Tottenham Hotspur are the 'frontrunners' to sign Villarreal star Pau Torres and there is growing confidence that a deal can be done at Hotspur Way, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.
Spurs head coach Antonio Conte has been strengthening his squad ahead of his first full season at the helm, having been appointed as the north Londoners' head coach last November, and Torres is high on his shortlist of targets.
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What's the latest news involving Torres?
Torres, whose Villarreal contract contains a £55million release clause, is understood to be Tottenham’s top defensive target after Conte failed to tempt Inter Milan into selling Alessandro Bastoni.
According to the Mirror, the Spaniard has been on Spurs' radar for the majority of the summer and the offer of a swap deal, which would involve Giovani Lo Celso going in the opposite direction, has been mulled over.
The report suggests Villarreal are willing to entertain bids worth in the region of £45million, meaning Tottenham will not necessarily have to meet the 19-cap Spain international's release clause.
However, Manchester United and Chelsea have also been showing an interest since the transfer window reopened for business, so the north Londoners are not the only Premier League side ready to pounce.
Villarreal could be willing to offload Torres, who has been described as 'extraordinary', because he has just entered the final two years of his £63,000-per-week agreement with the La Liga outfit.
What has Pete O'Rourke said about Torres?
O'Rourke believes Tottenham are in pole position to win the race for Torres' services if Manchester United are the only other English side willing to test Villarreal's resolve.
With the Red Devils chasing Ajax centre-half Lisandro Martinez and lodging a £39.6million bid, the journalist feels that has left the door open for Conte.
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O'Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: "I think it would be fair to say that Spurs will be the frontrunners if it came down to the two clubs to sign Pau Torres.
"Champions League football will be a big carrot for the Spain international to bring him to England.
"Also, if Manchester United were to sign Lisandro Martinez, that means maybe Pau Torres is not at the top of their agenda right now either.
"If Tottenham were to move for Pau Torres, I think they would be pretty confident that they might be able to get a deal done."
Is a move to the Premier League on the cards for Torres?
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has previously told GIVEMESPORT that it is a 'serious possibility' that Torres will swap his homeland for England this summer.
The 25-year-old played every minute of Villarreal's run to the Champions League semi-finals last term, where they were knocked out by Liverpool.
However, featuring in Europe's elite club competition is not possible with Torres' current employers in the upcoming campaign as their seventh place La Liga finish was not enough to seal qualification.
Spurs, meanwhile, could offer an immediate return to the Champions League as they claimed a spot in the Premier League's top four during the 2021/22 season.