Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has reportedly made Barcelona misfit Ferran Torres a top transfer target for this summer’s transfer window.
Barcelona are set to let go of several first-team players in a bid to free up space in the squad for manager Xavi Hernandez to manoeuvre and pump in fresh blood. Ferran Torres is one of the names on the transfer list, with the Catalan giants understood to be demanding £35million for the forward.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa are considering making Barcelona a loan offer with a purchase option for Ferran Torres. Unai Emery wants to bring the Spanish forward to Villa Park on an initial temporary basis but with a purchase option set at €25million.
Torres, 23, joined Barcelona from Manchester City in a deal worth £55million in January 2022. He has scored 14 goals in 71 appearances since joining arriving at the Nou Camp but fell out of favour last summer following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
Barcelona are working on a deal for Vitor Roque in the next couple of weeks, which would push the Spanish international further down the attacking pecking order. Yet, Torres doesn’t want to leave Barcelona, but the Spanish champions’ financial condition as well as the player’s desire for more minutes could change the scenario, the report adds.
Ferran Torres to Aston Villa—Should Unai Emery make an approach?
Unai Emery, along with Aston Villa’s new sporting director, Monchi, are looking to make the best use of the summer transfer window to bolster a squad that qualified for Europe last term. And they are understood to be closing in on the first signing of the window, having agreed a deal for Spanish international Pau Torres with Villarreal on Thursday.
Emery and Monchi are looking to raid the Spanish market again and have set their sights on Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres. The potential transfer of Torres would signify Aston Villa’s ambition in the transfer market while intent to compete at the highest level in the Premier League.
Torres has struggled to make a significant impact since his move to Barcelona from Manchester City, and as a result, the Spanish champions are ready to cut their losses on him after one-and-a-half seasons. At Aston Villa under a new manager, however, the Spaniard could revive his career and get back to playing his best football.
The 23-year-old would add pace, flair and creativity to Villa’s attacking ranks whilst improving the depth of their squad. He can play on the right wing or through the middle, and his flexibility to play in different attacking roles could hugely benefit Emery’s side, which will compete in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season.
Torres may have not lit up La Liga, but he’s still 23 and already won six trophies in his burgeoning career. He would be a good fit at Villa Park, and the fact that Villa are eyeing exciting players is a sign of the direction the Midlands club are moving in under Emery.
While Barcelona are not overly keen on a loan deal with option to buy and would prefer a sale due to their crunch financial situation, Villa must press hard to get Torres on a temporary loan.