Ferran Torres to Arsenal in January? The truth
FT Desk
- 27 Sept 2022 20:05 BST
- 3 min read
Ferran Torres has been linked with a transfer from Barcelona to Arsenal in January. How likely is he to move?
More than one factor speaks to a transfer this winter. For one, Ferran has quiet some competition for his first-team place at Barcelona.
The former Manchester City man's prefers to play wide of a central striker in a front three, bit so do Ousmane Dembele - who was re-signed this summer after his previous contract had expired, and Raphinha, who joined in a €50 million move from Leeds.
Bend it like Ferran pic.twitter.com/6qWDbBKA7r
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 27, 2022
Add Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay to the mix, and things start to get very busy in and around the striking area now occupied by Robert Lewandowski. Ferran has been restricted to just two of a possible nine starts in all competitions.
Arsenal are also known to be looking to strengthen in the final third, with their options beyond Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in the wide areas rather thin, especially with Nicolas Pepe having returned to France on loan with Nice.
No move… yet
Ferran also speaks English from his two years with Man City, and Barca are unlikely to demand the €65m fee they paid for him in December 2021. But a move one short year later nonetheless appears to be unlikely.
"I'm not aware of any negotiation between Barcelona and any other club for Ferran Torres," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano wrote in his CaughtOffside column.
"Xavi trusts him and so I don't see any change of plans, at least for January. He's working hard and I think it's normal at Barca to need some time to adapt with lot of competition too."
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Ferran might not move quite yet, but relations between Arsenal and Barcelona have been smoothed since the Gunners poached Cesc Fabregas from La Masia back in 2003.
Hector Bellerin re-joined Barcelona this summer after Arsenal agreed to release him from his contract to facilitate the move.
