Aston Villa Are Leading The Race To Land This La Liga Defender: Good Choice For Emery? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Cadena SER revealed that Aston Villa are leading the race to land Villarreal defender Pau Torres. It has been claimed that the Villans are a step ahead of their competition in the chase to sign the Spanish centre-back in this off-season.

Torres’ Decent Run Of Form In Spanish Football

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a great campaign with the La Liga club after putting in a run of consistent displays at the heart of their backline. Torres has participated in 39 matches for Villarreal this season, netting one goal across various competitions.

The Spanish talent has been a dominant presence on the defensive end of the field as he is averaging 1.3 tackles and 4.1 clearances per game in La Liga football. He has also been careful when distributing the ball from the back based on his pass success rate of 85.3% in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).

Torres’ current contract at Villarreal will run out next summer. Hence, Aston Villa would be optimistic about their chances of arranging a cut-price move for the Spaniard in the upcoming transfer window.

SEVILLE, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Pau Torres of Villarreal CF celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the LaLiga Santander match between Sevilla FC and Villarreal CF at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on April 23, 2023 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Is Torres A Good Choice For Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery?

Torres is a decent tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his side inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when his teammates are in danger of being caught out at the back. Torres excels at playing in both centre-back positions and is a good passer of the ball.

The Villarreal-born talent can also use his strong 1.91m frame to win his fair share of aerial duels. Hence, he will be an excellent choice for the Villans to pursue this summer.

At 26, Torres’ best years are ahead of him, so Unai Emery can expect him to make an instant impact at Villa Park if he can make a smooth transition to life in English football.

The Spanish sensation might even help the West Midlands club push for a European spot in the Premier League over the next few years. Thus, Aston Villa should focus on trying everything they can to lure him to England during this summer transfer period.