As all the clubs in the Barclays Premier League announce their final squads for the first half of the season, Chelsea have also done the same but without a number 9 in their squad, as new signing Loic Remy has decided to stay away from the supposed cursed number vacated by the departed Fernando Torres, according to the Daily Mail.

Torres joined the Blues in a British record £50 million move from Liverpool in 2011, but could not hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge. A string of poor seasons led to frustration among the Chelsea faithful who felt they had given the Spaniard enough chances to prove his worth at the club. In his spell in London, Torres played 110 Premier League games for the club, scoring 20 goals in the process. The former Atletico Madrid striker has now joined up on a 2-year loan spell at AC Milan, and will join his Chelsea teammate Marco van Ginkel, who is also on loan for the current season only.

Remy has joined up from former Championship club Queens Park Rangers, who are back in the top flight and raring to go after manager Harry Redknapp replenished the squad with signings on deadline day. However, they are yet to replace Remy, as their proposed move for Toronto FC striker Jermaine Defoe fell through on the final day of the window.