Manchester City have Ruben Dias, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia and Nathan Ake at their disposal, but they may need another centre-back if Garcia leaves as expected when his contract expires and Ake is moved on after an injury-hit season.
The Sky Blues have been linked with Kalidou Koulibaly, Joules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and Leonardo Bonucci, but Corriere dello Sport (h/t Sport Witness) say Pau Torres is still on their radar and might be available for a cut-price fee.
Where will Manchester City finish this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Torres rose through the youth ranks to Villarreal’s first-team in 2017/18 and has gone on to make 75 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals and supplying two assists (Transfermarkt).
He’s made 26 La Liga appearances this season, winning 48/77 aerial duels, making 17/21 successful dribbles, blocking 31 shots/passes/crosses, making 91 clearances, giving away only 10 fouls, making 14 tackles, being dribbled past only five times and making 21 interceptions (WhoScored).
Torres has been dribbled past once every 468 minutes which is better than Stones (324) and Dias (399.2), so he could improve City’s backline. Corriere dello Sport say Villarreal are willing to accept offers of €25m () too, so he might be available for a relative bargain.
In other news, Man City ‘knocked on door’ of Yusuf Demir averaging a goal or assist every 96 mins