Manchester United is still interested in signing Villarreal center-back Pau Torres, and Erik ten Hag has shown his support for the Spaniard. As reported by the Express, Pau Torres’s representatives will fly to Manchester this week to meet the club’s board.
Ten Hag, who arrived from Ajax as a substitute for interim manager Ralf Rangnick, was introduced as United’s new manager this week. Assistants Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren have now joined the Dutchman in the dugout.
While a number of players are expected to depart the club before the start of the new season, with as many as six first-team players out of contract, United is already working on possible incomings. A new center-back and additions to central midfield are top priorities, with a forward and right-back also on the mind.
Pau Torres who also features for Spain has been a United target for a long time. The 25-year-old had been identified by the club’s scouting department ahead of the summer transfer window in 2021, but the club ended up signing Raphael Varane after Real Madrid chose to sell him.
United is still interested in Torres ahead of the 2022 transfer season. Any final decision would be made in collaboration with the new manager they hired, and Ten Hag has now expressed his desire for the move to go through.
Torres appears to suit the description for Ten Hag, who wants to add a center-back to challenge Varane and club captain Harry Maguire for first-team spots. Victor Lindelof will stay at the club but will be permitted to go if the right offer comes through, with Eric Bailly expected to be the most likely exit to take place.
Manchester United now leads the hunt for Torres, although Chelsea and Tottenham are also interested in Premier League clubs that can offer Champions League football.
Torres’ agent is keen to agree to personal terms with the Red Devils to demonstrate desire on the player’s side to make a move happen, and United is in negotiations through intermediaries.
Torres’ Villarreal contract includes a £55 million release clause, but United wants to pay closer to £45 million for him. who had another fantastic season in La Liga and Europe. He was a key member of the Villarreal team that won the 2021 Europa League final and got to the Champions League semi-finals this season.
United has also made contact with Villarreal about Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma, though it is thought that this was just a rumor.
