La Liga champions Real Madrid are reportedly keen on signing 25-year-old Spanish centre-back Pau Torres next summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Pau Torres is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a possible move in the 2023 summer transfer window. The reigning La Liga champions will look to bring in a centre-back ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Pau Torres has established himself as a household name since returning from a loan spell with Malaga in 2019. The Spanish centre-back is now a pivotal figure for Villarreal and has enjoyed three solid campaigns with the Yellow Submarine. At the same time, he is a regular for his national side.
The 25-year-old has turned out nearly 150 times thus far for Villarreal, chipping in with 11 goals and five assists. But Torres will enter the final year of his contract next summer, which has alerted several European bigwigs. And Real Madrid might be one of his prospective suitors in 2023.
The Merengues have brought in a central defensive reinforcement in each of the last three summer transfer windows. And with all three players – Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba – performing consistently, it is unclear why Real Madrid might want to sign another centre-back next year.
But recent reports have claimed that Nacho might not sign a new contract with Real Madrid. So with talks over a new deal not progressing well, Los Blancos might need a new central defender in 2023. Several players, including Milan Skriniar, have thus emerged as viable targets for the reigning La Liga champions.
But while Skriniar will be an option to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu on a Bosman move, Torres will only join on a cut-price deal. Villarreal will likely look to tie the 25-year-old Spanish centre-back to a new contract. But the opportunity to join a big club at last might tempt the Spaniard.
The Merengues also have other centre-backs on their radar, with the report mentioning William Saliba as an option. So it will be interesting to see who becomes a top target for Real Madrid. Torres remains one of the candidates to bolster Real Madrid’s defence.