Aston Villa plot ambitious double swoop for Dusan Vlahovic and Ferran Torres
Aston Villa are considering ambitious moves for Dusan Vlahovic, the Juventus striker, and Barcelona winger Ferran Torres in the summer transfer window, Telegraph Sport understands.
Villa’s stunning form under Unai Emery has put them in contention to qualify for Europe and the club is keen to back the Spaniard ahead of next season.
The targeting of two players of Torres and Vlahovic’s calibre comes as Villa look to finalise a deal with Mateu Alemany, Barcelona’s departing director of football, to join in a senior role.
It is understood that Villa are also hoping to rival Newcastle United in the race for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney, who is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Newcastle are regarded as the most likely destination for Tierney but Villa are also weighing up a move for the 25-year-old Scotland international, who has fallen behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order at Arsenal.
It remains to be seen whether either Torres or Vlahovic would be willing to join the Midlands club, with Torres thought to be happy to fight for his place at Barcelona.
The Spain international joined Barcelona from Manchester City in December 2021, in a deal worth around £50 million, and could cost a similar amount this summer.
Vlahovic only joined Juventus in the winter window of 2022, when a deal worth an initial £58m was agreed with Fiorentina, but he has struggled for consistency at the Italian giants.
The Serbia striker scored in a 2-1 victory over Lecce on Wednesday night but had previously gone nine club matches without a goal. The 23-year-old has scored 12 goals in 37 club appearances this season.
Tierney, meanwhile, has started only one Premier League match for Arsenal since the turn of the year, as Mikel Arteta has instead preferred to play with Zinchenko as an inverted left-back.
