Manchester City finds itself searching for a replacement for Leroy Sane, who has moved to Bayern Munich. It appears the Sky Blues have found one in Ferran Torres. Talks between City and Valencia are in motion, with the latter seeking $27 million for the services of the 20-year-old Spanish player.
Torres is seen as one of the promising young football stars, one of the main reasons Pep Guardiola has shown interest. He is one of a few players who made 100 appearances before reaching the age of 20.
Torres has been drawing plenty of attention with his performance in Spain. Aside from City, other teams who are keeping tabs on his status include Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid. But it appears the Sky Blues are in the lead to sign the winger.
This season alone, Torres' accomplishments cannot be overlooked. He has scored four times in 34 matches, helping Valencia finish ninth in La Liga. The Bats, like most teams, are trying to figure out their financial problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened their situation considering they were already financially struggling before the pandemic hit.
Regardless, it cannot be denied that Torres' star has been on the rise. During the 2017-18 season, Torres only had 13 appearances, but it was in the following season where he showed what he can bring to clubs. He scored three times across all competitions. Even more impressive about Torres is that he has managed to stay focused regardless of what his team is going through. A change at the helm of Valencia did not affect the youngster, speaking well on how deep his focus is when fielded in during games.
"He is at his best accelerating past players, dribbling through defenders and heading for goal. His greatest weakness is defensive ability, it is difficult for him to return to cover his area, but in the attack, there are few soccer players in Europe with his explosiveness. Above all, that is what he is about," local journalist Pedro Campos said via Sky Sports.
There is more to expect from Torres, and the right mentor could help him achieve that. Guardiola can guide him and make him better. He is still young and has plenty of football playing years ahead. He could be a key acquisition to fill the void left by Sane's departure. If there is something Guardiola and fans want to see from Torres, it would be his electricity, dynamism and decision-making during matches.
