Leicester City linked with Valencia winger Ferran Torres
By Matt Taylor
Both Leicester City and Arsenal have been linked with a £25 million transfer for the Spanish winger, Ferran Torres, after a standout season for Valencia.
The Daily Mail reported this week that Leicester City and Premier League rivals Arsenal had been monitoring the progress of the Valencia wide man. After making 37 appearances in his first full season as a senior player, the 19-year-old has certainly caught the eye of Europe’s elite clubs.
This campaign, Torres has helped his team to an impressive fourth place finish and a Europa League semi final, which saw them lose to the Gunners. It seems that the Spaniard’s performance resonated with Arsenal’s recruitment team, who will look to further their interest and compete with Leicester for the player’s signature this summer.
The main question for the Foxes should be: is he worth the supposed £25 million, or could that money be put to better use elsewhere?
With only three goals and two assists from a full season in a top four side, Torres does not guarantee an output that is any different to that of Demarai Gray and Harvey Barnes. Also, the great leap in physicality from La Liga to the English Premier League must be considered. A prime of example of this being Iago Aspas, who netted 20 times this season for Celta Vigo, but never quite cut it in England with Liverpool.
Statistically, Torres is not too bad at all. In the Europa League, he has averaged one completed dribble and 1.3 key passes per game, via WhoScored. The Spaniard is an accomplished crosser of the ball but possesses blistering pace with the dribbling skill to match.
Internationally speaking, Torres is undoubtedly experienced, with 32 youth caps already, but only up to the under 19s age group.
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Historically, Valencia players have a habit of succeeding in English football: Nicolas Otamendi, David Silva and Juan Mata among others. Torres has spent his entire, albeit short, career with the club, having been there since he was only six-years-old.
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This writer believes that under Brendan Rodgers, any talented prodigy can succeed. Torres has everything he needs to be a hit at the King Power, especially under a manager renowned for nurturing top attacking talents. However, for £25 million, the 19-year-old does not offer anything that Leicester City’s current crop doesn’t already have.