Transfer News: Real Madrid, Barcelona clamouring over Valencia youngster Ferran Torres

Real Madrid and Barcelona are reportedly both monitoring Valencia youngster Ferran Torres, with a bidding war supposedly in the offing.

According to Spanish publication Don Balon, Barcelona and Real Madrid are set for another rivalry in the transfer market, this time in pursuit of Valencia youngster Ferran Torres. The duo were linked with the young attacker earlier as well and Valencia are now sweating over the future of the player hailed as the new Marco Asensio.

Ferran Torres and his rise to prominence is not too much known outside Spain, with the only point of recognition being his participation in the Under-17 World Cup in India – an event where Spain lost to England in the final. Ferran starred in the campaign with 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 appearances for La Furia in the competition.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have been courting the 17-year-old for a while now, even before his performance in the Under-17 World Cup, which has only gone on to boost his reputation as a wonderkid.

Barcelona are supposedly miffed at missing out on a prodigy like Marco Asensio and are not willing to make the same mistake in Ferran Torres, who Real Madrid are targeting profusely. La Masia’s talent pool has depleted to an extent, owing more to the players opting to leave the setup for other top clubs in Europe due to no clear path into the first-team.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, have made it their new mission to build for the future in a refreshing change in their transfer policy. Los Blancos now have the likes of Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Jesus Vallejo and many more prospects within their squad that could become the core of the future.

And they intend to add Ferran Torres to it. There is more to the pursuit of the 17-year-old than just adding him as a prospect for the future. Real Madrid are looking to offload Gareth Bale while Marco Asensio himself has become frustrated at the lack of starts at the Bernabeu and is seeking a move away from the club as well.

Valencia have already handed young Ferran his senior debut in a bid to convince him that the fastest path to the first-team belongs at Mestalla. This, in addition to tying the player down till 2020, has seen the Spanish outfit secure his immediate future at the club.

While January might be an inopportune time for Real Madrid and Barcelona, we might see the giants continue to monitor the player. A summer battle seems imminent though, and one which Valencia could stand to lose, irrespective of whichever club wins the battle.