Barcelona Eyes Premier League Star to Replace Departing Inigo Martinez—Exclusive

Barcelona are pursuing Aston Villa center-back Pau Torres as they seek crucial defensive reinforcement for their squad in Catalonia, according to reports.

The current La Liga title holders parted ways with Iñigo Martínez during the previous summer window and didn't secure a replacement, leaving manager Hansi Flick with only Pau Cubarsí, Ronald Araújo, Eric García and Andreas Christensen available for central defensive duties.

Unsurprisingly, Barcelona have encountered defensive difficulties throughout 2025–26, with opposing teams consistently taking advantage of their high defensive line. The Catalan club has allowed 20 goals in La Liga competition alone, representing the highest tally among the top six teams in Spain's premier division.

ESPN indicates that Barcelona have pinpointed Torres as a viable solution to address their defensive shortcomings. The 28-year-old represents an excellent option to form a lasting partnership with Cubarsí at the heart of defense, possessing strong abilities both with the ball at his feet and in aerial situations.

Barcelona had previously shown interest in Torres during his time at Villarreal, though the defender eventually completed a €40 million ($47 million) transfer to Aston Villa in 2023. The Spanish international penned a five-year deal with the English Premier League side that runs until June 2028.

Torres Could Be Tempted Despite Villa Flying High

Naturally, Unai Emery would be reluctant to lose such an integral member of his squad. Torres serves as a cornerstone of Aston Villa's defensive setup, consistently featuring for the full 90 minutes across various competitions.

However, the Spanish defender may not share his coach's reluctance to part ways. Based on ESPN reports, Torres remains receptive to a possible departure and would be willing to "consider" Barcelona if the club makes a "genuine approach" to acquire his services.

Any potential agreement would likely need to be postponed until the summer transfer window. Barcelona must create additional salary cap space to make the transfer feasible; with both Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen's contracts expiring at season's end, they could provide the Catalans with additional financial flexibility and resources.

In the meantime, Barcelona must continue managing with their unreliable defensive unit. The positive aspect for Flick's team is that despite their defensive struggles, they remain at the summit of the La Liga table, maintaining a four-point advantage over Real Madrid.