Arsenal and Aston Villa are reportedly both interested in bringing Spanish attacker Ferran Torres back to the Premier League during this summer's transfer window.
The 23-year-old has been a regular for Barcelona during the 2022-23 campaign, making 41 appearances in all competitions, contributing seven goals and two assists in the process
Torres still has another four years left to run on his deal at Camp Nou, meanwhile, having penned a long-term contract with the Catalan club upon his arrival from Manchester City in January 2022.
However, there is currently speculation surrounding his future, with Barcelona under pressure to make some first-team sales in the upcoming market due to their financial problems.
According to talkSPORT, both Arsenal and Villa are carefully monitoring the situation, with the pair both interested in securing his signature during the summer market.
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The report claims that Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is a 'long-term admirer' of Torres, but Villa are also in the race, with Mateu Alemany set to leave his role as Barcelona's director of football to move to Villa Park.
Alemany's switch to Villa would allegedly put Unai Emery's side firmly in contention for Torres, who has managed four goals and one assist in 29 La Liga appearances this season.
The Spain international started his professional career at Valencia, representing Los Che on 97 occasions in all competitions, before arriving at Man City in August 2020.
Torres featured 43 times for Pep Guardiola's side, scoring 16 goals and registering four assists in the process, before returning to Spain with Barcelona at the start of 2022.
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Arsenal, who are currently locked in a Premier League title race with Manchester City, are expected to add at least one new forward to their squad during the upcoming market.
Torres's ability to play in a number of different positions would make him a valuable addition, but the Gunners will seemingly face strong competition from Villa.
Emery's side have won eight of their last 11 league matches during an excellent run of form, which has left them in eighth spot in the table, just one point behind sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.
Barcelona are still hoping to re-sign Lionel Messi on a free transfer this summer, but the club's wage budget will need to be trimmed for that to become a possibility.
Torres has found it difficult to secure regular starts for Barcelona this season, with 16 of his 29 league appearances during the 2022-23 campaign coming off the bench.
Matt Law
