Barcelona are reportedly primed to end their interest in signing 21-year-old Spanish international Ferran Torres in January.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona’s pursuit of Ferran Torres seems to be reaching a disappointing end. Due to their economic obstacles, the Catalan giants are unlikely to launch the offensive for the 21-year-old Manchester City forward in the January transfer window.
Ferran Torres joined Manchester City from Valencia in August 2020 and has since come leaps and bounds. While he is yet to nail down his spot as a regular in the first-team setup at the Etihad, the Spanish international has made his mark with his ability to reprise different roles equally adeptly in the attacking line.
To date, Torres has made 43 appearances for Manchester City, amassing 16 goals and four assists in the process. The player’s progress at the club level has also helped him become a key figure for the Spanish national side. At the same time, the 21-year-old has been attracting a raft of bigwigs, with Barcelona, in particular, keen on signing him.
The Catalan giants have reportedly agreed on personal terms with Torres, a viable target for them. Barcelona’s interest in the Spanish international stems from the struggles of the attacking unit this season, with Memphis Depay and Ansu Fati the only players who have made their mark to some extent.
Even Depay has tailed off after a strong start to the season, while Fati continues to be beset by fitness woes. With the likes of Luuk de Jong and Philippe Coutinho leaving a lot to be desired with their performances, Barcelona’s need for an attacking reinforcement has been accentuated. To that end, Torres has emerged as a key January target.
Recent reports have claimed that Barcelona and Manchester City are in advanced talks over a possible winter transfer. However, the suggestions from Fichajes point towards Barcelona’s pursuit reaching a disappointing end, with his price tag proving to be prohibitive for them.
According to the Spanish outlet, the Blaugrana cannot afford to sign Torres, even though he is a key target for Xavi. Instead, it looks like Edinson Cavani could be the marquee attacking addition for Barcelona in the January transfer window, with the two parties in advanced talks over a winter move.