Aston Villa is in advanced talks with Villareal for the signing of Pau Torres. The 26-year-old will join Unai Emery’s previous team in the Premier League in a transfer that will cost Villa around £45 million. Torres has a €70 million (£60.4 million) release clause, but it is believed that Villa has negotiated conditions to their advantage, paying over a longer period of time so that their initial payment is less than the release amount. Pau Torres is scheduled to have his Aston Villa medical and consent to personal terms when the agreement is finalized, which is anticipated to happen within the next 48 hours. Neither of these requirements is anticipated to pose a challenge.
Torres has been a member of Villarreal for 21 years. He originally joined the club’s youth before making his way into the main squad, where he played a key role in the team’s 2021 Europa League victory under Emery. The center-back, whose current contract has one year left, made 39 appearances for Villarreal last season and was a member of the Spain team that advanced to the round of 16 at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Since his return to the Premier League, Torres has caught the attention of Unai Emery, who thinks the defender can elevate the team and help them secure their place in the European football league.
Abdallah Sima, a striker, has been acquired by Rangers on loan from Brighton for the next campaign. The 22-year-old, who twice represented Slavia Prague against Rangers in 2021, transferred to Brighton for over £7 million but has yet to feature for the Premier League team. Sima, a Senegal international, played 37 times for Angers last season after spending his first season on loan at Stoke City. His current contract with Brighton expires in two years, and he finished moving to Glasgow on Thursday.
“The history of Rangers is extensive. It’s great for me to join Rangers because I previously played here for Slavia Prague and enjoyed it when I first arrived,” head coach Michael Beale said. “Michael Beale and I had a really casual interaction during which he informed me of the Rangers and our upcoming game. I was quite honored when they phoned since I already had some knowledge of how the Rangers played.”
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