Manchester-United linked Pau Torres addresses future

Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres has said that he is "very calm" amid the recent speculation surrounding his future.

The Spain international was strongly linked with a move away from the Yellow Submarine last summer, with Tottenham Hotspur believed to have made a strong attempt to sign him.

However, Torres ultimately spent the 2021-22 campaign with Unai Emery's side, playing a leading role in the team reaching the semi-finals in the Champions League.

In total, the Spaniard made 47 appearances for Villarreal this term, contributing six goals and one assist in the process.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with the 25-year-old, with the club's new head coach Erik ten Hag said to be determined to bring him to Old Trafford this summer.

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A number of other teams, including Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City, are also said to be keeping a close eye on his situation.

However, Torres has said that there is currently "nothing at all" happening regarding his future, and the centre-back is "very calm" with his current situation.

"Right now there is nothing at all, there is talk of many things like every year, I have peace of mind of being where they want me, at the club of my life and I have this offer right now that I value as very positive", AS quotes Torres as saying.

"There is nothing right now, the only thing I have is the offer from Villarreal, so I am very calm."

Torres's release clause is believed to be in the region of £55m, which is unlikely to put off suitors for him during this summer's transfer window.

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"The pull of playing the Champions League with the team from my town was bigger," Torres told The Guardian last year when asked why he decided to reject an exit in the summer of 2021.

"I was clear from the start. This is only the fourth time Villarreal reached the Champions League, which shows how hard it is, and it was a dream to play in the competition with my lifelong club."

The defender made his first-team debut for Villarreal in 2017 and has now represented the club on 134 occasions, winning the 2020-21 Europa League in the process.

Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof are all expected to remain at Old Trafford this summer despite the team's defensive issues during the 2021-22 campaign.

However, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are all likely to move on, which will lead to the 20-time English champions signing at least one new centre-back ahead of the new season.