Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly confident of sealing a £45 million deal to sign Spanish international Pau Torres from Villarreal.
According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are growing confident in their pursuit of Pau Torres. The Villarreal centre-back has emerged as one of Spurs’ priority targets, as Antonio Conte looks to shore up his options in the defensive unit.
Torres has a release clause at Villarreal worth around £55 million. It was believed to be a figure too steep even for Tottenham. But the English outfit are confident Villarreal will lower their asking price to £45 million, as they are looking for some financial injection in light of the ongoing economic crisis.
Tottenham will be more than willing to meet the £45 million valuation and effectively seal the deal to sign Torres, who has been one of the top defenders in La Liga for a few years now.
A centre-back by trade, Torres’s technical ability coupled with his game-reading skills and an imposing 1.91m frame have made him one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe. With 127 competitive appearances, the Spanish international has already established himself as the beating heart of the Villarreal defence and has even become a regular for the Spanish national team.
Torres’s contributions at the back were critical in helping Villarreal seal the UEFA Europa League last season and help them reach the semi-finals of this year’s UEFA Champions League. And his performances have not gone unnoticed, with Tottenham among the clubs interested in securing his services.
It appears the Spanish international has been targeted as the missing piece of the jigsaw for Conte, as he looks to offer Cristian Romero a reliable defensive partner. While Tottenham do have Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez, neither of them is consistent enough to gain the trust of the Italian tactician.
That is where Pau Torres comes into the fray for Tottenham. The Villarreal starlet offers considerable experience and quality on the ball. He could offer a whole new dimension to Spurs’ defensive game, although attaining his services could be difficult, amid competition from Chelsea.
Fortunately for Tottenham, they have no shortage of alternatives, with Conte also exploring the possibility of signing his former Inter Milan defensive general Stefan de Vrij, who could only cost £15 million in the coming summer.
