Barcelona are trying to finish one sale and one signing in the same week. Ferran Torres is expected back at Barcelona's Ciutat Esportiva on Wednesday, August 12, while Rodri is due to rejoin Manchester City later this week. Barcelona also hope to complete Rodri's move before he is due to report back in England under Enzo Maresca.

Ferran Torres and PSG

The Ferran Torres side of the story looks the cleaner of the two. Torres has already agreed personal terms with Paris Saint Germain, and Luis Enrique has stayed public about PSG's stance. Asked about the market, he said: "I don't talk about the transfer market, only about the players who are at PSG".

Torres' season sample gives PSG a player who is already in rhythm. He has 8 appearances, 1 goal and a 6.46 rating, with 302 minutes logged. That is not the profile of a fully settled starter, but it is enough to explain why PSG are willing to keep pushing.

Rodri and Barcelona's deadline

Rodri is the bigger ambition and the harder deal. Barcelona's opening €50 million proposal was rejected by Manchester City, and City are said to want at least €70 million. Barcelona's second offer is reported as €65 million plus €5 million in add-ons.

The player side is already advanced. Rodri has agreed a four-year contract with Barcelona, and his current season sample is the kind of output that makes the chase understandable. He has 8 appearances, 745 minutes and a 7.57 rating, which suggests a player ready to walk into a top midfield rather than a long-term project.

The obstacle is the fee, not the fit. Rodri has also been linked with Real Madrid, but the move being worked on now is Barcelona's, and the club are still trying to close the gap before the return date closes in. Luis Campos has already been quoted on the level of Spanish football, saying: "Spanish football has been at the highest level for several years".

Barcelona can reasonably feel closer on Ferran Torres than on Rodri. The sale has player agreement and PSG interest behind it, while the signing still needs Barcelona and Manchester City to meet somewhere near the same number. Rodri's return later this week is the clearest pressure point left.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →