GOODNEWS LOOMING- Newcastle submit shock bid for Barcelona star as Hansi Flick names his price for Prem title winner
As the final weeks of the transfer window approach, Newcastle United are gearing up for a busy period of activity. One of the key players on their radar is Ferran Torres of Barcelona. Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, is determined to bolster his squad, with a particular focus on acquiring a new winger. This strategic move comes amid increasing speculation that Miguel Almiron, aged 30, might be on the move to Saudi Arabia before the transfer window closes.
Almiron played a crucial role in Newcastle’s stellar 2022/23 season, which saw them finish in a commendable fourth place in the Premier League. However, his contributions last season were less notable, with only three goals in the league. Despite featuring in Newcastle’s recent pre-season fixture against Brest, Almiron appears to have fallen out of favor with Howe, who seems to prefer Jacob Murphy as his first-choice winger.
Howe has been clear about his plans for Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Southampton, emphasizing the importance of having players at their best. He stated, “I need to see who is at their optimum levels. We need to be ready to go against Southampton and can’t carry anybody.” He further commented on the team’s performance against Brest, noting, “When you look at the game on Saturday, you saw a team that probably wasn’t functioning as well as it can.”
In recent developments, reports from Spain have indicated that Newcastle have made a bid for Ferran Torres. However, Barcelona have reportedly turned down this initial offer. The bid, estimated to be around €15 million (approximately £12.8 million), was made in the hope of securing Torres’ services. Barcelona, who are looking to offload players to fund their own transfer pursuits, originally signed Torres from Manchester City in a high-profile deal worth £46 million in January 2022. Since joining Barcelona, Torres has made 115 appearances, netting 25 goals and providing 13 assists.
The rise of young talent Lamine Yamal at Barcelona has reportedly made Torres more expendable. It is rumored that Barcelona would be willing to part with Torres for a fee of €30 million (£25.7 million). Newcastle might decide to return with a revised offer in the near future, as they have also been contemplating a move for Torres’ Barcelona teammate, Raphinha. Despite this, Torres represents a more affordable option.
With his substantial experience, including a Premier League title and a record of 16 goals in 43 matches for Manchester City, Torres has proven his capabilities at the highest level. The prospect of returning to England is reportedly appealing to him, and it will be intriguing to see how this potential transfer develops in the coming days. As the transfer window draws to a close, Newcastle’s pursuit of Torres remains a key storyline, with fans eagerly awaiting the final outcome.
