MLS: Where could Fernando Torres land?

Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres announced he would not be returning to the Spanish club following the conclusion of this season. As a result, the rumors of a possible to Major League Soccer have promptly started. So, where could the experienced centre-forward land?

At 34, Fernando Torres is a perfect candidate for an MLS transfer rumor. The striker is starting to enter the twilight of his career, but he nonetheless is very capable of contributing quality minutes to teams all over the world.

Last year, Torres was linked to MLS as well. In November, there was speculation that he might make a move to the league during the January transfer window. Of course, nothing materialized of the rumors and Torres stayed put in Spain.

It has not been a notable campaign by any means for the centre-forward. In 34 appearances, he has scored just seven goals in all competitions. primarily being used as a substitute, Torres’ decision to leave seems a wise one as his place at Atletico is clearly not going to materialize into regular starts.

That said, Torres would a great addition to MLS in many different ways. For one, he would instantly help a few teams in the league who are in need of a striker and secondly, an obvious one, he would be another global superstar to join the ranks, though the usual criticisms of this being a retirement league would again surface.

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The first destination that comes to mind is the Seattle Sounders. Jordan Morris is done for the year and the Sounders are struggling to keep pace in the Western Conference early on in the season. Torres could be an instant help that brings goal scoring quality to a side that needs it.

Another angle here is that Torres would be a great player for Morris to work with moving forward. He indicated that he hopes to be around for a few more years, so a multi-year deal could bode well for the young talent of the club to work with a player who knows all too well how to score vast amounts of goals.

Also, Chicago Fire is a darkhorse to keep an eye on. Nemanja Nikolic has proved to be a versatile and constant goal machine, but after him, who else is there to score for the Fire? With rumors of Iker Casillas possibly joining in the summer, a dual move for both the veteran goalkeeper and striker would be a dream scenario for Fire supporters.

Other clubs he might end up at could include DC United, LAFC, New York City FC, and the Montreal Impact.

DC needs a solid, reliable number 9. The same goes for the Impact, who have relied on Matteo Mancosu and Anthony Jackson-Hamel for goals up top. Torres would seemingly replace Mancosu and get a wealth of starts for the Canadian club. The other two possible contenders, LAFC and NYCFC, are both clubs with high profiles in the league. So, a pay cut may be acceptable by Torres if promised to get regular playing time for both these clubs.

LAFC would not mind adding another dimension to their attack, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently signing for LA Galaxy, their rival club would have an answer, while NYCFC could have one of the most dangerous attacks in the league with David Villa and Torres in the starting XI.

An important factor to remember here is Torres will be a free transfer, so the price is a bit more manageable with the circumstances. Additionally, that makes it more wide open in terms of a possible destination for him in MLS.

With the European season entering its final weeks, the choice of where Torres goes next looms. China will certainly be looking to bring in the Spanish forward and there have even been rumors of him possibly being linked with Celtic and Newcastle United.

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Let’s hope we get to see the man nicknamed “El Niño” in the league in the near future. He would be a most welcome addition.