Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed that he would want to sign Fernando Torres in the summer transfer window, but he doubts that the ex-Liverpool forward would be keen on a move to Tyneside.
Torres will be available as a free agent in the summer with his Atletico Madrid contract expiring at the end of next month.
And Benitez would be keen on the idea of signing his fellow Spaniard, who he managed at Liverpool.
“I think it will be harder for him to come for him, not because we don’t want to,” Benitez told Spanish news outlet MARCA.
“I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but maybe he is thinking about something else.
“It would be appealing, but I don’t think it would be easy.”
The Newcastle manager added: “In Liverpool he was sensational.
“Then we went to Chelsea and, although he had a bad time when he arrived, he was essential for us in winning the Europa League.”
OPINION
Torres would be a brilliant signing for Newcastle and regardless of whether Benitez thinks that the striker would rather move elsewhere, it’s still worth making an offer to him. The Magpies definitely need one or two new centre-forwards in the summer. Dwight Gayle and Joselu’s form has been terrible over the course of the campaign while Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to leave St James’ Park on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell at Fulham. Islam Slimani has failed to produce in his loan spell, so that leaves Newcastle with two forwards who can barely score a goal. Torres is a proven goal machine. Even though he is 34-years-old, he is still able to hit the target on a regular basis and with some pacey players in and around him, he should be a success at St James’ Park if Benitez can sign him. Even though he mainly appeared off the bench for Atletico this season, Torres still managed to score eight goals in 44 outings across all competitions. Give him a starting role and he should be able to score on a frequent basis for the Magpies.