Aston Villa : Barcelona star rumored to make loan move to Villa Park

Barcelona star Ferran Torres is rumored to be making a return to the Premier League with a loan move to Aston Villa, according to a report. The 23-year-old forward joined Manchester City in 2020 and then moved to Barcelona after a year and a half.

However, due to Barcelona’s financial difficulties, they are looking to offload players, which could open the door for Torres to join fellow Spaniard Unai Emery at Villa Park next season. The deal would include an option for Aston Villa to buy Torres for €25m (£21.5m).

While Barcelona prefers sales over loans, Mundo Deportivo reports that Torres may be enticed by the prospect of more playing time on the pitch. Additionally, getting Torres off their books temporarily would help alleviate some of Barcelona’s economic needs.

Aston Villa is eager to strengthen their squad ahead of Emery’s first full season as manager and their participation in European football. Newcastle United was previously thought to be interested in signing Torres as well.

Last month, it was reported that Torres had returned to Spain to be closer to his girlfriend but they have since broken up, increasing the likelihood of a Premier League return.

During his time in England with Manchester City, Torres made 43 appearances and won both the Premier League and League Cup. However, injuries limited his playing time during the 2021-22 season and led him to make the move to Barcelona in January.