems the likeliest option should Torres be sold and either Costa or Drogba pick up an injury.

Andre Schurrle (Getty Images)

Eden Hazard

The Belgian disastrously played up front for Chelsea in Roberto Di Matteo’s final game in charge against Juventus and hasn’t done it since. Probably too small to fill the role for an extended spell, though Chelsea could utilise him in a ‘False 9’ type role if needed.

Eden Hazard (Getty Images)

Oscar

Another who could fill a ‘False 9’ role, Oscar has also occasionally played through the middle. Like Schurrle, he has an eye for a goal but probably doesn’t possess the pace to be considered a realistic option.

Oscar (Getty Images)

Others: Mohamed Salah, Willian

Youngsters

Patrick Bamford

Just 20 but Bamford proved his goalscoring prowess in both League One and the Championship last season. He scored 14 goals in 23 matches for MK Dons in the first half of the season before moving to Derby and hitting eight goals in 21 matches for Steve McClaren’s Rams. At 6ft 1in he has the physical tools to stand up to bruising Premier League centre-backs, and possesses a good touch and decent pace - Bamford played a part in pre-season but has been linked with a loan move to Middlesborough.

Patrick Bamford (Getty Images)

Islam Feruz

Feruz has electric pace and has hugely impressed at youth level for the Blues – he’s only 18 but has already had an invitation to play for the full Scotland team, an opportunity he turned down. However, Feruz is just 5ft 4in and much too raw at the moment to make the step up to the Premier League.

Islam Feruz (Getty Images)

Who do you think should replace Fernando Torres at Chelsea, should he be sold? Let us know in the comments below.