Even though their squad is filled with centre-backs, it seems that Manchester United are once again on the market for a new defender, one that could potentially partner Harry Maguire in the backline.

And according to a new report from The Times, Villarreal's Pau Torres seems to fit the bill perfectly and the Red Devils are monitoring his situation closely.

The Yellow Submarine have just appointed the former Arsenal man Unai Emery and have previously also secured a European spot by finishing the 2019/20 campaign strong. For that reason, and seeing how Torres is apparently being courted by many other big teams, this could be a difficult deal to pull off for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Still, the upside is that all teams in Spain are required by law to insert a release clause in their players' contracts and the young centre-back can therefore be acquired for £45.5m, should Man United decide to go down that path.

And with the 23-year-old still having four years left on his deal and Villarreal being reluctant to sell in the first place, Ole might indeed be forced to activate the release clause if he's to bring the youngster to Old Trafford.

But he has to be wary since other teams can also do the same and then it's all about who can impose themselves as the better option. Can Man United stand against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid?

Only time will tell.

Verdict

All the interest Pau Torres is attracting is not exactly a big surprise. The 23-year-old centre-back has been a mainstay in Villarreal's squad that kept surprising La Liga's best. And now, he could soon be ripe for a big transfer, potentially abroad.

Man United already have a defender with an incredible pedigree in Maguire and partnering him up with someone of Torres' potential is definitely not a bad idea. The problem, however, is not the centre-backs' ability but rather his availability.

If the Red Devils can somehow lure him to Old Trafford and activate that release clause, then they should not be hesitant to pull the trigger. But seeing how they are bound to splash the cash in other areas this summer, this might be easier said than done.