Arsenal have made contact with representatives of Barcelona forward Ferran Torres following their failed pursuit of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
The Gunners had been eager to secure an ambitious move for Vinicius earlier this month, but the Brazilian ended that prospect by signing a fresh six-year contract with Madrid.
Torres has now emerged as a potential candidate to bolster Arsenal’s left wing, with the club asking to be kept informed about his situation.
The 26-year-old would be a familiar face in English football, having previously played in the Premier League with Manchester City before his move to Barcelona.
Torres primarily played as a centre-forward for Barcelona last term, scoring 21 goals and providing 3 assists in what was a productive campaign.
He then made global headlines by scoring the World Cup winning goal for Spain against Argentina, netting the winner in the second half of extra time.
Torres is also capable of playing from either flank and has featured almost 100 times as a left winger across his career, making him a versatile option for Arsenal.
With his Barcelona contract expiring next summer, Torres could be available for a transfer fee of between £39 million and £43 million in the current window.
Paris Saint-Germain have been leading the race for his signature, but their pursuit could cool following the signing of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco and ongoing negotiations for Ajax winger Mika Godts, who has already agreed personal terms.
Should PSG complete the signing of Godts, they may decide against pursuing a deal for Torres, which would hand Arsenal a significant advantage in negotiations.
Arsenal could offer Torres something PSG cannot, namely a guaranteed starting position on the left wing rather than a backup role behind Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue.
The Gunners have already made a statement signing this summer in Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, and adding Torres would further strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Time is pressing for Arsenal, with the Premier League season set to kick off in a fortnight, meaning any deal would need to be concluded swiftly.