Newcastle make bid for 'exceptional' Barcelona star who could transform their attack

Newcastle have made a bid for a Barcelona player, it has been claimed.

According to Spanish publication Jijantes, Newcastle have made a low-ball offer of €15million (£12.6million), plus €5million (£4.2million) in add ons for Ferran Torres.

Torres cost Barcelona some £46million from Manchester City back in 2022, but has since seen his time in Catalunya plagued by inconsistent form and injuries.

Last term the 24-year-old managed just 11 goals and four assists in his 42 appearances, something Newcastle will have considered when presenting Barcelona with the reported offer.

However, the Spain international was once earmarked as City’s No.9 for years to come.

Speaking on Torres back in 2021, in the wake of the forward scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle, City boss Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports: "Not just this evening, of course this evening was important, but his first season in England and his numbers are exceptional.

“He came as a winger, but he has to think about (being) a striker. When Sergio, Gabriel were out, he was there. He scored against Leeds and Crystal Palace. He didn't have many minutes, but when he played, he had a sense of goal.

"Yeah, he can be [a No 9]. We will use him, we used him and he was brilliant. His rhythm, especially defensively he has improved a lot. The game at Palace, he makes a turn [in his season] - so good. The movement he makes as a striker, for the [third] goal, it hits the bar and where it goes, he knew it.

Torres has struggled at Barcelona this season (Getty)

"The smell, the strikers know, intuitively where it will arrive. He has this talent and the first goal is fantastic. Very pleased.

"Maybe I have to think about how he can play as a striker because every time he plays in that position, he always has a real sense of goal. He is an incredible signing for us as a young player, he can play in three positions up front, but playing more central, he has an incredible sense of goal."

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