Aston Villa have made a formal offer to sign Villarreal defender Pau Torres – a year after Manchester United wanted to sign the Spain international.
United’s transfer decision-makers had identified Torres as their primary defensive target last summer with the deal said to be 'discussed and negotiated' with the player’s representatives, who were so confident of a deal that they had even planned their travel to England to wrap up the transfer.
However, Erik ten Hag put the brakes on any deal and vetoed the agreement in place to land the central defender. Instead, Ten Hag got his way as United moved to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax – having already coached the Argentine international at the Dutch giants.
