'Bid incoming' - Newcastle United target 'exceptional' £42m forward linked with Arsenal and Spurs

Newcastle United could move to bring former Manchester City man Ferran Torres back to the Premier League this summer as the Tyneside outfit prioritises recruiting another winger before the market slams shut.

A fresh report claims that the Magpies are preparing to send an offer to Barcelona for the 24-year-old, who has also been linked with a move to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this summer. Torres struggled to cement a place in the starting XI in Catalunya last season, starting just 12 La Liga fixtures.

The forward, who spent a season-and-a-half with the Cityzens, was signed by Barcelona in January 2021 for £47 million. He has 25 goals in 114 appearances for the club having bagged 16 goals in just 43 outings when at Manchester City.

Torres was handed a start in the first La Liga match this season against Valencia by Hansi Flick but Newcastle United are still interested in the player. Sport reports that Magpies sporting director Paul Mitchell is focusing on a winger acquisition amid rumours that Miguel Almiron could quit the club for the MLS or Saudi Arabia.

Newcastle United are believed to be 'preparing an attractive proposal' to submit to Barcelona and Torres with a big coming 'in the next few days'.

Arsenal supporters will be all too aware of Torres' recent time at Barcelona with the player hotly tipped to be a priority target for Mikel Arteta before the summer transfer window opened. In April, El Nacional claimed that the Gunners were being proactive in making the transfer happen and had sent a £25.5 million offer to Barcelona.

At that time, the report also named Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa as 'great admirers' of the player with Barcelona believed to be willing to sell for around £42 million.

Speaking about the player when working with him at Manchester City, after he scored a hat-trick against the Magpies in 2021, Pep Guardiola said: "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.

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