Tottenham Hotspur still want to sign Pau Torres from Villarreal despite nearing a deal for another centre-back in Clement Lenglet, according to The Mirror.
The lowdown
Spurs are a finalising a season-long loan deal for the Barcelona defender, with The Mirror relaying claims that the 27-year-old flew into London over the weekend for a medical.
Antonio Conte has been pursuing a left-footed centre-back this summer to bolster his defensive ranks, and although Lenglet fits the bill, it would appear that the 52-year-old is not satisfied just yet.
Torres turned down a move to north London last summer, but The Athletic have suggested that he would be more inclined to join now that Spurs are back in the Champions League.
The latest
The Mirror journalist Tom Malley stated on Twitter that, even though Lenglet 'fills the void', 'interest remains in Villarreal's Pau Torres' as 'Conte eyes another defender'.
The Spaniard is expected to cost around £45m, although it's possible that Spurs will look to use Giovani Lo Celso as part of any deal for him after the Argentine's loan spell with Villarreal last season.
However, Malley has warned that Manchester United are also expected to make a move for the 25-year-old Spain international.
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The verdict
Torres demonstrated his quality on Villarreal's run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, during which they claimed the scalps of Juventus and Bayern Munich.
According to European football expert Alex Barker, he was 'integral' for Unai Emery's side as they reached the last four, while the defender also impressed even as Villarreal bowed out against Liverpool. Italian journalist Maxi Angelo stated that the 25-year-old was 'very good defensively' against the Reds and showcased an 'amazing passing foot'.
That tallies with Barker's observation that Torres is 'dripping with confidence' in possession.
According to FBRef, the Villarreal colossus boasts a similar profile to Ben Davies, Joel Matip, Leonardo Bonucci and - intriguingly - another Spurs-linked player in Marc Guehi.
Bringing him to N17 alongside the prospective addition of Lenglet would offer Conte some enviable strength in depth at the back.