According to The Chronicle, had the Saudi consortium's proposed takeover of Newcastle gone through, they had identified Ferran Torres as a potential transfer target for their first summer window.

What's the word?

After months and months of uncertainty, the long-awaited Magpies takeover eventually fell through, leaving the club in a state of disarray before the beginning of the new season.

Now, The Chronicle claim that had it gone through, the Tyneside club could have seen some major investment in new players, with Torres seen as a "prime" target along with Nathan Ake.

In the end, the Spaniard eventually left La Liga giants Valencia to join Manchester City in a reported £21m deal.

Balague compared him to Sancho and Haaland

Why it's little use imagining 'what if?', there can be no doubting that the Magpies would have gotten themselves one of European football's rising talents had things turned out differently in the summer.

At £21m, Torres certainly didn't cost an extortionate amount of money in today's market, whilst the fact he was picked up by Pep Guardiola's City tells you everything you need to know about how highly-rated the winger is.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague also raved about his abilities before his move away from Valencia, saying: "he is more than ready to show that he belongs in the same conversation at Haaland or Jadon Sancho. Obviously, it does feel like Ferran Torres belongs at the next level. I believe he is thinking ‘what would happen if I leave?’."

The 20-year-old was clocked as the second-fastest forward in La Liga last season, behind Levante flier Hernani, at 21.69mph, and it's incredible to think that the Magpies could have been lining up with two fliers in Torres and Allan Saint-Maximin.

If the Spaniard goes on to realise his potential at City, Newcastle will surely think of this as a 'what could have been'.

In other news, Newcastle may also rue missing out on signing this Premier League starlet.