Barcelona star Ferran Torres could still opt for a daring return to the Premier League this season while he plot his next step.
The Spain International showed its value in the 2024/25 campaign when the side of Hansi Flick sealed a trophy-treble in his debut season.
An injury to Robert Lewandowski gave him the opportunity to make a claim as a leader of the Barcelona attack – flanked by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal – and he impressed the absence of the Polish veteran.
He ended the 2024/25 with a career-high 19 goals, strengthened by that period of coverage for Lewandowski, but the latter remains undisputed as number 1 in Flick's plans.
Torres has previously stated his confidence to become the most important man in Flick's attack, but he knows that that will take at least another year.
Lewandowski still has the option to expand his contract to the 2026/27 season, and Torres is confronted with a call to see if he likes to wait, especially with a world cup on the horizon next summer.
Premier League side Aston Villa is consistently seen as a possible destination for Torres, despite doubts about his willingness to return to England, to struggle in Manchester City in his early career.
Reports from transfer specialists Fichajes.net claim that Unai Emery has money to spend, despite missing the UEFA Champions League qualification.
However, that rumor is strongly rejected by the Catalan Outlet Mundo Deportivo, who quotes sources from both Barcelona and Villa, who claim that the link is wide of the goal.
The chance that Villa will make an offer remains on the table, but no Emery bid has been proposed.
The playing time of Lewandowski will be subtly managed next season, and that can be decisive for Torres, if Flick convinces him in his permanent place in the wider team in a busy season.