After Real Madrid's refusal: Arsenal threatens Barcelona's plan

Ferran Torres finds himself torn. Barcelona were always his first choice, until Europe's big clubs entered the negotiations.

Paris Saint-Germain had looked closest to landing him after making their move during the World Cup, pushing hard to convince him to join.

Ferran knows, though, that no one can promise him a starting spot in Paris. And things at Barcelona could shift dramatically if the club fail to sign a new striker.

The Catalan club are still prioritising a move for Julian Alvarez. Should that deal collapse, Ferran Torres becomes a leading candidate to fill the out-and-out number 9 role.

Within his circle, and with Ferran himself, there's a sense of frustration that Barcelona haven't made him a priority so far, despite the weight of his goalscoring contribution last season.

That uncertainty has English clubs circling too. Tottenham, among the summer's biggest spenders, are hunting urgently for a new striker. Having missed out on Krupi, they have already enquired about Ferran.

One obstacle towers above the rest for Spurs: no European football. That makes their project the least appealing of all to Torres.

Arsenal, meanwhile, may be gathering momentum. Their pursuit of Vinicius Junior has stalled, with Real Madrid refusing to sell the Brazilian, while the Julian Alvarez deal looks out of reach after Atletico Madrid dug in over their forward.

Everything sits in Torres's hands for now. The player alone will decide his future.

A decisive conversation between him and Barcelona is still to come, and the coming days look pivotal. It could all be settled before he returns to training once his summer holiday ends.