REPORT: Aston Villa still favourites to sign Top defensive target Pau Torres despite unwillingness to match Villarreal’s €45m valuation as Bayern Munich join race for player

On Monday, claims from Spain stated Aston Villa are still favourites to sign Villarreal star Pau Torres despite Bayern Munich now entering the fray for the player.

This is backed by AS, who state the Villans have been trying to convince the defender to join them for some time but now face a major stumbling block with Bayern Munich now making moves of their own for the player following Lucas Hernandez decision to leave for PSG this summer.

It’s said Aston Villa are ‘most interested’ and have already made a ‘firm proposal’ to sign the 26-year-old.

He’s also received interest from Bayern Munich but the Premier League side would have an advantage in the race, as long as there are no offers from other clubs.

AS say there’s been first contacts between Aston Villa and the centre-back. They add the Yellow Submarine hope to receive a fee close to his €65m release clause but don’t have all the power since his deal expires in 2024.

The newspaper seems confident Torres will ‘end up playing in Birmingham’, unless there’s a new twist in this case.

Over at Marca, they claim Aston Villa are the ‘main favourite’ to sign the player who has decided to leave the La Liga side. He’s already told his agents to relay his decision to the Spanish club.

They add Emery is ‘in love’ with his compatriot and the Villans have already held talks with Villarreal for a potential deal.

It’s claimed the latter are demanding €45m, which the English club aren’t willing to meet, as he has a year left on his deal.

Marca end their report by stating: ‘He [Torres] believes that his stage has ended and he is going to take a step forward. Aston Villa are the main favourite to win him, but not at any price. The negotiation is open. Pau leaves home.’