In what can only be considered another eye-brow-raising coup, Villa are anticipated to shortly unveil Pau Torres as the latest summer addition.
The Spanish defender with 23 international caps to his name, is reported to be set to make a switch in a deal worth £35m. In doing so, Torres will link up with his former manager and current Villa boss Unai Emery at B6.
The 26-year-old, widely considered to be amongst Europe’s most versatile defenders, was due to be out of contract next summer. Villarreal were faced with the prospect of losing one of their marquee players for nothing and are presumed to have taken the decision to have waived a release fee, thought to be in the region of €50m.
Embed from Getty ImagesTorres, Villa’s second signing of the 2023 summer transfer window after Youri Tielemans, immediately adds more strength at the back.
For many years, supporters have scratched their heads at both a lack of quality, but also any meaningful depth in defence. It has continued to be a problem, with the club heavily dependent upon both Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa staying fit after Diego Carlos suffered a season-ending injury early last term.
As promising as the gradual uptick in talent being assembled, is that Villa were again able to battle amongst other European heavyweights for Torres’ signature. Indeed, both Juventus and Bayern Munich were well-publicised suitors, with Villa perhaps holding an ace up their sleeves in Emery’s pre-existing relationship with the defender.
The deal is understood to be complete on a bumper 5 year contract, subject to a satisfactory medical being completed in the coming days.