Tottenham Hotspur could usher in a new era of success should they bring in Spanish international Pau Torres this summer
According to sports journalist, Veronica Brunati on Twitter, Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Villarreal star Pau Torres.
The Spanish international was a part of the Yellow Submarine side that won the club’s first-ever major honour by securing the UEFA Europa League last season. The Spaniards saw off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s heavily fancied Manchester United in the showpiece event. He was also involved in the Tokyo Olympics recently, winning the silver medal with Spain.
A large part of that success can be attributed to Torres’s defensive solidity at the back. The 24-year-old continues to develop well and could soon earn his place amongst the elite defensive stars in the game. The player was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United earlier this summer. The Red Devils have since signed Raphael Varane, leaving the route clear for Spurs to make their move.
It could prove to be a pivotal summer for Tottenham going ahead. Nuno Espirito Santo has taken over at the Lane, but star striker and club talisman Harry Kane could be moved on. However, the English skipper will not go cheap and could land Spurs a small fortune in the tune of €150 million. This will give them enough ammo to rebuild a side that is not overly reliant on one player.
One area of the pitch that could do with further reinforcement is the defence. Tottenham have already landed Argentine international Cristian Romero and have the young but promising Joe Rodon in their ranks. Adding Torres to the mix should give them a first-choice centre-back pairing that could dominate for years.
Both players have a different set of skills that will complement each other well. Romero, for one, is a colossus in the air, while Torres is more comfortable with the ball at his feet. The Spaniard is also a left-footed centre-back who can open new avenues of attack should Spurs decide to play out of defence.
This disparity helps Spurs explore the best of both worlds. Adding Torres to the squad will give Santos the options to explore his oft used three-person defence. With Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Joe Rodon and Japhet Tanganga all available, a position of weakness will have been converted into one of strength.
The 24-year-old Torres has a release clause worth €65 million– an affordable amount should Tottenham part with Kane. Despite his success at Villarreal, there is only so much that the Spanish side can offer Torres. A move to Tottenham will be a step up and open up a door of wider possibilities.
Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld formed a formidable partnership that set the tone for the club to build on to bigger and better things in the mid-2010s. While they may ultimately fall short, a solid defence can lay the foundations for a bright future. Santos could very well repeat the trick with Romero and Torres this summer.
