Real Madrid have another exciting La Liga center back target in mind

Real Madrid want to sign another center back, and the most sensible options would be ascending stars around Europe’s top five leagues.

David Alaba is an intriguing option for Real Madrid as a free transfer, but Los Blancos must consider alternatives to the Bayern Munich defender, in case he ends up signing for a team with more financial flexibility.

In 2019, Real Madrid signed Eder Militao from FC Porto for 50 million euros, but they seem to still be interested in signing top young talent at the center back position. Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, for example, has been on Real’s radar.

But so is Villarreal standout Pau Torres, who is building on his 2019-2020 campaign with an excellent 2020-2021 season thus far for the Yellow Submarine under Unai Emery. Torres is a Spanish national team starter alongside Sergio Ramos, but could he join the captain at the Santiago Bernabeu?

COPE’s Manolo Lama reports that Real Madrid are indeed eyeing Torres, who has been mentioned by Madridistas as a possible target for the Royal Whites in a future transfer window. Lama reports that Real want to sign Torres for the 2021-2022 season.

Real Madrid want to pay 25 million euros for Pau Torres

Although Torres has a 50 million euro release clause, Los Blancos want to reduce that asking price by 50 percent for a 25 million euro transfer. That is highly ambitious, considering Torres is a prized center back who is just 23 years old and could one day replace Ramos as a left center back. (Torres is left-footed.)

Additionally, he is a crucial player to Villarreal as the top defender for a team on the cusp of a Champions League berth, so if he is sold and wants to move to the capital, the Yellow Submarine would want to squeeze every cent from Florentino Perez.

Any operation for a quality player will be difficult for Los Blancos in this economy, but Torres is an exciting young defender who is worth keeping an eye on. If Real can reduce the asking price by enough, Torres could prove to be a more sensible long-term addition than Alaba, for example.