Aston Villa are now keeping very close tabs on Ferran Torres’ situation at Barcelona, TBR Football can reveal.
Ever since he left Manchester City to join Barcelona, Ferran Torres has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs.
Top English sides have been in constant contact with Torres’ people in the last two years to persuade him to leave the Nou Camp.
Since joining Barcelona in 2022, Torres has played an intermittent role — he’s often left on the bench in favour of phenomenal trio Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
And with Nico Williams choosing to join Barcelona as well this summer, there would be sufficient reason for a bit of concern on Torres’ part — and that’s where Aston Villa could come in.
Unai Emery wants Aston Villa to sign Ferran Torres from Barcelona
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Villa are seriously interested in signing Torres this summer as a result of his situation.
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about Villa’s struggles with PSR, but manager Unai Emery would absolutely love to add Torres to his squad this summer.
Ferran Torres during Barcelona's Champions League tie with Inter Milan.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Over the course of last season, the Spaniard featured in 45 games for Barcelona, but that was often as a substitute as explained.
And with Barcelona also interested in Marcus Rashford, who currently seems unlikely to join Villa on a permanent basis, Emery’s side are now alert to Torres’ situation.
The winger has been willing to play a back-up role since his £46m move back in 2022, but falling so far down the pecking order would surely be a worry for the 25-year-old.
Torres currently has two years left on his contract at the Nou Camp, and despite scoring 19 goals this season, he could become something of a peripheral figure.
Ferran Torres can fill Marcus Rashford’s void at Villa Park
Whilst Torres has historically thrived as a left winger, he played the majority of his minutes as a centre-forward for Barcelona last season.
And when speaking in February, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick complimented the former Man City forward for his contributions as a number nine.
Speaking after a 5-0 win against Valencia in which Torres scored a hat-trick, Flick said: “Ferran, his performance was really good, as a number nine it counts that you score goals and he did it really great today.
“I am happy because he scored three goals. It’s amazing because he has not had an easy time this season. He came back after an injury and I’m happy for him, he was great today.”
Of course, Torres would therefore be able to play a similar role to the departing Rashford, operating on both the left and through the middle when Ollie Watkins is either unavailable or on the bench.
Pep Guardiola once called Torres ‘incredible’ in a Man City shirt, and he could certainly add a new dimension to Villa’s attack next season if Emery gets his wish.