Real Madrid Transfers: Ranking the top 5 young center back targets in 2021

4. Villarreal CB Pau Torres

Pau Torres will likely face Real Madrid this weekend in the final LaLiga fixture of the 2020-2021 campaign. And what a campaign it’s been for the tall center back, who has been one of the breakout stars at the position in Spain’s top flight.

Few center backs have been linked to Los Blancos as consistently as the Spanish international, who is often Sergio Ramos’ partner with the national team and could potentially replace his spot in the squad next season if no extension is reached.

Torres is a solid 24-year-old who is very difficult to beat one-on-one, seeing how he’s been dribbled past just 0.2 times this season. He’s also chipped in offensively for the Yellow Submarine with two goals and two assists in league play.

Villarreal won’t sell Torres for cheap, as any interested party may have to meet his 65 million euro release clause. Because he has less upside than the names ahead of him on the list, that asking price could make Real Madrid somewhat wary of adding him. But Torres is a huge talent in the Spanish national team and has proven he can hang with the best strikers in LaLiga. That makes him more of a known commodity than other young center backs.