Transfer News: 21-Year-Old Manchester City Phenom To Join Barcelona In January

One of the first dominoes to fall in the upcoming January transfer window is phenomenal Manchester City striker Ferran Torres agreeing to a move to Barcelona.

Football news website Goal exclusively reported and confirmed the rumors that Torres was set to leave England and play football elsewhere.

Barcelona will reportedly be paying Manchester City around €55 million ($62 million) with a reported additional of around €7 million ($7.8 million) as add-ons to secure the deal.

Valencia CF, Torres’ club prior to joining Manchester City, will also be taking 10 percent of the transfer deal thanks to a stipulation in their deal with the Citizens prior to last season, including an additional four percent.

The question that now lingers in most people’s minds is how can Barcelona afford Torres in the midst of their financial troubles.

Barcelona will still need to abide by La Liga’s fair play rules and offload some talent in the next couple of weeks in order to cement the deal.

Players that are likely to be moved are major earners Samuel Umtiti and winger Philippe Coutinho as they make room for the 21-year-old Torres.

The move to Torres comes as no surprise after the sudden retirement of renowned goal-scorer Sergio Aguero due to a heart condition leaves a massive hole in the Barcelona offense.

In the same report by Goal, they note that Manchester City’s original asking price for Torres was set at €70 million ($78.8 million), but their settling with the lesser deal points to a much bigger plan in action.

Manchester City has been one of the clubs that has been heavily linked to netting Borussia Dortmund standout Erling Haaland in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Moving Torres allows Manchester City to make room for a potential Haaland move, and it is believed that they are going all-in on signing Haaland next summer, even linking up with the Norwegian’s sponsor, Puma, to help convince the striker to move to England.

Torres has been on the sidelines since September due to a nagging foot injury, and Manchester City is cutting their losses and building towards the future.

In 28 total appearances with Manchester City in two seasons, Torres scored nine goals and contributed three assists that helped secure the English Premier League title last season.

A fresh start now awaits all parties involved as they hope to remain as contenders in their respective domestic leagues.