Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Transfer Gossip: Three out, one in, as Man Utd eye £50m Tottenham target in major shake-up

Villarreal defender Pau Torres flanked by Bayern Munich pair Leon Goretzka and Robert Lewandowski

Man Utd are plotting a defensive shake-up with £50m Tottenham target Pau Torres eyed to replace three stars, while a rising Arsenal striker is now on the radars of two Premier League sides – all in Wednesday’s transfer gossip.

MAN UTD REIGNITE PAU TORRES INTEREST

Manchester United have revived their interest in signing Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres, and his potential arrival could spell the end for three current defenders, per a report.

The Red Devils are once again looking inward as yet another season threatens to unravel. Liverpool dished out another bruising on Tuesday night when dismantling United 4-0 at Anfield. That takes the aggregate score between the home and away matches this season to 9-0.

Manchester United have now shipped 48 goals in the league with five matches still remaining. That figure is good enough for just twelfth-best in the league and is three more than Burnley have conceded despite the Clarets looking odds on to be relegated.

With their defensive frailties clear for all to see, the Manchester Evening News report United are pushing to sign 25-year-old Pau Torres.

The Spain international emerged on United’s radar last summer before the club ultimately settled on Raphael Varane.

However, the Frenchman has already missed 15 matches this season through illness and injury. What’s more, centre-back partner Harry Maguire is enduring his worst season to date at Old Trafford.

Torres had also emerged on Tottenham’s radar as part of a potential cash-plus-player deal involving Giovani Lo Celso. The midfielder is excelling on loan at Villarreal and Spurs were reportedly mulling using Lo Celso as bait to land Torres.

Pau Torres has a release clause

However, the MEN report it is United doing the running at present and they hope to complete their unfinished business from 2021.

Torres has been in fine form this season and has played every minute in Villarreal’s march to the Champions League semi-finals.

It’s claimed Torres was reportedly open to joining United last summer and is understood to hold a release clause in his contract. The outlet states it is worth €60m (£49.8m at current exchange rate).

United interested in Villarreal defender Pau Torres

United interested in Villarreal defender Pau Torres

Pau Torres is a target for Manchester United this summer as Villarreal move is likely

Villarreal would reportedly prioritise an outright sale rather than a cash-plus-player deal. That could give United an edge over Tottenham if the two clubs both firm up their interest.

Should Torres be signed, the report adds both Eric Bailly and Phil Jones could make way. Neither centre-back has featured with any regularity this season and both are deemed open to leaving anyway.

Axel Tuanzebe could also depart after two disappointing loan spells with Aston Villa and Napoli.

ARSENAL STRIKER IN HIGH DEMAND

Khayon Edwards taking a shot for Arsenal under-21s

The number of clubs looking to prise Arsenal hotshot Khayon Edwards away from north London is growing after Brighton joined Chelsea in targeting the goal-per-game striker.

Edwards, 18, is blazing a trail through the Under-18 Premier League this season. Operating primarily as the central striker, Edwards has 16 goals to his name from 16 matches. He also has five assists to his name too.

That has led to sporadic outings at Under-23 level where he scored against West Ham in the Premier League 2.

Clearly, Edwards is a man on the rise and Goal recently reported Chelsea have taken note.

The Blues have reportedly already made contact regarding a potential summer swoop. Edwards is yet to sign his first professional contract at Arsenal and there is a growing fear he could leave before doing so.

That would represent a huge own goal for the Gunners whose attacking options in the first-team look thin at present.

Indeed, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was not replaced in January and both Eddie Nketiah and Alezandre Lacazette could leave as free agents this summer.

Even worse news for the Gunners is a report from the Mirror that states Brighton too are now in the mix for Edwards.

The Seagulls reportedly hope their reputation for giving youth a chance could turn Edwards’ head. Brighton snapped up Tariq Lamptey from Chelsea in 2020 and the young right-back has served as a prime example of how quickly someone can develop in the right environment.

The Mirror report Brighton have joined Chelsea in enquiring about Edwards. They are deemed hopeful he will sign his first professional contract on the south coast.

FULHAM SECURE FIRST PREM SIGNING

Manor Solomon marking Edin Dzeko

Meanwhile, newly-promoted Fulham have wasted little time in wrapping up their first signing with Manor Solomon poised to replace Fabio Carvalho.

Carvalho will move to Liverpool in the summer and leave a void in Marco Silva’s final third.

The Cottagers will be hoping to break their trend of being a yo-yo club and remain in the top flight for more than one season.

To aid that cause, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported a deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Manor Solomon has been secured.

The Israel international, 22, will reportedly arrive for a fee of €7.5m. A 15 percent sell-on clause for Shakhtar has been included in the terms.