Arsenal could land the perfect alternative to Mykhailo Mudryk this month in potentially signing the Barcelona winger, Ferran Torres.
Everything is seemingly going to plan at the Emirates Stadium right now with the Gunners flying high at the top of the Premier League table.
However, they were handed a slight setback last week in their pursuit of the Ukrainian winger as Chelsa swooped in to hijack the deal and take him to Stamford Bridge.
But there have been reports suggesting Edu Gaspar is already looking at other possible options in that position this month with under two weeks remaining of the window.
And one of those players is said to be Torres with Graeme Bailey saying on the latest Talking Transfers podcast that he could be an even better option than Mudrk:
“He’s a player who Arsenal have liked for a long time even before he left City. Mikel Arteta knows this boy well. I think he is a perfect fit for Arsenal, I really do. Out of all the players linked, I think Ferran Torres under the radar could be a sensational pick-up for Arsenal.”
It will have been a big blow to all those at Arsenal after seeing Mudryk join Chelsea after months of speculation linking him with a move to north London.
However, it has to be remembered that the money Chelsea have paid is on a player’s potential and not what he was providing during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Mudryk was in fine form this season for the Ukrainian side, however, it is worth remembering that he is a player who has not played outside of Ukraine and at the age of 22 has just 12 senior goals to his name (via Transfermarkt).
In comparison, Torres is a player who has already played in the Premier League during his spell at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.
In his 43 appearances for City, the Spaniard was able to provide a healthy return of 16 goals and four assists across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).
And although he has already been and gone from the Premier League, the winger is still the same age as Mudryk and holds an awful lot more experience in top-flight football than the Ukrainian.
Although his goals and assists do not stack up against the likes of Bukayo Saka this season, the Spanish winger is right up there for progressive passes and touches inside the attacking box (via FBref).
But the issue may come in whether Torres actually wants to return to England with the 22-year-old believed to have asked for a return to La Liga:
“When I left Valencia to go to Manchester City, I knew I would come back to play for one of the best teams in La Liga. It was my dream. And it has been fulfilled,” Torres said last year.
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