Arsenal closing on Barcelona winger with record signing set to leave

Stuart Telford

Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
3 min read

Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Raphinha. — © ProShots

Mikel Arteta has identified Barcelona's Ferran Torres as the ideal player to bolster his wide attacking options next season with Nicolas Pepe bound for the Emirates exit.

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Arteta is expected to be heavily backed in the transfer market this summer having steered his side to the top of the Premier League for the majority of this season.

While a first league title since the 'Invincible' season in 2004 remains a possibility, Manchester City are now a point clear having played a game less.

READ: Barcelona transfer list FOUR players but Dembele safe

But Arsenal will almost certainly make a return to the Champions League, and greater squad depth is needed.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have been the Gunners' most potent attacking forces this season, while Leandro Trossard has impressed since joining from Brighton in January, but Arteta still wants another winger.

¡GOL DE FERRAN TORRES 🇪🇸(2000)!pic.twitter.com/ainkQu2caV
— Football Report (@FootballReprt) April 27, 2023

Arteta a 'long-standing admirer'

"Arsenal and Aston Villa are among the clubs tracking Barcelona winger Ferran Torres," report talkSPORT.

"Ex-Manchester City ace Torres has been a regular for Barca this season but may have to be sold this summer as the Spanish giants try and raise funds to bring back Lionel Messi.

READ: Barcelona resort to desperate measures in Messi pursuit

"This has put a number of Premier League sides on alert, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta a long-standing admirer."

Ferran is valued at €40 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm but already has Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha and Ansu Fati for competition at Camp Nou even before Messi's return.

He has previous Premier League experience, having helped fire City to the Premier League title in 2021 with seven goals and two assists.

The fourth winger at Arsenal will not be Pepe, meanwhile. The club's record signing when he joined from Lille for €80m in 2019, he has spent the season on loan at Nice and his contract, which expires at the end June, will not be renewed.