---
title: "Manchester United: Journalist makes Pau Torres transfer claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-pau-torres-transfer-gossip/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-05-02T08:40:56Z"
modified: "2022-05-02T08:40:56Z"
---

# Manchester United: Journalist makes Pau Torres transfer claim

**Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that incoming [Manchester United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-news/) manager Erik ten Hag will be looking to add a new centre-back to the Old Trafford ranks this summer.**

### The lowdown: United’s defensive struggles

This season has been a wholly forgettable one for the Red Devils and much of the hardship has come from an inability to shore up a leaky defence.

So far this term, United have [conceded 52 goals](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) in the Premier League, more than every other club in the top nine and more than Liverpool and Manchester City combined.

[Latest Man Utd news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news/)

Therefore, it’s unsurprising the central defensive department has already been earmarked as a position in need of strengthening over the summer…

### The latest: Torres could be a target for Ten Hag

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88001330-man-utd-50m-star-has-been-mentioned-for-old-trafford-move), O’Rourke named one man who is already on the minds of the Old Trafford hierarchy in terms of centre-back reinforcements.

He stated: “I think ideally Ten Hag will be looking maybe at a centre-half; Pau Torres from Villareal has been mentioned. And a defensive central midfielder will be required with Matic leaving and Paul Pogba set to move on as well.”

Torres has previously been linked with a move to Manchester, but it appears that the Red Devils will face [serious competition](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-news/pau-torres-man-utd-transfer-latest-man-city/) from Manchester City for the capture. As per [Fabrizio Romano](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1518964840403980288?s=20&t=Ixry0h6QfXZIEKzhCT0uZQ), the 25-year-old’s release clause of €55m-€60m (£46.3m-£50.5m) ‘will be valid this summer’.

### The verdict: Reinforcements needed

Despite appearing relatively well-stocked at centre-back when Raphael Varane arrived from Real Madrid for £41m ([Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/12364726/raphael-varane-manchester-united-sign-france-defender-from-real-madrid-on-four-year-deal)), neither Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nor interim boss Ralf Rangnick have managed to get the best out of the decorated Frenchman in his injury-plagued first season at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old has made 27 appearances across all competitions in the current campaign, whilst Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have achieved a combined [74 outings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-united/leistungsdaten/verein/985), highlighting an inability to find a settled partnership at the back.

Meanwhile, Torres has amassed [42 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pau-torres/leistungsdaten/spieler/399776) this term for Villarreal, helping to guide the Yellow Submarine to a Champions League semi-final in the process. The 25-year-old has been described as an [‘extraordinary talent’](https://theathletic.com/2331735/2021/01/22/pau-torres-the-villarreal-centre-back-europes-top-clubs-are-all-chasing/) by former La Liga midfielder Javi Calleja and has so far lived up to expectations.

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Boasting a 7.07 [Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/pau-torres/864169) rating, the Spain international has won four duels, made 3.2 clearances and completed 54.6 accurate passes on average per game. With figures like that, he would make a superb addition to the United ranks in a position where more consistency is certainly needed.

***In other news: Man Utd star could make sensational summer exit…find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-news/manchester-united-cristiano-ronaldo-could-return-to-real-madrid/)***