BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: A general view of a statue outside the stadium prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Aston Villa and Stevenage at Villa Park on January 08, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Aston Villa’s pursuit of Pau Torres may have suffered a blow as Paris Saint-Germain agree terms to sign Lucas Hernandez from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Hernandez’s departure, after all, is likely to see Bayern Munich step up their pursuit of a player Unai Emery knows and loves from their time together at Villarreal.
Pau Torres was a key cog in the Villarreal machine which reached the Champions League semi-finals last year. And, according to the Birmingham Mail, Emery would relish a reunion at Aston Villa; the Midland giants reportedly submitting an ‘official’ offer for the £40 million-rated Spain international earlier this week.
Villa will, however, face some rather serious competition. Juventus are keen. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, opened talks with Torres’ camp recently (Sport1).
Aston Villa face Bayern Munich battle for Pau Torres
Torres, a cultured, left-sided centre-half, is viewed at the Allianz Arena as a replacement for Lucas Hernandez; the £68 million, World Cup-winning Frenchman on his way to Paris after refusing to extend a contract which expires during the summer of 2024.
“Paris Saint-Germain have sealed verbal agreement on personal terms with Lucas Hernandez,” Fabrizio Romano writes on Twitter. “Club hopes to advance in talks with Bayern next week.
“He’s no longer untouchable with new Bayern board as the situation is very clear; extend the contract or leave now.”
Hernandez, it seems, is choosing the latter option.
It’s not just Aston Villa who could be affected by his impending switch to the Ligue 1 winners either. Southampton will be watching the situation closely too. In the knowledge that Torres replacing Hernandez at Bayern could see Aston Villa turn their focus to one Armel Bella-Kotchap.
According to talkSPORT, the £30 million-rated Bella-Kotchap wants to leave Southampton following their relegation to the Championship.
He is also on the radar of an Aston Villa side who, with Emery and Monchi calling the shots these days, finally have the bite to match their bark. There is still a long way to go before Villa can match the pulling power of PSG, however.
Both Manuel Ugarte and Marco Asensio, players admired at Villa Park, should join Hernandez at the Parc des Princes.
