Raghavendra Goudar
Manchester United to battle Chelsea for Pau Torres
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Manchester United will have to face competition from Chelsea and a host of other clubs in the race to sign Villarreal defender Pau Torres.
The 23-year-old Torres came through the youth ranks at the club. After a spell away on loan at Malaga last season, the centre-back has become an integral member of the team at Villarreal this term, while also emerging as one of the most reliable defenders in La Liga.
Torres’ growth over the past year hasn’t gone unnoticed, with a number of clubs across Europe eyeing a summer swoop. Manchester United are among the clubs interested, along with Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona. (h/t Daily Mail)
While our defence has been performing exceptionally in the second half of the campaign, there remain some concerns surrounding Victor Lindelof, who has looked unconvincing at times.
Furthermore, Harry Maguire, despite being largely reliable has shown he has a few mistakes in him. The game against Tottenham a couple of weeks back and Bournemouth earlier on Saturday are indicative of the fact that another reliable centre-back wouldn’t be a bad idea for United.
Torres, to that end, would be a viable option. The 23-year-old has been an assured presence at the back for Villarreal in his 31 appearances this term. He has also contributed with a couple of goals and assists each as well, showing that he can be effective in the opposition box as well.
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Torres signed a new contract with Villarreal last year, extending his stay at the club till 2024. The defender is believed to have a release clause of £45m, which shouldn’t be a problem for the club.
However, given the number of clubs interested, Champions League qualification might become a major factor in convincing him to move to Old Trafford.
