Barcelona have made direct contact with an Aston Villa defender who’s emerging as a prime target to shore up their backline.
Hansi Flick’s system demands a ball-progressing centre-back who excels in aerial duels and positional reading, especially after the summer exit left the Catalans juggling six different pairings this season amid injuries and tactical experiments like deploying Gerard Martín centrally.
With Pau Cubarsí anchoring one side but lacking a natural long-term partner, Deco has activated Plan B amid prohibitive costs for priority Alessandro Bastoni, turning to a Premier League-proven Spaniard whose elegance on the ball and enhanced physicality under Unai Emery make him a seamless fit for La Liga’s intensity.
That defender is Pau Torres, the 28-year-old international thriving at Villa Park with 18 appearances this season despite a metatarsal setback, now firmly on Barça’s radar as they prioritize defensive stability to defend their La Liga crown, as reported by Fichajes.
Aston Villa’s resistance looms large—contracted until 2028 after a €40m arrival—but the player’s enthusiasm for a Camp Nou return could sway negotiations, particularly if Barcelona generate salary space via potential exits like Andreas Christensen or Robert Lewandowski.
His camp views a Spanish homecoming favorably, aligning with Flick’s need for a “field general” to complement Cubarsí’s rise, though Villa’s European ambitions under Emery won’t yield easily without a compelling bid.
Financial fair play remains the wildcard, but Torres’ profile—left-footed poise, line-breaking passes, and one-on-one aggression—positions him ahead of alternatives like Nico Schlotterbeck, promising five years of reliability if the deal materializes.
As Barcelona leads the table, securing this homegrown talent could restore defensive fluency and fuel continental dreams.
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