Al-Nassr interested in Aston Villa defender Pau Torres | OneFootball

Aston Villa defender Pau Torres is on Al-Nassr’s transfer shortlist, per Foot Mercato.

Torres has been a crucial player for Villa since joining the club for £31.5 million two years ago, making 73 appearances across all competitions.

He made 24 Premier League appearances last term, winning 40 percent of his aerial and 66% of his ground duels.

He plays an average of four progressive passes and makes 1.57 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

Torres, who earns £100,000 per week, is a crucial cog in defence for Villa manager Unai Emery, and it is hard to envision the club parting ways with him.

Emery hand-picked Torres and reportedly pushed for the club to sign him from Villarreal.

However, Al-Nassr have been trying hard to give Cristiano Ronaldo the tools he needs to win his first title in the Middle East and could make a tempting offer.

Selling Torres could be a sensible move

Given Torres’ recurring injury concerns, Villa may need to take a pragmatic view and sell Torres.

He has missed around 20 games due to injuries over the past couple of seasons.

While technically gifted and trusted by Emery, his physical reliability is starting to raise questions, especially in a squad where Tyrone Mings is also a long-term injury doubt.

Offloading one of them now, particularly if Al-Nassr submit a significant bid, could be a proactive way to maintain squad stability.

With European football on the horizon, Villa cannot afford to carry multiple high-risk players in such a critical position.

Reinvesting in a more durable, athletic centre-back could safeguard their defensive core and give Emery a more consistent presence over a demanding season.