Barcelona 'want Pep Guardiola to help them sign Ferran Torres'

Barcelona reportedly want Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to help them in their efforts to prise Ferran Torres away from the Etihad.

Amid Xavi's attacking crisis, Torres is being strongly linked with a January move to Camp Nou, in spite of the Blaugrana's long-running financial problems.

City supposedly want €50m (£42.5m) in straight cash to sanction the 21-year-old's sale next month, but the two clubs are reported to be approximately £13m apart in their valuations.

According to El Nacional, Barca are willing to pay €30m (£25.5m) for Torres up front and would want to pay the rest in instalments until the summer, which City are not so keen on.

The report adds that Barca hope their former manager will 'intercede' with Ferran Soriano to give the deal the green light, even though Torres is expected to be out until the New Year with a foot fracture.

The Spain international only arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Valencia last summer and boasts 16 goals and four assists from 43 games for the Premier League champions.