Exclusive: Tottenham reject Fernando Torres offer

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

30 Jan 2016, 9:18 pm

By Tottenham correspondent Tony Hughes

Tottenham have rejected the chance to sign Fernando Torres in the final days of the January window, Football Insider sources understand.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker has been offered to Mauricio Pochettino but the Spurs manager has declined the opportunity to make a move.

Spurs are still in the market for a front man despite finalising a move for Fulham striker Moussa Dembele on Saturday.

But they will not be signing Torres, who has been on the fringes of boyhood club Atletico Madrid for most of this season.

The 31-year-old returned to Atletico on loan from AC Milan in January 2015 but the Spain international has made over half his La Liga and Champions League appearances this season as a substitute.

Torres is out of contract in the summer and Atletico manager Diego Simeone has been evasive when asked about whether he would like the player to extend his stay in Madrid.

The Spaniard's stock has dramatically fallen since he joined Chelsea from Liverpool for £50million five years ago, when he was one of the most feared front men in the world.

He has scored just two goals in 24 Atletico matches this season and is surplus to requirements under Simeone, with Antoine Griezmann and Jackson Martinez above him in the pecking order.

Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino

Fernando Torres