Reports in Spain and Italy state that AC Milan and Atletico Madrid have opened talks regarding the potential transfer of striker Fernando Torres.

It is understood that manager Diego Simeone sees Torres as the ideal complement to forward Mario Mandzukic and wants to pair the two players in the Atleti’s starting eleven. It would also be a sensational homecoming for a player who started his professional career in Atletico Madrid’s youth system and became one of Europe’s best strikers.

Torres scored 82 goals in 214 appearances for Los Rojiblancos before completing a move to Liverpool in 2007. Once in England, the striker continued his strong form scoring 65 goals in 102 appearances with the Anfield club, before being signed by Chelsea for a record British transfer fee of £50 million in January 2011.

But Torres struggled to replicate that form at Stamford Bridge, and now AC Milan want to offload the 30-year-old striker who has only scored once since his arrival from London on a two-year loan this summer.

The Rossoneri are looking to exchange Torres for Atletico Madrid’s out-of-favor midfielder Alessio Cerci, who has failed to settle in to a regular role with the reigning La Liga champions since his summer-switch from Torino.

Cerci is rumored to favor a move to Milan’s other team, Internazionale, but the Italian club don’t have anything the Spanish champions want in return.

Regarding a Torres-Cerci swap, the biggest hurdles would be: Chelsea agreeing to let their on-loan striker leave for Spain and the player’s £150,000-a-week wages.

It can be expected that Jose Mourinho would sign off on any move which would benefit his former player, since the Blues boss has already stated that Torres will not return to Stamford Bridge.

The next hurdle would be the striker’s staggering weekly wages. While reports in Spain say that Atletico can take on the Torres’ contract, it is likely that officials at the Spanish and Italian clubs will find a middle ground with each club paying a share of the player’s wages.

New Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi has given his blessing on the transfer after failing to coax improved performances out of the striker.

Speculation in Italy is a deal may have already been agreed between the clubs, but AC Milan president Adriano Galliani denied those rumors when quizzed by reporters earlier today.

“For now, there is nothing,” Gallaini told the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport. “But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be something in the future.”

It appears that all parties involved want the move to happen. Now it’s a matter of working out the finances of the transfers.