Arsenal join Manchester City in race for Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres

Arsenal appear to have a genuine interest in signing Pau Torres.

According to the football transfer rumours in British media, Arsenal have joined Manchester City in race for Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres.

The Spain international has been subject to interest from various European clubs.

The 23-year-old’s contract at Villarreal is set to expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

The centre-back has featured in 14 matches for Villarreal this term, netting two goals in all competitions.

He is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in Spain. The Villarreal centre-back has also represented the Spain at various youth levels before going on to secure 7 senior caps for his country thus far.

His performances have seen him become the target of many European clubs including Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta wants to sign a new centre-back and Torres is one of the names at the top of his wishlist.

The Gunners have built a reputation for recruiting young talent from within Europe, predominantly targeting those with sell-on value and immense potential. They are in the market for just a handful of statement signings who can improve the first-team.

The Villarreal centre-back heavily relies on his ability to read the game. It is coupled with his sensible tackling and an excellent sense of positioning, allowing him to repel most of the danger in the defensive third. His arrival would give Arsenal some much needed tactical flexibility.

According to the report,”Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will go head-to-head with his former mentor Pep Guardiola for the signing of Pau Torres in 2021. Arteta is currently enduring a mixed time in his first spell as a manager since leaving his role as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City last year. The pair’s paths could cross again, though, in the transfer market, as they are both in the mix for the same defensive target. According to Todofichajes, Arteta wants Arsenal to sign Pau Torres from Villarreal. The defender has emerged as a target for a number of top clubs thanks to his impressive displays in La Liga. For example, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool have all been linked. But it is Arsenal who could pose the biggest threat to Man City’s pursuit. Many feel Arsenal need to focus on improving their attack if they are to overcome their recent dip in form. However, they could be looking at defensive reinforcements as well. Torres has been linked with them for some time – even as far back as when Unai Emery was in charge. Emery is now in charge of Villarreal, so has got to coach him after all. But Arteta could now rekindle Arsenal’s interest in an effort to snatch him away from his predecessor.”
 
 

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Arsenal will have to present a really enticing offer to bring Villarreal to the negotiating table. The Gunners have the resources to tempt them but it will be interesting to see if they are willing to overpay for the player.

Pau Torres ideal fit for Arsenal?

Nevertheless, Pau Torres stands as an excellent option for Arsenal.

Torres is very highly rated in Spain and he could be a superb long term signing for Arsenal.

All in all, Pau Torres will be an ideal choice for Arteta as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what he demands from his defenders.

Arsenal fans would certainly love to see him arrive at the club.

It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can beat their rivals to the centre-back’s signature.

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Would Pau Torres be a good signing for Arsenal?

Bologna-born Giuseppe Bianchi has spent more than a decade living in Rome and writing about Italian football, Spanish football and the Premier League for various Italian football portals and now he writes about European football for Euro Football Rumours. He's been thinking about football transfers pretty much nonstop since the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Aside from writing, he likes to spend his time fishing and rock climbing.