Newcastle United are expected to be active in the final weeks of the transfer window, with Barcelona star Ferran Torres emerging as a potential target for the Magpies.
Manager Eddie Howe is eager to bring in a new winger due to the uncertainty surrounding Miguel Almiron, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia before the end of the month.
Almiron, 30, was a key player in Newcastle’s impressive 2022/23 campaign, where they finished fourth, but he has since fallen down the pecking order and managed just three league goals last season.
The Paraguayan international featured in Newcastle’s pre-season match against Brest on Saturday, but Howe appears to prefer Jacob Murphy as his first-choice winger.
When asked about his plans for Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Southampton, Howe said, “I need to see who is at their optimum levels. We need to be ready to go against Southampton and can’t afford to carry anyone. I think I need to properly assess today’s game against Brest. When you look at the game on Saturday, you saw a team that probably wasn’t functioning as well as it can.”
Reports suggest that Newcastle are looking to sign a new right-sided winger to compete with Murphy and Almiron, with Torres emerging as a potential option.
According to reports from Spain, Newcastle recently submitted a bid for Torres, but it was rejected by Barcelona. The Catalan club is looking to sell players to fund their own transfer activities, and it’s reported that Newcastle offered €15 million (approximately £12.8 million) for Torres.
Torres, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City in a £46 million deal in January 2022, has made 115 appearances for the club, scoring 25 goals and providing 13 assists.
With the rapid rise of Lamine Yamal at Camp Nou, Barcelona’s manager is reportedly willing to approve Torres’ departure. It’s believed that an offer of €30 million (£25.7 million) would be enough to secure his transfer this summer.
Newcastle may return with an improved offer for Torres in the coming weeks. They have also considered a move for his teammate Raphinha, but Torres is seen as the more affordable option.
With plenty of experience at the highest level, including 16 goals in 43 matches for Manchester City and a Premier League title, Torres is open to returning to England. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops.
