Barcelona could lose Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain while still searching for a striker to replace Robert Lewandowski. Marca reported that talks between the clubs are expected, with PSG’s interest in the 26-year-old developing after initial links emerged during the 2026 World Cup.
Multiple reports in Spain indicate that Torres is interested in joining the Champions League holders and that personal terms are unlikely to present a major obstacle. His Barcelona contract situation has also contributed to the uncertainty.
Renewal discussions have made no progress despite Torres scoring Spain’s winning goal in the 2026 World Cup. Mundo Deportivo reported that Barça have delayed further negotiations, leaving the forward feeling that he is not a priority and open to continuing his career in Paris.
PSG view Torres as a possible replacement for Gonçalo Ramos, who joined AC Milan earlier in the summer. After appearing to lose out to Real Madrid in the pursuit of Yan Diomande, Luis Enrique’s side have placed Torres at the top of their list of attacking targets.
Ferran Torres Became a Key Striker Under Hansi Flick
Barcelona are not actively trying to sell Torres. Hansi Flick contacted him during the World Cup and, after Barcelona’s preseason defeat to Birmingham City, emphasized the forward’s importance while respecting the players’ holidays.
Torres scored 21 goals across all competitions last season, with only Lamine Yamal’s 24 exceeding that total for Barcelona. His 16 Liga goals matched Yamal for the most by a Spanish player in the competition.
He also made 49 appearances in 2025–26, a total surpassed at the club only by Eric García and Gerard Martín. Torres has operated almost exclusively through the center since Flick arrived in 2024 and displaced Lewandowski from the starting lineup at important stages of last season.
Torres was expected to retain a central role following the Pole’s departure. Although he is not always Barcelona’s most prolific finisher, his movement, energy and link-up play have made him a useful option across the attack.
Barcelona Still Searching for Lewandowski’s Replacement
Signing a world-class striker was Barcelona’s main objective entering the summer, but the club has yet to complete a deal. A proposed move for Julián Alvarez remains stalled because Atlético Madrid will not consider selling the Argentine to a direct rival.
Barcelona currently appear more likely to be fined over their pursuit of Alvarez than to complete the transfer. The club had been working on that move before Torres emerged as a possible departure.
If both Lewandowski and Torres leave, 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim would be Flick’s only natural center forward. The Egyptian has shown promise in preseason but remains a raw prospect who has not made an official senior appearance for Barça.
Barcelona would then have less than a month to replace both forwards. A similar problem followed Iñigo Martínez’s unexpected departure last year, when the club failed to replace the veteran center back before another unsuccessful Champions League campaign.
More Than $100 Million Spent on Wide Players
Deco has already overseen spending of more than $100 million on Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi this summer, yet the striker position remains unresolved. Both players can operate centrally, but each is more comfortable on the wing, where Barcelona already have Raphinha and Yamal.
Without Torres, Lewandowski or another established No. 9, Barcelona’s alternatives through the middle would include Gordon, Adeyemi, Raphinha, Dani Olmo and Fermín López. None is a natural center forward.
PSG’s pursuit of Torres remains at an early stage, and he could still stay in Catalonia. But a summer that began with Alvarez and Torres appearing to be Barcelona’s leading striker options for 2026–27 could end with neither available, potentially weakening the club’s attempt to challenge for the Champions League.