Emery has ‘expressly requested’ Aston Villa make effort for signing – Player should be tempted by manager

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has ‘expressly requested’ that the club make a move for Villarreal defender Pau Torres.

That’s according to Sport, who say the player should be tempted by a reunion with his former manager and it is now a battle between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich for his signature.

They report that Torres’ exit from Villarreal is in the final stretch, with him set to leave the Spanish club this summer after years of rejecting moves and staying with them.

Two teams have made ‘firms offers’ for him already this summer and they are Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. Juventus, who had been a potential third party in the race, have dropped out.

The final choice for the player, then, is between Villa and Bayern, as they have submitted offers and ‘shown that they are serious’ about getting him.

In terms of Aston Villa, the interest comes because of Emery, who worked alongside the player at Villarreal and has ‘expressly requested’ that the Villans sign him this summer.

That’s something the club are looking to work with, hoping that the ‘favourable effect’ of having a manager the player knows well can convince him to move to Villa Park.