Transfer Centre

Barcelona 'open to Ferran Torres sale amid Premier League interest'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 11 July 2023

Barcelona are reportedly open to selling forward Ferran Torres this summer amid interest from Premier League trio Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Barcelona are reportedly open to selling forward Ferran Torres this summer amid interest from the Premier League.

The 23-year-old joined the Catalan giants from Manchester City in January 2022 for around £55m, but he has struggled to make the desired impact at Camp Nou.

Torres has scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 71 games for Barca across all competitions, but he was not considered a regular starter under head coach Xavi last season.

Indeed, the Spain international started just 18 of his 45 appearances for the La Liga champions in the 2022-23 campaign, chipping in with seven goals and three assists.

Torres predominantly operated as a winger last season and he faced stern competition for starts from Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Gavi, while Robert Lewandowski has cemented his place as the club's first-choice centre-forward following his move from Bayern Munich last summer.

Barcelona's Ferran Torres in action with Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal on March 2, 2023 © Reuters

Torres, who still has four years remining on his contract in Catalonia, recently insisted that he is keen to continue his career at Barcelona and fight for his place under Xavi.

"Today, I am at Barca, but football takes many turns. I have the phone on airplane mode, on July 10 (the beginning of pre-season) I will open it," Torres told Spanish media at the end of last month.

"I'm just focused on what's mine, training, taking advantage of the pre-season that I couldn't do last year (due to injury) and from here on, showing that I'm a great footballer. In the next few days you will have news."

According to 90min, Torres remains adamant that he has no intention of leaving Barca, who are having no luck in persuading the forward that a summer exit is in his best interests.

Nevertheless, the report adds that Barca are still keen to cash in on the Spaniard as they look to improve their financial situation.

Spain's Ferran Torres in action with Costa Rica's Jewison Bennette at the World Cup on November 23, 2022 © Reuters

Torres has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs in recent months including Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who were also credited with an interest in Raphinha earlier this year.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Gunners are still contemplating a summer swoop for either Torres or Raphinha having already signed attacker Kai Havertz for £65m, while the expected arrivals of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are set to take their spending spree to more than £200m.

Newcastle United, who like Arsenal will compete in next season's Champions League, are also understood to be monitoring Torres's situation, but they appear to be prioritising a move for Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes as things stand.

Aston Villa are another club who have been persistently linked with Torres, with Unai Emery hoping to follow up the signings of Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres with further statement additions as they prepare for Europa Conference League football next season.