Barcelona explore centre back market with €25m Aston Villa defender under consideration – Report | OneFootball

The defensive planning of FC Barcelona for next season has quietly become one of the most important internal discussions at the club.

What once appeared to be an area of depth has evolved into a position requiring constant adjustment, with head coach Hansi Flick often forced to improvise rather than build long-term continuity. A combination of injuries, role changes, and departures has left Barcelona searching for balance and reliability at the back.

The departure of Inigo Martinez to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr earlier this year removed a vital left-footed presence from last season’s defence. His absence has been felt in both build-up play and positional stability, prompting Flick to rotate frequently without establishing a central pairing he fully trusts.

Pau Cubarsi has been the most consistent figure, emerging as the most used centre back this season. Around him, however, the situation has been fluid.

Ronald Araujo has stepped away temporarily for personal reasons, Eric Garcia has been redeployed into midfield, and in recent weeks, left back Gerard Martin has even been used centrally to improve Barcelona’s ability to play out from the back.

Within this context, Barcelona have intensified their search for a left-sided centre back who can offer security in defence while also contributing in possession. One name that continues to align closely with internal discussions is Aston Villa defender Pau Torres.

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According to ESPN, Barcelona are actively following Pau Torres, a player who has long been admired by the club’s recruitment department. Torres fits several of Flick’s tactical priorities, offering composure on the ball, aerial reliability, and the discipline required to operate in a high defensive line.

Barcelona had explored the possibility of signing the €25 million-rated Spain international during his Villarreal days, but he eventually moved to Villa in 2023 for around €40 million. Now 28, Torres is a key figure under Unai Emery and remains under contract until 2028, which makes any potential deal complex.

Despite those obstacles, the report suggests that Torres would be open to listening to an offer to return to La Liga should Barcelona make a serious approach. The club is aware that negotiating with Villa will not be straightforward, given his importance to the Premier League side.

Pursuing Torres makes sense, but only if Barca are disciplined. He would not be a transformational signing, nor should he be. What he offers is something arguably more valuable right now: reliability.

In a defence that has conceded 31 goals in 23 matches, Barcelona don’t need another project. They need stability and someone who allows Cubarsi to grow without carrying the entire burden. If the price reflects that role, Torres could be a smart addition. If not, Barca must resist nostalgia and look forward, not sideways.

However, Torres is not the only central defender under consideration, with Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck also admired internally, but the Villa defender’s La Liga experience gives him a clear advantage. Much, though, will depend on Aston Villa’s valuation and Barcelona’s financial fair play situation.