Torres to join Milan on loan from Chelsea in two-year deal

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will reportedly join Italian top league club AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.

The Spaniard's move is subject to him agreeing personal terms and passing a medical on Saturday. The former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid forward had joined Chelsea for a then-British record 50 million pounds in January 2011 but struggled to live up his price tag.

Torres scored just 20 goals in 110 league appearances during his spell at Stamford Bridge, but was part of Chelsea's 2012 Champions League success, The BBC reported.

Speaking just hours before the deal was announced, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said that if Torres wants to leave, it's because he wants to try a new life, a new club, probably a new league. He added that the striker is trying to be happier than he was in the last couple of years.

Torres' prospects at Chelsea were hampered further by the arrival of fellow Spain international Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid this summer. Costa and Didier Drogba remain Chelsea's attacking options.

Milan has been on the lookout for another forward to replace Mario Ballotelli, who left the club for Liverpool last week. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said that Torres is certainly an important forward and they will see if they can sign him or another player.

Torres's British record transfer fee stood until Angel Di Maria moved from Real Madrid to Manchester United for 59.7 million pounds this week.

While Chelsea fans only saw glimpses of the form that brought Torres 65 goals in 102 league appearances for previous club Liverpool, Mourinho spoke highly of the striker.

The Portuguese said that he did not expect Torres to depart before the transfer window closed and was against a last-minute deal. Mourinho said that if that happens in the last hour of the market, they are in trouble.

Mourinho said that Chelsea is doing nothing currently because their belief is that the market is closed for them. He added that he has believed for a long time that the squad is closed.