AC Milan hoping to sign Chelsea pair Fernando Torres and Marco van Ginkel

AC Milan are hoping to sign the Chelsea pair Fernando Torres and Marco van Ginkel before the end of the summer transfer window.

Milan want to bring Torres on a season-long loan following the departure of Mario Balotelli to Liverpool, while administrator Adriano Galliani has also confirmed an official offer has been made to Chelsea for the 21-year-old Dutch midfielder Van Ginkel.

Galliani said on the club’s website: “We are in the last stages of the [transfer] market and we will see if we are able to acquire an important forward. This is our main aim. Torres is certainly an important forward and we will see if we can sign him or another player.

“Van Ginkel? It’s possible. We have written to Chelsea and are awaiting a response. We are optimistic.”

Elsewhere, Samuel Eto'o has said he was annoyed by the inquest into his age at Chelsea last season but will hold no grudge against Jose Mourinho when they meet at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The 33-year-old was unveiled as Everton’s latest signing yesterday having rejected better financial offers to sign a two-year contract with Roberto Martinez’s side.

The Everton manager claimed the transfer was risk-free given the Cameroon international's availability as a free agent, his hunger to win a trophy in England, and the influence his winning mentality will have on young players such as Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku.

“ It was a mistake [to debate his age] but I just got my head down and worked. I spent two great seasons in the Russian championship. English football is very different. But after a season I felt a lot better, a lot fitter.” Guardian Service