Krishnan Sreekumar
Transfer News: Manchester United revive their interest in Villarreal defender Pau Torres
According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are set to revive their interest in signing Villarreal defender Pau Torres in the upcoming transfer window, after being linked with him for all of last summer.
United were hoping to sign the Spanish star a year prior to bolster their defence and improve upon their runners-up finish in the Premier League table, falling well behind defending champions Manchester City.
However, they instead signed Raphael Varane from Real Madrid, with the Frenchman moving to Manchester after spending a decade in Spain and winning multiple trophies and gaining a reputation in Europe as one of the most impressive centre-backs around.
Despite signing a new defender just last year, the Red Devils are keen to improve their rearguard, especially given how poor their defensive line has been this season. Club captain Harry Maguire, in particular, has been woeful this entire campaign.
Open to offers at the end of the season
Now, it seems as though the Old Trafford outfit has picked up interest in signing Torres once again, with the 25-year-old said to be open to offers in the summer. That being said, he is not in any rush to leave Villarreal. The current season has been an excellent one for the La Liga side, especially in Europe, as they have made their way to the Champions League semi-finals.
If United are to make a move for the central defender, they would have to pay the release clause in his current deal, which is around €60m. When the English giants enquired about his availability a year ago, the Yellow Submarines were open to a possible player-plus-cash offer for Torres. Now though, their priority would be to sell him for cash only.
United fans will be familiar with Torres, having heard his name be linked to the club last year and also coming up against him and his team in the final of the UEFA Europa League last season. The Spaniard would go on to defeat the Red Devils after winning a penalty shootout in the summit clash, while dispatching his spot-kick successfully.
The Premier League side eventually ended up signing Varane, and although the Frenchman has brought some quality and calmness to the side, he has struggled to remain match-fit for a continuous string of games. The player has not lived up to expectations as yet, given his injury issues this term.
More Manchester United News
- Paul Merson labels Cristiano Ronaldo a bad signing for Manchester United and says they don’t have a ‘1% chance’ of beating Liverpool
- Manchester United are targeting a centre-back in the upcoming summer transfer window
- Real Madrid are possibly looking at Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani as a backup option in the next transfer window
While United try to make an active approach for Torres, it is understood that his main focus is helping his boyhood club end the current season on a strong note. He is contracted to Villarreal until 2024, after signing a contract extension three years ago.
With a new manager coming in ahead of the new campaign, and a lot of work needed to be done to improve the current state of our defence, we will need to work hard to convince Torres to leave his boyhood club and take the next step in his career. Only time will tell if we are successful in prising him away from Villarreal on our second attempt in the space of a year.
