Manchester United have been linked with a move for a promising young centre-back, Pau Torres, who currently plays for Villarreal.
The 23-year-old Spaniard put in some solid displays in the 2019-20 season, and has now attracted interest from several sides.
As per The Times (via the Sun), the Red Devils, as well as Barcelona, are interested in Torres, who has come through the ranks at Villarreal.
The report states that the centre-back could be bought for a fee of around €30 million. His current contract with the Spanish club expires in 2024.
Torres has played 43 times for Villarreal since making his debut in 2017. He has made one appearance for the Spanish national team, and managed to score on his debut against Malta.
Pau Torres to Manchester United – The right player for the club?
Torres is a confident, young centre-back, who is good with his feet and is calm and composed in tricky situations. The 23-year-old likes to bring the ball out from the back, and start attacks from deep, while also using his pace, strength and dribbling ability to get out of tough spots in his own half.
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The Spaniard stands at 6’3″ and is a player who is physically strong with and without the ball. His physical stature means he will bully most centre-forwards in the league.
Torres makes quite a few clearances per game, averaging 4.4 clearances per match in La Liga. He is also a good short and long passer, averaging 59.5 passes and 6.3 long balls per game. The left-footed defender is a confident player with the ball at his feet, and is unfazed by opposition attackers when he drives out from the back.
The Spaniard is a player with a lot of potential, but he may not be the right fit for Manchester United at the moment.
Firstly, he is a left-sided defender, much like Manchester United captain Harry Maguire, who prefers the left side of the pitch rather than the right. Although Torres is more agile than Maguire, he is not quick enough to cover for the Englishman’s lack of pace.
United should look to sign a defender who is the finished article, rather than another player with potential. The two central defenders that Manchester United signed before Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, were also roped in when they were young and had potential. But, neither have turned into top-class Premier League centre-backs.
The Red Devils should not make the same mistake of buying a player with potential. They should instead buy someone who has good experience in top-flight football, and would hit the ground running and make them a meaner outfit at the back.
Stats via Whoscored