Krishnan Sreekumar
Villarreal defender Pau Torres prefers Manchester United move despite Tottenham Hotspur matching summer transfer bid
According to Spanish outlet Cadena SER (h/t Manchester United News), Manchester United have received a transfer boost as Villarreal defender Pau Torres prefers a move to Old Trafford despite Tottenham Hotspur matching their transfer bid.
Torres has been in brilliant form for Villarreal this season, picking up where he left off last season. Although the club had a disappointing run in La Liga this time around, they managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The Spaniard was instrumental in their European campaign, putting in strong displays at the back. His form has caught the attention of United, who are looking to snap up the defender in order to bolster their rearguard ahead of the new season.
He is no stranger to the Red Devils, having played against the English side in last term’s UEFA Europa League final. The Spain international played the entirety of the game, helping his team win the competition by winning on penalties after 120 minutes of action.
Tottenham match United bid
His performances for the Yellow Submarines have also caught the attention of Tottenham, who have been chasing him since last year. They came close to signing him in the previous season, seeing a £42.5m bid for the player accepted by the La Liga side. However, the defender stayed put at his boyhood club.
Ahead of the summer transfer window, Spurs have again submitted a £42.5m bid, matching that of United. The Old Trafford outfit holds the advantage in this situation, however, as Torres prefers a move to Manchester over London. That said, it has been revealed that negotiations with both clubs are ongoing.
If United manage to get hold of Torres, then the player could prove to be an upgrade on the current crop of options that the Premier League side have. Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof have been inconsistent this season, leading to the club’s poor form in the league.
Maguire and Lindelof have been unable to transfer last season’s form into the 2021/22 campaign, while Varane’s move to the club from Real Madrid last summer has been underwhelming thus far. Central defence has been an issue for the side this term, and reinforcements will be needed in the coming weeks.
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It will not be an easy path to sign Torres, as aside from Tottenham, league rivals Manchester City and Chelsea have also been in touch with his close contacts. Although these clubs have not made any offers as of yet, we could see the Spaniard’s agents take a trip to England to discuss a potential move.
Having met United’s bid for the player, Spurs could mean serious business in the summer. With the north London club also offering Champions League football to the defender, it remains to be seen if there is a change of heart for Torres.
