Manchester United are ready to renew their interest in Villarreal defender Pau Torres as they look to bolster their defense ahead of the arrival of new coach Erik ten Hag this summer.
The Red Devils have been tricky in defense in this campaign, despite adding World Cup winner Raphael Varane to their squad in the summer, the Frenchman is rarely fit for bigger matches, and Harry Maguire is suffering greatly under Ralph Rangnick.
As a result, defensive reinforcements are expected to be targeted this summer as part of a major rebuilding at the club to make it competitive again, as the start of the season faltered in a battle to finish in the Champions League, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s heroics.
One of those targets is Pau Torres, who refused to move away from Villarreal last summer after helping his team defeat the Red Devils in the Europa League final thanks to a penalty shootout.
GDANSK, POLAND – MAY 26: Pau Torres of Villarreal CF celebrates the UEFA Europa League Cup after the UEFA Europa League Final between Villarreal CF and Manchester United at the Gdansk Arena on May 26, 2021 in Gdansk, Poland. (Photo by Michael Sohn – Pool / Getty Images)
according to Manchester Evening NewsHowever, “Torres will be open to offers at the end of the season, although he is in no hurry to leave Villarreal as his main focus is on a strong end to the season with his boyhood club.”
Manchester United have once again expressed an interest in the Spaniard, although if he cannot make Champions League football it is unclear how attractive the offer will be for the Spanish club.
Akanji alternative?
Meanwhile, there could be an alternative option in defense of the Red Devils, with Manuel Akanji on the verge of falling out of the standings, with Borussia Dortmund reportedly agreeing to a deal with SC Freiburg for defender Nico Schlutterbeek.
With Niklas Sule also joining the Black and Yellow this summer, and Mats Hummels still at the club, Akanji’s chances of playing now look slim, and Manchester United could offer him a way out.
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Premier League table
| # | a team | deputy | Dr | s |
| 1 | Manchester | 31 | 52 | 74 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 31 | 57 | 73 |
| 3 | Chelsea Football Club | 30 | 41 | 62 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 32 | 18 | 57 |
| 5 | Manchester United | 32 | 8 | 54 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 31 | 8 | 54 |
| 7 | West Ham United team | 33 | 9 | 52 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 32 | 5 | 49 |
| 9 | Leicester City | 30 | -4 | 40 |
| 10 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 32 | -8 | 40 |
| 11 | Brentford | 33 | -8 | 39 |
| 12 | Southampton | 32 | -14 | 39 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 31 | 3 | 37 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 32 | -19 | 37 |
| 15th | Aston Villa | 31 | -4 | 36 |
| 16 | Leeds United | 32 | -30 | 33 |
| 17 | Everton | 30 | -19 | 28 |
| 18 | Burnley | 31 | -19 | 25 |
| 19 | Watford | 32 | -32 | 22 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 32 | -44 | 21 |
| player | a team | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Salah Mohammed | Liverpool FC | 20 |
| son, hyung min | Tottenham Hotspur | 17 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 15th |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 15th |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 |
| Tony, Evan | Brentford | 12 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester | 11 |
| Zaha, Wilfred | Crystal Palace | 11 |
| Mason mountain | Chelsea Football Club | 10 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford | 10 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester | 10 |
| Bucky, Timo | Norwich City | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester | 10 |
| Ravenha | Leeds United | 10 |
| Vardy, Jimmy | Leicester City | 10 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United team | 9 |
| Fernandez, Bruno | Manchester United | 9 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal | 9 |
| Smith Roe, Emil | Arsenal | 9 |
| player | a team | red cards | yellow cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayssumah, Eve | Brighton and Hove Albion | 0 | 10 |
| Neves, Robin | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley | 0 | 9 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Firpo, Jr. | Leeds United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu Muhammed | Southampton | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford | 0 | 7 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 8 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 7 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United team | 0 | 8 |
| Bednarek, Jan | Southampton | 0 | 8 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley | 0 | 8 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Romeo, Oriol | Southampton | 0 | 8 |
| Shaka, Granite | Arsenal | 1 | 7 |
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United | 0 | 7 |
| player | a team | helps |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Salah Mohammed | Liverpool FC | 11 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Mason mountain | Chelsea Football Club | 8 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United team | 8 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal | 7 |
| Mbiomo, Brian | Brentford | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 7 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester | 7 |
| son, hyung min | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Fernandez, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Antonio, Michael | West Ham United team | 6 |
| Ben Rahma Said | West Ham United team | 6 |
| James, Reese | Chelsea Football Club | 6 |
| Kulusevsky, Diane | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford | 5 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal | 5 |
