La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly submitted an enquiry for 25-year-old Spanish international Pau Torres, who wants to join the Blaugrana.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Jose Alvarez, Barcelona and Villarreal have been in contact over a possible move for Pau Torres in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have approached the Yellow Submarine to test the waters, with the 25-year-old defender keen on moving to Camp Nou.
Pau Torres took some time to settle down in the first-team squad at Villarreal. A product of his boyhood club, the Spanish international only established a foothold at Estadio de la Ceramica after returning from a season-long loan spell with Malaga in 2018/19. But he has not looked back since then, becoming a mainstay at the back for club and country.
The 25-year-old has turned out 133 times for Villarreal thus far, chipping in with 11 goals and five assists. And Torres’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, with some of Europe’s most high-profile clubs, including Barcelona, monitoring his progress closely in the last three years.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the advancing years of Gerard Pique, with the veteran centre-back approaching the end of his storied career. At the same time, Samuel Umtiti and Oscar Mingueza face uncertain futures at Camp Nou, with Xavi Hernandez deeming the duo surplus to requirements.
The potential departure of Umtiti coupled with Clement Lenglet’s loan move to Tottenham Hotspur means Xavi will not have a left-footed centre-back at his disposal. So while Barcelona might be closing in on signing Jules Kounde, signing Torres might be a step in the right direction as he fills the left-footed centre-back gap.
According to Jose Alvarez, the Catalan giants have already submitted an enquiry for the 25-year-old Spanish international to Villarreal. He has added that a part-exchange deal could be on the cards, with Ez Abde a player Unai Emery likes. Otherwise, Barcelona will have to pay around €50 million.
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Torres is keen on moving to Camp Nou as he is delighted by the possibility of playing for Barcelona. Interestingly, the Blaugrana could have signed the 25-year-old for €25 million four years ago. But a move might finally see the light of day if Kounde does not join Barcelona this summer.