Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been scouting Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres this season, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist claims the Spanish international has a release clause in his contract worth between €55m (£46m) and €60m (£50.5m) that Premier League clubs could look to exploit:
Supporters on Twitter have had a mixed reaction to City’s interest in Torres, with many questioning why the Premier League champions are looking to sign another centre-half:
he’s better than Laporte
— Mo #Laporteout (@MoSakoooo) May 2, 2022
Always buying CB but we don’t think of buying correct LB to fix our left back problems😤😤
— Kwabena✨ (@blerkview_) May 2, 2022
Only if Laporte leaves
— CHAD (@SmithLikolo) May 3, 2022
Txiki 🤝 release clauses
— Nana. AK-0007817 (@SuperJoeyy) May 2, 2022
His flaws would be severely exposed in the prem
— Damon (@iamcalledamon) May 2, 2022
We’re centre-back FC😂
— Q (@ItsxQuincy) May 2, 2022
We're buying another CB yet we don't even have a proper LB☹️
— NS☄ (@renzz_101) May 2, 2022
Really rate this guy 👍
— Gareth williams (@Gazwilly81) May 2, 2022
Noooooo!!
— MikeTidmas (@MikeyTidmas) May 3, 2022
Laporte- torres swap here we go
— Silva (@Silva007_t) May 2, 2022
With four senior centre-backs already at the club in Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Nathan Ake, there isn’t any real need to reinforce that area of the pitch.
Torres’s release clause may make him an attractive signing but, once a deal for Erling Haaland has been finalised, City’s main focus for the summer transfer window should be on finding a replacement for Fernandinho, as well as recruiting a new fullback.