Sounders aren’t going to sign Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres has announced that he’s leaving Atletico Madrid in the summer, and he’s said his preference is to go to China or MLS. That’s kicked the rumor mill into overdrive, with MLSsoccer.com speculating that “The Spaniard could pair well with target man Will Bruin, and provide another quality bridge to the major squad rebuild coming over the next couple years.”

While there’s certainly an argument to be made that Torres could help the Seattle Sounders — at least in the short term — I’ve actually confirmed with the Sounders that Torres is not a player they’re pursuing.

Why? That was more left to speculation, but Torres’ salary demands are likely the biggest hurdle. The 34-year-old is only a year removed from a two-year stretch that saw him score 19 La Liga goals, but he is reportedly seeking $4 million a year and MLS GMs are apparently balking. Considering the LA Galaxy just managed to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a TAM player for about $1.5 million a year, the considerably less productive and marketable Torres is going to be a hard sell.

The Sounders continue to say they expect to make a big signing at some point this year, but with the transfer window closing on May 1 it’s increasingly looking as though it might not be until summer.