Fernando Torres' return to Atletico Madrid a 'done deal'

Torres is set to cut short his loan spell with AC Milan after scoring only one league goal in the first half of the Serie A season.

Atleti, the club which gave Torres his professional debut in 2000, have been negotiating with both Milan and Chelsea, as the striker is still contracted to the Premier League leaders until the summer of 2015.

Atleti forward Alessio Cerci will move to Milan on a loan exchange deal, with Torres due to remain at Atleti until the expiration of his Chelsea contract.

Cerci is believed to have stalled progress on the deal by refusing to agree his move to Milan, though it is reported Diego Simeone is ready to put pressure on him to leave and a deal could be concluded imminently.

The Spanish transfer market opens on January 2 but the Italian market opens three days later so AS reports Torres will not be in the Atleti squad for the Liga game against Levante on January 3.

However, he could well make his second debut for his boyhood club against great rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on January 7.