Arsenal are interested in Villarreal defender Pau Torres, but he would prefer a move to Real Madrid.
That’s according to Marca, who say the Gunners are competing with the Spanish giants for the 22-year-old’s signature.
Torres is one of the hottest rated players in Spain at this moment in time, having risen through the ranks in recent years at Villarreal.
That’s alerted Real Madrid, who, according to COPE, are interested in signing him next as they eye him up as a replacement for Sergio Ramos.
Torres has a release clause of €50m, but their hope is that the good relationship between the two clubs following the deal for Take Kubo can help bring that price down.
However, they are not the only ones interested, with Marca stating that Arsenal have also shown a ‘strong interest’ in making a move.
Mikel Arteta’s side may need defensive reinforcements come the summer, with Shkodran Mustafi, Sokratis and David Luiz all out of contract.
The first two have already been linked with moves away in January, and that would leave Arsenal with Gabriel Magalhães, Calum Chambers, Rob Holding and Pablo Mari as their centre back options.
Thus interest in Torres makes sense, although it’s stated that the chance to move to the Bernabeu is ‘more attractive’ to the player at this moment in time.
