According to reports in The Mirror, Southampton have been alerted to the news that out of favour Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is interested in making a Premier League return.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that Torres is eyeing a Premier League swansong following spells with Liverpool and Chelsea earlier in his career, with first-team opportunities hard to come by under Diego Simeone this term having featured for just 182 minutes in La Liga.

With Diego Costa eligible to play in the second-half of the campaign following his move from Chelsea, The Mirror says that Torres fears he will hardly feature for the Spanish outfit in 2018.

The report adds that the 33-year-old's representatives have let Southampton and their Premier League rivals Newcastle United know that he is keen to leave on loan in January, and he is hoping that one of them will hand him a deal until the end of the season.

Why would Southampton want him?

Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino will be desperate to strengthen his attacking options during the January transfer window with his team scoring just nine goals in 11 Premier League matches this season, and The Mirror says he knows Torres well having worked as Benitez's assistant when Torres was at Anfield.

While he is approaching the end of his career and his spell with Chelsea was disappointing, the 33-year-old has shown throughout his career that he is a world-class striker on his day and he would bring some much-needed experience and goal threat to the Saints frontline.

Could they get him?

Whereas Southampton will probably want to make a permanent addition in the New Year – as they did with Manolo Gabbiadini in January of this year – it isn't always possible to get the player you want for a reasonable price.

Therefore a loan deal until the end of the season – when Torres is keen to return to his hometown club for the final year of his Atletico contract – could be an attractive option even in the short team and it is a name that would boost the St Mary's faithful who have become bored with their team's displays.

However, the fact that Newcastle are managed by Benitez could make a deal difficult, while his salary demands could also be an issue considering The Mirror says they would have to pay part of his annual £2.2m salary.

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