European hopefuls Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a summer transfer swoop for Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.
According to Football Insider, Villarreal are keen to tie central defender Pau Torres down to a new long-term contract as Aston Villa look to reunite him with boss Unai Emery at Villa Park come summer.
The report also adds that the prospects of the 26-year-old leaving the Spanish club at the end of the season are increasing and that Emery has already given his green light to the pursuit of his former player.
Aston Villa’s revival since Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard as manager has been so dramatic that what once looked like a relegation battle has now become a race to qualify for Europe, or, dare we say, the Champions League.
Villa’s impressive 3-0 victory over high-flying Newcastle United over the weekend lifted them to seventh in the Premier League standings, just six points behind third-placed Newcastle United despite having played one more match.
Even if they cannot achieve Champions League football for next season, Villa Park look set to host some kind of European football thanks to the spectacular form of Unai Emery’s side in 2023. With that comes fixture congestion and the requirement for more talent. And it appears the Spaniard looks set to turn to his former club in the upcoming transfer market.
As per Football Insider, Emery is keen to bolster the Villa defence by bringing Torres to the Midlands club. Having made 165 career club appearances, including 128 in La Liga and 12 in the Champions League, the 26-year-old has spent his entire career at Villarreal and has no doubt proved his worth as a quality central defender over the years. But he could be lured away with just over 12 months left on his current contract.
The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away to the Premier League for a long time now. But a transfer has never materialised. However, Aston Villa could move to sign Torres in this summer, as Emery looks to bring in a left-side defender that matches his style of play. Having earned 23 international caps, Torres has established himself as a regular in the Spanish national team.
Torres’s arrival at Villa Park would lead to stiff competition among the defensive options. Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, and Diego Carlos would all have to compete for a single position since Emery prefers formations with two centre-backs.
The left-footed ball-playing defender is also familiar with Emery football, as shown by the pair’s Europa League win in 2021 and general progress in La Liga. So it makes a whole lot of sense for Aston Villa to pursue the 26-year-old as their top summer target and try to reunite him with Emery.
Also Read: Aston Villa: The Unai Emery gamble is about to reap European rewards
Landing a player of Torres’s calibre would embody the progressive transition that appears to be remoulding the clay at the ambitious Villa Park and could be a statement of intent for a football club striving to return to former glory and lift silverware once again. It remains to be seen whether Torres does end up joining Emery; however, it’s going to be an exciting summer for the Villa faithful.
