Former Liverpool striker eyeing Premier League return

/Courtesy

Fernando Torres is eyeing a Premier League swansong — putting Newcastle and Southampton on red alert.

The 33-year-old striker has started just two games for Atletico Madrid this season, one in La Liga and one in the Copa Del Rey.

And with strike ace Diego Costa eligible to play in the New Year following his return from Chelsea, the Spaniard knows his chances of game time in the second half of the season will diminish even further.

Torres’s representatives have let his desire to leave Atletico on loan in January be known to Toon manager Rafa Benitez and Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino.

And he is hoping one of them will come up with a package that will convince Atletico to let him spend the rest of the season back in England.

Torres has 18 months remaining on his contract with the Spanish side and he wants to spend next season with his hometown club.

He plans to retire at the end of his deal and wants his last season before hanging up his boots to be with Atletico regardless of how much action he does or doesn’t see.

However, Torres is desperate to play as much as he can for the remainder of this campaign and is adamant he can still do a job in the Premier League.

He and Benitez are close after their time together at Liverpool — the former Reds boss paid £26.5million to take him from Atletico in 2007.

And he also knows Pellegrino well from the Argentinian’s time on Benitez’s coaching staff on Merseyside.

Torres also has options outside of Europe, notably in the USA and China.

But he would love one last crack at the Premier League before returning to his homeland for his final farewell.