Aston Villa ‘seriously interested’ in Barcelona transfer as they are set to submit a bid of £35m
Aston Villa Step Up Interest in Barcelona Forward Ferran Torres Amid Uncertain Future at Camp Nou
Aston Villa are reportedly intensifying their pursuit of Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, with the Premier League side “seriously interested” in securing his services during the current summer transfer window. Despite their strong interest and previous links with a £35 million move, the Spanish international is believed to be reluctant to leave Catalonia at this stage, as he remains committed to fighting for his place under new Barcelona boss Hansi Flick.
The 25-year-old attacker, who previously played for Manchester City, enjoyed a productive campaign last season with 19 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions. However, much of his involvement came from the bench, as he was frequently overlooked in favour of first-choice forwards Raphinha, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Under Flick’s predecessor, Torres often found it difficult to break into the preferred front three, and the situation could worsen with Barcelona’s transfer activity this summer.
Recent reports suggest that the La Liga giants are on the verge of finalizing a deal to sign Spanish international Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao. Williams, who scored in the Euro 2024 final against England, would add further competition to an already stacked attacking line-up. His potential arrival could push Torres even further down the pecking order, reducing his opportunities for regular first-team football.
Despite the increasing competition, Torres has made it clear he has no intention of walking away from Barcelona without a fight. Speaking recently to El Chiringuito, he commented on the Williams speculation, confirming that while he had spoken with his national teammate briefly during a recent meeting in Ibiza, no serious discussion had taken place.
“I haven’t spoken to him,” Torres said. “We met in Ibiza, but we prefer not to talk about it. All the top players want to come to the big teams, and Barca is one of them. I don’t know what will happen, but I hope it’s for the best.
We’ve already played together in the national team. I’d like to play with him, and we could form a good trio if everything goes well. I see myself at Barcelona and I’m going to stay at Barcelona. I’m optimistic and I’m going to fight to earn a starting spot.”
Villa, meanwhile, are monitoring the situation closely. With Unai Emery looking to strengthen his squad for both domestic and European competitions in the 2025/26 season, Torres’ versatility and attacking flair are seen as ideal qualities to add depth and creativity to the forward line. However, the player’s commitment to his current club poses a significant hurdle in Villa’s ambitions.
Torres still has two years remaining on his contract at the Camp Nou, and his current market valuation, according to Transfermarkt, stands at around €40 million. The former Valencia academy graduate joined Manchester City in 2018 and went on to score 16 goals in 43 appearances before returning to Spain with Barcelona in January 2020.
With Barcelona’s financial situation still under scrutiny and their efforts to rebuild under Flick in full swing, any potential transfer for Torres could depend on several moving parts, including the finalisation of a deal for Nico Williams and Torres’ willingness to reassess his future should his playing time be further reduced.
For now, Aston Villa are keeping tabs — ready to pounce should the right opportunity arise.