Socrates

Destro keen on move to Chelsea but won't happen unless we get shot of you-know-who, according to Destro's agent: http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2014/08/21/5050426/destro-to-chelsea-depends-on-torres-sale-agent?ICID=HP_BN_4

Jose knows Balotelli well so if there was a chance we were interested he'd surely rather come here than Spurs. As for Destro and Torres, does sound too good to be true. No doubt Jose could convince the lad that he will get enough game time in rotation with Costa. Seriously doubt Drogba will start that many games and long-term his contract is just for one year anyway. Not sure from the reports if we instigated this deal or Roma approached us as Destro is on the market. Getting rid of Torres would round off a good transfer window though.

So... We offer Roma £20m for Destro and chuck in Torres as well? Sounds good to me. Anyone think they'll fall for it?

‘Chelsea To Pursue Roma Striker Destro’ http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2014/08/chelsea-to-pursue-roma-striker-destro/

He has one year left on his contract. They either sell him this summer or risk him leaving next year for free.

Available for £8m according to a Spanish report: http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/15/sami-khediras-asking-price-slashed-by-real-madrid-in-bid-to-reignite-arsenal-interest-4834307/?

Oh well... Simeone rules out Atletico approach for Torres http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/simeone-rules-out-torres-bid? Looks like that's it then.

Oh well.... Bendnter signs for Wolfsburg.... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2725821/Nicklas-Bendtner-signs-three-year-deal-Wolfsburg-leaving-Arsenal.html Which likely means they won't now be signing Torres.

Yep. Difficult to feel sorry for someone who's unwilling to move on because he is on a lucrative contract. Can't blame him though as we offered him a deal that he can't walk away from. And which makes it impossible for us to sell him. It's the worst possible scenario for both parties. The nightmare continues...

Just read that rumours suggest it was a heart condition that may have meant Liverpool couldn't get insurance cover. Hence they pulled out of the deal. Makes it unlikely we would go in for him, given this background.

A proven finisher, can play out wide or through the middle, available at a bargain price, and he would jump at the chance to play for Chelsea. Plus it would annoy Liverpool if he goes on to score plenty of goals for us.

Chelsea make Remy enquiry following Drogba injury... http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2014/08/11/5028008/chelsea-make-remy-enquiry-following-drogba-injury?ICID=HP_HN_1

I thought the one who shall remain nameless was our False no. 9. He's been impersonating a footballer far as I can tell.

Don't think anyone knows the extent of the injury yet. But we need another striker anyway to kill off the idea that Torres will be no. 2 for however long Didier is sidelined. Torres is a serious liability and it's worth the financial hit to be rid of him. We just need to bite the bullet.

It's scary how we can leave ourselves open to this. One hamstring tweak and we're lumbered with the disaster that is Torres.

That is a spoof twitter account.

Better second half. We had a striker on the pitch which helped. Hazard, Costa, Fabregas, Matic, Schurrle all looking good. Just a no. 2 striker needed to give us some depth.

Oh Diego. Great movement. Just wide.

Great play by Fabregas. Could score us some important goals this season...

Moses doing his best to engineer a move away.

Blimey! We were a bit open at the back there.

What was that?! Oscar does a Torres!

By all means get shot of Lukaku if he's not deemed good enough, but that's no reason for us to be lumbered with Torres and, sadly, Didier this coming season.

Depressing to watch us labour to create an opening without a proper striker. I know Costa is on the bench but we really shouldn't be so dependant on one player.

Schurrle has looked very lively considering how late he's come back. Taken some good set pieces too. Looks very confident. Think this could be his breakout season.