Pau Torres in action against Maccabi Tel Aviv (Getty Images)
Back in April, a report from the Metro credited Arsenal with an interest in signing Villarreal defender Pau Torres after having explored a move for the youngster in the January transfer window. However, no move materialized and the Spaniard stayed put in La Liga.
Torres, 23, rose through the ranks of Villarreal’s youth system and was promoted to the club’s senior setup in the summer of 2018. After struggling to find regular game time, he was sent on loan to Malaga where he developed himself.
Since his return to La Ceramica, Torres has established himself as the first-choice centre-back under Javier Calleja. He is one of the most promising young talents in Spain and his impressive performances have also garnered attention from Barcelona and Manchester City, as per the report.
Torres also earned a call up to the national team last October and scored within a few minutes of his debut against Malta. Thus, Arsenal should reignite their interest in signing the Spaniard this summer.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have struggled throughout the campaign. After Unai Emery was sacked earlier in the campaign, they did well under Mikel Arteta. Since January, they hadn’t lost a league game but that streak was broken when the games resumed earlier this month.
Arsenal’s inconsistency has shown up on several occasions. Thus, the manager should bring in reinforcements in the summer to add depth in multiple positions.
One of the major reasons for their poor performance throughout the campaign is the stability at the back. Summer signing David Luiz has been awful so far and he has been prone to errors, the latest one coming against Manchester City.
Pablo Mari, who arrived in January, fell victim to injury just when he looked to get going and has been ruled for the rest of the season. Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis have failed to perform consistently either. Thus, a centre-back is a must in the summer.
In that regard, Villarreal’s Torres would be a viable option for Arsenal. The youngster has been brilliant at the back for his side, featuring in 27 games so far for the La Liga outfit as they are aiming for a European spot next season. He has been a revelation since coming from his loan spell.
The Spanish international would be a valuable player for the Gunners and would add quality and depth to Arteta’s squad. He has been consistent for Villarreal this season. If he is able to replicate the good form, he can become a leader in Arsenal’s defence in the future.
At 23, Torres is at the right time in his career to take the next step. And with Arsenal’s lack of quality at the back, he would definitely add quality to their defence, given his recent performances and consistency. Thus, the Gunners should reignite their interest in Torres and make an attempt to secure his services this summer.
