In a recent print edition, Gazzetta dello Sport mentioned that Manchester United are planning to make a move for Villarreal defender Pau Torres this summer. It is understood that the Red Devils are open to launching an offer of around €50m for the Spanish centre-half during this summer transfer period (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Torres’ Impressive Form At Estadio de la Cerámica
Torres experienced a solid campaign with the Yellow Submarine as he caught the eye by producing several commanding displays at the heart of their backline. The 24-year-old scored three goals and provided two assists in 44 matches for the Spanish outfit last season across all fronts.
The Villarreal-born defensive ace has been a rock at the back for his current employers after he averaged 0.5 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per 90 minutes in La Liga. He even distributed the ball with a lot of conviction, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 87.8% in the Spanish first division (stats via whoscored).
At 24, Torres is about to embark upon the prime years of his playing career, so he would be a massive coup for Man United this summer as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will fancy getting the best out of him at the Theatre of Dreams in the coming seasons.
Will Torres Be The Right Choice For The Red Devils?
Torres has got excellent defensive awareness and can position himself well to clear his lines when needed. Standing at 1.91m, he is strong in the air as well and has got the tenacity to earn possession back for his team. Torres is also not shy of putting his body on the line to block a goal-bound shot from the opposition.
The ten-time Spain international is also proficient at playing his way out from the back, so he will be a good fit for Man United’s style of play at Old Trafford. However, he is yet to prove his worth outside Spain and could struggle to cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football if the Red Devils can get him on board in this off-season.
Torres has still got over three years remaining in his Villarreal contract, so it is no surprise that it would take a fee of around €50m for Man United to land him this summer. Even then, Solskjaer should consider paying that figure as Torres will be a good choice for the Mancunian giants in the long run as long as the Norwegian head coach is willing to ease him into his first team.
