Ferran Torres has signed a six-year deal with Barcelona worth £46.3m, only 18 months after joining Manchester City, leaving Pep Guardiola with a decision on how to replace him. ESPN say the Premier League leaders won’t dip into the transfer market next month, however, as Cole Palmer may be given more opportunities instead.
The 19-year-old scored 20 goals with eight assists from 32 games for the U18s, scored 19 goals with 10 assists from 27 games for the U23s and scored two goals from 12 games for the first-team. Palmer has scored two goals with one assist in four games for England U21s and looks to have a bright future for club and country.
Palmer has made City’s matchday squad in all but one Champions League game this season, coming off the bench three times. He’s been in their matchday squad 18 times in the Premier League too, so Guardiola is already grooming him for an important role moving forward. Torres will be a loss for the Sky Blues, but City have enough in his absence.
Pep has Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden on the flanks but only Gabriel Jesus as a natural centre-forward, so signing a striker next summer is on the agent, ESPN add.
In other news, here’s why Man City agreed to sell Ferran Torres to Barcelona