“Better than Raphinha”: Arsenal now reportedly trying to sign ‘immense’ 21-year-old who’s been compared to Raphinha
Arsenal are reportedly looking to sign Orlando City’s Facundo Torres in the January transfer window.
According to Goal.com, Gunners chief Edu will meet with the 22-year-old attacking ace’s representatives this weekend.
Torres is apparently very keen on joining Arsenal, added the report.
The Gunners reportedly looked at signing a winger late on in the summer transfer window.
However, an injury to Mohamed Elneny apparently led Arsenal to targeting a new midfielder instead.
In the end, the Gunners failed to get a deadline-day signing over the line.
But with the January transfer window now just two months away, Arsenal can try again.
And Torres is a superb player for the Gunners to try and bring to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal target Facundo Torres – factfile
Torres has emerged onto the Gunners’ radar after a superb season with Orlando City.
Goal.com reports that he cost the Major League Soccer side around £7.8million.
Torres has enjoyed a superb maiden season, registering 13 goals and 10 assists in 40 games in all competitions.
He already has 10 Uruguay international caps, and previously won the 2021 Uruguayan Primera Division title with Penarol.
Torres can play across the entire front line, but is primarily a right winger.
This means he’d compete with Bukayo Saka on Arsenal’s right flank.
However, Torres himself admitted has he likes to play ‘freely’ as opposed to being locked in one position.
He told The Athletic: “I feel comfortable playing any position in the attack.
“That’s how I played in Uruguay. I’d start as a left-sided winger, but I’d move all over the field.
“I’d be on the right, in the middle and back to the left. I’m a player who feels comfortable in a free role versus having a fixed position.
“More than anything, I’m an attacking winger, but I can also play in the middle, behind the striker, as a No. 10. I just really like playing freely.”
Football.london have written that Torres ‘has brilliant strength to match his immense dribbling ability making him a difficult player to mark and win the ball from.’
They added: ‘Torres is a clinical finisher inside the penalty box and can also offer a threat from range, whilst his ability to use both feet leaves defenders unable to predict which way he may dribble past them.
‘The Uruguay international is able to pick his head up and play the final pass which would suit Arteta’s possession-based play style, and he has a brilliant delivery from set pieces too.
‘His overall play style offers similarities to that of Barcelona winger Raphinha in terms of his dribbling and finishing qualities.
‘And the Brazilian was a former transfer target for the Gunners, so it’s clear to see why they’re interested in his signature.’
