Manchester United are reportedly confident that a deal to sign Spanish defender Pau Torres from Villarreal can be completed in the current transfer window.
According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, Premier League bigwigs Manchester United seem to be inching closer towards the capture of Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres, with there being belief within the camp that a deal will be completed this summer.
Torres came through the ranks at the Villarreal youth academy and has become a mainstay at the heart of the defence over the past couple of seasons, following a successful loan spell at Malaga in 2018/19. During this time, the 24-year-old has established himself as one of the most reliable defenders in La Liga while also establishing a foothold in the Spanish national team as well.
Torres’ growth at El Madrigal over the past year have put him on the radars of several top clubs across Europe, with the likes of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid keen on the centre-half while Manchester United have been one of his strongest suitors in the current summer.
Analyzing Manchester United’s rumoured pursuits of centre-backs – Who should the Red Devils sign?
The need for defensive reinforcements at Manchester United is well-established. Both Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have come up short in terms of consistency for the 20-time English champions while continuing to be bogged down by fitness issues, especially in the case of the former.
With Phil Jones set to be offloaded this summer and youngster Axel Tuanzebe also looking for a loan switch, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperately needs a new centre-half to partner captain Harry Maguire. To that end, Manchester United have been linked with a host of defenders over the past months, with Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane a recurring name in the rumour mill, along with that of Torres.
However, with the Red Devils having been rebuffed in their first attempt to sign Varane, the focus may have shifted towards Torres. Manchester United saw the UEFA Europa League final against Villarreal as the final ‘audition’ for the 24-year-old and were left impressed by his performance as the La Liga outfit pipped them to a penalty shootout victory.
Torres’ left-footed nature is another thing that works in his favour as the 20-time English champions see him as the ideal candidate to become Maguire’s long-term partner at the heart of the club’s defence.
Ready to firm up their interest in the 24-year-old now, Manchester United are confident that a deal can be agreed. Torres is said to have a release clause worth €60 million embedded in his contract with Villarreal. However, it is believed that the Yellow Submarine would be open to a player-plus-cash arrangement due to the current financial climate caused by the pandemic.
It now remains to be seen if Manchester United are indeed set to land the Spanish international or whether their confidence is misplaced, which could force them into looking at alternatives like Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City.
