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Aston Villa: Ashley Preece not discounting Pau Torres move
Reliable journalist Ashley Preece has not ruled out the idea of Aston Villa completing a move for Spain and Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.
The Lowdown: Torres linked with Villa
The 25-year-old has arguably stood out as one of the best defenders in La Liga in recent years, making 151 appearances for Villarreal and winning 23 caps for the Spanish national team.
Torres has been linked with an exciting move to Villa recently, having worked under Unai Emery before the 51-year-old replaced Steven Gerrard, winning the Europa League together with the Yellow Submarine in 2021.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, it is a rumour which is not going away.
The Latest: Preece hints at Torres move
In a Q&A for Birmingham Mail, Preece delivered a teasing four-word verdict regarding Torres, having been asked about centre-back signings.
When one Villa fan name-checked the Villarreal defender as someone he wants to see in the Midlands, the journalist replied:
“Pau Torres, let’s see.”
The Verdict: Ideal centre-back upgrade
Torres could be an outstanding swoop by Villa if they manage to get a deal over the line, although their lack of European football could end up working against them.
The Spaniard has been described as a ‘fabulous‘ player by BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves, while WhoScored’s performance metrics suggest that he would be an upgrade on Villa’s current centre-back options.
Torres has averaged a rating of 6.64 in La Liga this season, which exceeds Tyrone Mings (6.50) and Ezri Konsa (6.42) in the Premier League.
The lure of the English top flight could possibly work in Villa’s favour, as could his relationship with Emery, but they may still need quite a convincing sales pitch in order to land his signature.
