t is understood the club are looking to sell the striker for £20million during next month’s transfer window because he has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old has scored just five goals in 35 appearances for Chelsea since joining for a British-record £50m from Liverpool in January.
Torres has lost his place in the first team to Didier Drogba, with his last start in the League coming in the 5-3 defeat at home against Arsenal on October 29.
However, Chelsea are determined to keep faith with Torres and a club spokesman said today: “The story is total nonsense. Fernando is in the long-term plans at Chelsea.”
Manager Andre Villas-Boas is expected to give Torres his full backing when he holds a press conference tomorrow to preview the club’s next match, at Wigan.
Torres will be needed in the new year,with Drogba and Salomon Kalou set to be missing for up to six weeks while they play for the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations. The club will also no longer have Nicolas Anelka as an option because he is joining Shanghai Shenhua.
That will mean Chelsea are left with just Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Romelu Lukaku to choose from up front, although the club are considering signing another forward in the transfer window.
They have been linked with Santos star Neymar and are also monitoring Universidad de Chile forward Eduardo Vargas.
