Atleti offered Ferran Torres last summer but baulked at €100m clause (MD)

Atletico Madrid were reportedly offered Valencia star Ferran Torres last summer and opened negotiations for the winger before talks broke down.

The 20-year-old has already made over 50 appearances for Valencia since making his first team debut as a 17-year-old back in 2017.

Since then Torres has become a Spain under-21 international and developed into one of Europe's hottest attacking talents.

According to Mundo Deportivo, his rise to prominence prompted Valencia to try and cash in on Torres last season as they approached Atletico about a potential deal.

Talks between the clubs went on for several weeks before Atletico pulled out of a deal after failing to agree a fee.

After another impressive season this term which has seen the winger score six goals and make seven assists in 35 games, several clubs have registered their interest.

Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are two sides credited with an interest in Torres but Atletico have no interest or funds to broker a big-money deal.

Torres has a release clause of €100million (£87m) but that is out of reach of Atletico, who have been hit badly by the coronavirus crisis.

Players and staff have been forced to take 70% wage cuts in order to ease the financial pressure on the club, as they try to make ends meet without matchday income.

Atletico still owe instalments on transfer fees paid out last summer after they spent £200m on new players after a dramatic overhaul of their playing squad.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone – who is the world's best paid manager on £36.2million a year or £700,000 a week – has had his salary reduced to just over £10m per annum or £190,000 a week.