Arsenal offered to pay Barcelona €30m for the signing of former Manchester City winger Ferran Torres in the final days of the transfer window.

Catalan outlet El Nacional report that a few days before the summer transfer deadline, Arsenal made a €30m offer to Barcelona for Ferran Torres.

With the return of Ansu Fati and the signing of Raphinha, Torres’ status as a regular starter at Barcelona was very much in doubt. The Barcelona hierarchy were reportedly open to the offer, and passed it on to head coach Xavi.

Yet Xavi insisted that Torres is a key piece of his plans and didn’t want to consider selling the winger.

Barcelona rejected Arsenal’s offer, and the Gunners didn’t return with another. That was likely in part due to the ultimately unsuccessful focus on signing a midfielder on deadline day.

For what it’s worth, Torres does appear to be a backup option for Barcelona at the moment. He’s only made one start in their first four games, coming off the bench for two further appearances.

Perhaps Arsenal could consider returning for the 22-year-old in January if that situation hasn’t changed, but you’d have thought their best chance to sway the winger was this summer, by promising regular minutes ahead of the World Cup.

In the meantime, Arsenal will have to make do with Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira as alternatives to Bukayo Saka on the right wing, with Nicolas Pépé having joined OGC Nice on loan in Ligue 1.