Manchester City are close to signing Valencia star Ferran Torres as they look to strengthen their attack after Leroy Sane’s departure.
Torres joined Valencia’s academy at the age of six and has been with the club ever since. He represented the Bats at various youth levels and rose through ranks of the club to play in the first team. The 20-year-old Spanish star made his first-team debut in 2017 in the Copa Del Rey and made his La Liga debut a month later against Eibar. He played as a substitute in his first two seasons and became a first-team regular in the 2019-20 season. He started 24 times for the Bats in La Liga and made nine goal contributions.
His role at Valencia has been like a traditional wide midfielder due to his incredible work rate and speed. He also likes to cut inside towards the centre from the wings. He can shoot with either leg and that’s what makes him a versatile player. Torres could be headed to Etihad soon. So, how will he fit in at Manchester City?
Pep Guardiola likes to deploy a 4-3-3 lineup with a single pivot. This is his basic formation since his appointment as the first-team manager of FC Barcelona. Torres has mostly played as a right midfielder for Valencia but this role is not available at City. He is very likely to replace Leroy Sane in the team.
Torres as right-winger
The 20-year-old has mostly played on the right side of the midfield for the Bats last season. He played 25 games on the right side and scored three goals while assisting five times. He is two-footed and this makes him a strong contender for the right-wing spot. Riyad Mahrez is the first choice right-winger at City and Torres will probably rest the Algerian in some games. Torres will provide speed on the right which Mahrez can’t as he likes to draw the defender close before taking on him.
Torres as left-winger
After Sane’s departure, City are short on left. Torres could provide much-needed depth on the left side and backup Sterling. He played just once on the left side for Valencia this season and had a hand in two goals (scored 1 & assisted 1). Sterling used to play on the right for City and Guardiola can play both Sterling and Torres on the wings if he benches Mahrez.
Torres as centre-forward
Torres is young and has the ability to score from both legs. City struggled last season due to Aguero’s injury as Jesus failed to deliver. If Aguero or Jesus get injured next season, Torres can be a more natural backup to the strikers. He has previously played twice in this position at Valencia and can fill in up front in the absence of regular starters (something Sterling is tasked at the Etihad as of now).
