Is Ferran the man to fill the gap out wide for Blues?
THE summer transfer window is now open and City are looking to add to their squad after a disappointing domestic campaign.
City saw their dominance of the Premier League slip this season as Liverpool won the trophy for the first time in their history and the Blues will be hoping to improve in order to close the gap on the reigning champions next season.
A centre-back, or two, is the club’s priority as their poor defensive record has proven costly throughout the campaign after they failed to replace Vincent Kompany and lost Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi to injury at varying points.
However, M.E.N. Sport understands that City are also keeping their eyes peeled for value for money in the market for a new winger, in order to replace Leroy Sane who has left the Etihad for Bayern Munich.
Spanish starlet Ferran Torres has emerged on their short-list as the 20-year-old could be available for a cut-price fee as he is in the last year of his contract and Valencia are reportedly set to sell many of their stars this summer to negate the loss of revenue from failing to qualify for European football.
Torres has earned a reputation for being an exciting dribbler, capable of playing across the frontthree.
As City will compete in the Champions League next season following their successful CAS ruling, they are in a much stronger position to sign players.
City have already drawn up a list of targets and potential targets they generally have a top three for each position in which they need reinforcement.
Centreback is the priority and the Blues have four men on their radar to fill the position: Kalidou Koulibaly, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and Pau Torres.
Ferran Torres is the fifth man on their shortlist even though Pep Guardiola has repeatedly said that the Blues are not in the market for a winger, but if the chance arises to get a talent like the 20-year-old, who has devastating pace, dribbles well and can score goals, they would not turn up their noses. It has been reported that City have already agreed a fee with Valencia for the transfer of Torres. According to GoalEspana, via City Xtra, the two clubs have agreed a fee for the 20-yearold in the region of EUR3040million, though it’s not clear how much of the fee would be bonus based.
It’s also claimed that Torres has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad and could be unveiled next week, though it remains to be seen how the government’s new quarantine laws for people arriving in the country from Spain could impact those potential plans.
It has been reported that City have already agreed a fee with Valencia for the transfer of Torres