Aston Villa could face Pau Torres heartbreak after confirmed exit news
Barcelona have been strongly linked with a move for Pau Torres this month.
Torres has been superb for Aston Villa since signing from Villarreal in the summer of 2023, and has become an integral part of Unai Emery’s team.
Only injuries have prevented Torres from playing more for Villa than he has, but he was able to make his return to the side in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup on 10 January.
However, Torres‘ days at Villa Park could be numbered, as a major transfer update on Friday now threatens to move him closer to the Aston Villa exit door.
Barcelona could rekindle Pau Torres interest
Talk has already started over Aston Villa potentially looking to find Torres’ replacement, after the Spaniard has been touted with a move to Barcelona this winter.
It’s understood that Barcelona’s sporting director Deco preferred Marc Guehi over Torres, but now that isn’t going to be possible.
That’s because, in a blockbuster piece of transfer news that emerged on Friday, Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle with Crystal Palace to sign Guehi this month.
Glasner confirmed the news himself at a news conference on Friday, along with his own end-of-season exit plans.
Personal terms are in place for that deal, and it’s expected to be confirmed over the next couple of days, leaving Deco and Barcelona back to square one regarding their centre-back search.
Villa should consider Torres sale if they can reinvest in time
Whilst it’s true that Torres has been a fantastic signing and servant to Aston Villa over the last few years, there are some solid reasons to cash in on him if a large offer arrives.
Firstly, Villa have been grappling with PSR issues in recent times, and a big-money sale in Torres would help them significantly in that department.
He’s had his injury problems too, and at 29, he may well have reached the peak of his powers now, and a gradual decline could be around the corner.
- Torres has made just 12 Premier League appearances this season
- He played 24 times in the PL last term, and 29 times in 2023-24
- The most games he’s played in a season at Villa is 39, which was his debut 2023-24 campaign
Villa also have the likes of Victor Lindelof, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings for depth, and could soon be out of the title race too.
And so if a big-money offer arrives for Torres in time for Villa to reinvest it, then replacing him with a younger and equally as quality centre-back could be a shrewd move.
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