Anzhi Makhachkala are keen to rescue Fernando Torres from his dismal experience at Chelsea.
The People says Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink has a good relationship with Roman Abramovich and the pair are understood to have discussed the difficult situation Torres has encountered at Stamford Bridge.
And the mega-rich Russians are the only club willing to pay Chelsea a fee that comes anywhere close to the £50million they paid Liverpool for him.
Abramovich is hoping Benitez will prove to be the man to get the best out of Torres – but if it does not work out Anzhi are now favourites to sign him.
The club already have a big-name front man in Samuel Eto’o and Hiddink is planning to step down as manager at the end of the season.
That does not impact on a potential Torres transfer, though, as Brazilian Roberto Carlos – Anzhi’s sporting director – is also backing the push to get Torres on board.
