Krishnan Sreekumar
Villarreal defender Pau Torres plays down talks of an exit in the summer amid transfer interest from Manchester United
Speaking to Spanish paper AS (h/t Daily Mail), Villarreal defender Pau Torres has played down any talks of a potential exit from his boyhood club ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, amid transfer interest from Manchester United.
Torres has enjoyed an excellent campaign for Villarreal, playing with authority and calmness in central defence alongside Raul Albiol. His performances at the back were key to the side reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League this time around, eventually losing out to Liverpool.
This has seen the defender be linked with an exit from the La Liga club, but Torres has insisted that the only offer he has received right now is that from his current club. The 25-year-old said he has peace of mind of being at a place where he was wanted.
“Right now there is nothing at all, there is talk of many things like every year, I have peace of mind of being where they want me, at the club of my life and I have this offer right now that I value as very positive.”
However, Spanish outlet Cadena Ser (h/t Daily Mail) have suggested that the academy graduate’s camp are willing to sign a deal with United. It is said that an agreement between the player and both clubs has already been reached.
“There is nothing right now”
The Red Devils are keen to bolster their defensive line in the summer, as part of new manager Erik ten Hag’s plans to complete a squad overhaul during the transfer window. With the club finishing sixth in the Premier League last term and enduring a five-year-long trophy drought, ten Hag has decided to shake things up at Old Trafford.
However, Torres has ruled himself out of the Dutchman’s plans for the new season, saying that there is nothing on offer at the table at the moment from outside. The player said that the only offer he has is from Villarreal, and he was very calm about his situation.
“There is nothing right now, the only thing I have is the offer from Villarreal, so I am very calm.”
ten Hag will be keen to add someone like Torres to his rearguard, given how inconsistent his current crop of options have been in recent months. Out of the bunch, club captain Harry Maguire has been the most disappointing, committing schoolboy errors on the pitch that have led to some cheap goals being conceded.
Raphael Varane was roped in from Real Madrid last summer to solidify the defensive line, but the Frenchman’s injury struggles this term did not help him settle into the team. Meanwhile, Victor Lindelof saw himself be shipped in and out of the team throughout the season, unable to maintain any consistency.
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Despite having other options in Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, they were very rarely called upon. The pair were mostly used for domestic cup competitions, but since the Red Devils did not progress far in both the League Cup and FA Cup, they were hardly afforded many minutes on the pitch.
An upgrade at the back is needed, and Torres’ performances this season make him a worthy contender to join ten Hag’s new-look team next season. Despite the defender’s comments, it remains to be seen if the Manchester side will push to sign him in the summer.
