It was reported on Thursday in some newspapers that the Spanish giants were set to offer £17m to Chelsea - £33m less than the British record transfer fee that Liverpool received two years ago from the London club.

"It is a well-sourced story," said the Spain-based journalist. "Barcelona do want to add a centre forward and are in the process of selling David Villa. Although they have added Neymar and have a replete armoury of different kinds of strikers, they do want a No 9.

"Every time Torres played for Atletico Madrid against them he scored and terrorised them at Camp Nou. He also scored for Chelsea when they were knocked out of the Champions League.

"He is patently full of vim and vigour after an initial difficult time at Chelsea. The Barca president has long coveted him and once advised his board to bid for Torres.

"They believe there may be movement at Chelsea and that new coach Jose Mourinho will try to bring in different strikers and that Torres may become available.

"The truth of it is that Barca are saying they are ready to move for him and they are assessing their resources and it is a story that may evolve over the coming weeks."

Staying put

One player seemingly not on the move in Spain is Cesc Fabregas with the former Arsenal midfielder rubbishing claims that he was set for a return to the Premier League.

Despite recent reports suggesting his old club and newly crowned champions Manchester United were ready to make their move, the Spain international stated: "I've always said I'm happy at Barca. If someone says I don't want to play at Barca, it's completely absurd."

Hunter explained: "It is well known that Man United would like to buy him and have been briefing round the club that it was their big intention for the summer.

"Before the end of the season, Fabregas had been making it clear he didn't want to leave and before going to the Confederations Cup with Spain after beating Ireland 2-0, he used the word 'absurd' that anybody should be thinking of him at a different club next season.

"He gave an interview to a very high profile newspaper and it looked like Fabregas was saying he suspected intermediaries speaking not on his behalf. He seemed very clear he had discussed leaving Barcelona with nobody."