Unai Emery could be set to make his first big foray into the transfer market as the new Aston Villa manager…

What’s the latest?

According to Football Insider, Pau Torres has been named as a top target for the Midlands giants, who were given the green light to pursue the star by the new boss.

Villa plan to keep tabs on the centre back over the coming months, with a view to purchasing him either in January or next summer.

The report also states that his value stands at £40m, which is similar to the figure that was touted to both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United as they fought for his signature last summer.

He can light up Qatar

Having excelled at Villarreal under Emery, he could now be set to truly showcase his talent on the world stage as he travels to Qatar to compete with Spain for the World Cup.

The 25-year-old already has experience competing in elite competitions, having played a huge role in his side’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

A defensive stalwart, Torres could be the perfect man to come into Villa Park and help instantly implement a style he will know well.

He has featured 149 times for the Yellow Submarine, with last season’s league campaign particularly impressive given his average SofaScore rating of 7.09 and 11 clean sheets.

Although this season has not been quite as impressive (but still boasts a 7.02 rating), he still shows the ball-playing capabilities that make him one of the world’s most sought-after defenders.

He averages 22 carries per 90 and paired with his 0.8 key passes per game, Torres can actually be an offensive threat despite being a centre-back.

The fact Emery is so desperate to reunite with him is not a surprise, given what he said last season on the 6 foot 2 machine: “Pau Torres is an amazing player”, he began. “I think he’s going to play at the highest level, he’s playing now in the national team but he can play in the top teams in Europe very soon.”

With his form and this glowing recommendation, there is no doubt that any success Spain has at the World Cup will be built around his solid defence.

It would be a dream signing for his compatriot, to usher in the new era at Villa with a bang.